More reviews for Risen 2:

Landon Robinson for Inside Gaming Daily:

"Risen 2: Dark Waters sets out to deliver an adventurous RPG experience in a genre that doesn’t see much attention these days. While it partially succeeds in exploring some of the aspects of pirate life, it doesn’t deliver on it enough to make the experience super exciting.

Its environments and visuals will draw you in, but the gameplay likely won’t hold the attention of the mainstream audience very long. The game has its moments, but put simply, I just didn’t have much fun.

If you’re a pirate fan looking for a basic but functional adventure set in the land of pirates, Risen 2: Dark Waters is only a decent arrrrrrrpg."

Kyle E. Miller for RPGFan:

"Ultimately, Risen 2 feels unfinished. I feel like I played half a game, in terms of both content and quality. Unlike some games with small, but well designed worlds, Risen 2's feels small. Quests, main and side alike, are shallow and repetitive with few decisions for the player to make. A few choices early on prove meaningless, and the frequency of such branching paths decreases as the game progresses. Other elements feel half completed. Minor glitches occur, the art design lacks a coherent vision, and sound effects go missing. Companions go temporarily missing as well, likely hitting the bottle when they should be fighting so I don't have to. The translation is clearly incomplete, as only half of it makes much sense. And let's not mention the gameplay again. During my playthrough, I felt Risen 2 might come asunder at any moment."

Links:

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• Review at Inside Gaming Daily
• Review at RPGFan

geschrieben von Nisarg Kommentare

And even more!

Josh Kowbel for WikiGameGuides:

"I truly can’t remember the last time I played an RPG like Risen 2. Both combat and storyline feel like brief glimpses back into the 90s when developers were crafting fantasy settings in three dimensions. While its minor nuances excel, problems grander in scale try and cut the experience short. The gameplay has its flaws, but I found myself genuinely absorbed in the world at times. It’s just a shame Risen 2 kept pushing me away.."

GameBanshee has their usual six page review:

"Risen 2 is not focused enough on its good ideas. It'd be too easy to blame some of the obvious simplifications and casual nature of the character system and mini-games, but the core problem seems to be that they spread themselves too thin on implementing various worthwhile ideas while also crafting an open, dense world. There's a lot of neat ideas in the game, but none of them are used enough. Voodoo mind control is great, but they were so busy with other things they end up using it only half a dozen times or so.

So, an unbridled success this is not, nor is it a sequel that is "better in every way". It is better in some ways to Risen, but it also loses some of its shine to needless simplifications, the occasional lack of openness of some locations, and the addition of superfluous gameplay elements. Still, as a fan of Piranha Bytes' work, I found this to be a very enjoyable (if flawed) addition to their library."

James Allen for Out of Eight:

"The Good: Varied item types, buried treasure and voodoo
The Not So Good: Repetitive and dull auto-aimed combat lacks depth and skill, enemies routinely forget they are attacking you, occasionally vague quest details, linear mission order with lots of tedious mandatory sub-quests, slow character growth with expensive training that injures you, generally useless allies, unfair difficulty, imprecise item interaction, some graphical bugs
What say you? This pirate role-playing game is lacking in far, far too many areas: 2/8"

Links:

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• Review at WikiGameGuides
• Review at GameBanshee
• Review at Out of Eight

geschrieben von Nisarg Kommentare

And more:

Canadian Online Gamers:

"Overall, I really enjoyed Risen 2: Dark Waters. Between the beautiful visuals, intriguing story and environments, and unique take on the RPG genre, Risen 2 should be on the radar of any RPG fan. It has an undeniable charm, and a more personal feel than many blockbuster games. It’s well worth a look."

Mark Fajardo for Just Push Start:

"The problems within Dark Waters are hard to neglect as the majority of them will affect your overall experience. With the glitchy gameplay and excessive pop-in, I sincerely hope it will be fixed via patch. However, what can’t be fixed are the elements of the game that make it dull, primarily the quests and the shallow combat system. If you are searching for a RPG game with a solid pirate theme that has interesting characters that will give you some funny moments and the freedom to do whatever you want, then Dark Waters might be the game you’re looking for or, at least, your best possible option at the moment. For fans of the games made by Pirahna Bytes or at least you enjoyed the first game, there’s no doubt you will somewhat enjoy this game despite the flaws."

IRBGamer

"All in all, despite a few faux pas, Risen 2: Dark Waters Is an incredibly fun game. Nowhere near Skyrim in terms of quantity of interactions and stuff to do, but it’s a nice place to wonder around and earn money. The best part of this game is going around and exploring and there is plenty of that to do. Wandering into a few caves will definitely give you a fright if you aren’t strong enough though so remember to save often! If you like this kind of game definitely give it a look sees. There’s so much more to this game and you should all make time to explore it!"

Links:

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• Review at Canadian Online Gamers
• Review at Just Push Start
• Review at IRBGamer

geschrieben von Nisarg Kommentare

We have even more reviews:

Drew Leachman for ZTGD:

"The narrative is one of charm and lasting appeal. I love the pirate setting and the skills that go along with it. Throwing sand in your enemy’s eyes right before firing a bullet at his head is always fun. The voice acting, while crude and vulgar more times than not, is still very charming and witty. Even running into the occasional annoying character, I still found the entire story to be very entertaining.

"Sure the combat may be a little wonky, but that didn’t stop me from putting almost 30 hours into the game. The overall story and character progression is a blast, and everything is handled in a very streamlined, accessible way. I can’t help but suggest it to hardcore RPG players. If you can look past some of the more useless skills and sluggish combat, you’ll still have a great time while playing Risen 2."

Chris Capel for StrategyInformer:

"There’s a great game in here, and people who buy Risen 2 will probably be quite content with their purchase if they can get past the infuriating first few hours (and that sugar quest in the giant termite cave, shudder). Sadly it’s dug itself a hole with a few terrible design decisions and the good things about the game can’t dig Risen 2 out of it. Not even with a big red ‘X’ on top of that hole. Dodge button and ship combat next time, please?"

Adam Biessenner for GameInformer:

"Seeing the promise that occasionally shines through Risen 2’s many flaws is disheartening. Collecting crewmembers could have been great, if they were any more than occasional quest objectives and distractions in combat. The animations for parries and counterattacks are wonderful in the five percent of fights where you get to take advantage of them. The world itself is stunningly beautiful at times, but content players are able to interact with meaningfully is thin on the ground. As much as I wanted to love it, Risen 2 ends up as another entry in the long list of games with a great premise, a few interesting ideas, and an unforgivable anchor dragging the whole thing down."

Links:

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• Review at GameInformer
• Review at StrategyInformer
• Review at ZTGD

geschrieben von Nisarg Kommentare

And yet more reviews!

Justin McElroy for The Verge likes it:

"Risen 2 always redeems itself with the little things about the pirate fantasy it nails. What other game lets you learn a skill called "‘Nuff Said" that allows you to end the occasional conversation by pulling a pistol on your co-converser and sending them to Davy Jones' Locker? And listen, just between you and me ... you can get an attack parrot and a monkey that steals stuff.

"Like a cardboard-sword wielding toddler knocking over his chocolate milk, it's tough to stay angry at Risen 2 when it's having this much fun playing pirates."

Steven Bates for RipTen presents us the pros and cons:

[

i]"+ Graphically stunning island setting
+ Maintains the level of challenge of its predecessor
+ Robust combat system…
- …that could benefit from a dodge mechanic to add flow
- Expense of skills sometimes feels too high
- An assortment of minor dialogue problems and inconsistencies"[/i]

And so does Sophie Prell for G4tv:

"The Pros
Refreshing take on the fantasy genre; there really isn't another game with quite the same world.
Choice actually matters, and thinking outside the box is encouraged.
No "go here" markers or mini-map make for a challenging, no hands-holding experience.

The Cons
Graphics leave plenty to be desired. Even on highest settings, this feels like a game from 2007.
Melee combat is too slow and heavy, like a hack'n'slash dungeon crawler."

Links:

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• Review at G4tv
• Review at The Verge
• Review at RipTen

geschrieben von Nisarg Kommentare

More reviews (with quotes):

Robert Hill-Williams for Mash Those Buttons:

"The unevenness present through difference aspects of Risen 2 left me with a bittersweet feeling. The game is a definite improvement over the original Risen, but it isn’t on par with the great action RPGs that have come out recently. The pirate life is good, but with its nettlesome problems, an uninspired final boss, and a boring ending Risen 2 comes out to be a pretty average game. I enjoyed the game for what it was, but the series can do better than average, and for 50 dollars (60 on console) so can gamers."

Andy Merrill for VGRevolution:

"Overall, despite the slow pacing I had fun playing as a dirty thieving pirate. The combat mixes swords, guns and dirty tricks pretty nicely. Your sword is your main weapon but you can throw items or use guns as well. Guns do require ammo to use, but I found a good amount lying around to steal. You can also craft your own weapons if you put enough points in that category and have someone train you how to do so. If you ever wanted to be a pirate, then you’ll find Risen 2 really enjoyable."

David Hollingworth for AtomicMPC feels that:

"Risen 2 is very much a game we want to like, but it doesn’t quite want to meet us half way. The setting is interesting, the addition of blackpowder weapons is awesome, and it has some great environments to explore. Certainly, as you progress, the sense of the game being more of a chore than actual entertainment disappears, but it’s hard to push through. If you’re looking for instant satisfaction, this may not be your thing, but if you want a game that’s going to reward a certain stubborn persistence, Risen 2 might just be the perfect game for you."

Links:

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• Review at AtomicMPC
• Review at VGRevolution
• Review at Mash Those Buttons

geschrieben von Nisarg Kommentare

We have an assortment of reviews for Risen 2 so far, most of which feel that the game doesn't quite reach its potential.

We start with Sean Ridgeley for Neoseeker:

With all of its elements combined, Risen 2 proves another solid effort by Piranha Bytes. Like its prequel, its greatest strength is just how endlessly engaging and fun it is to wander the countryside doing nothing in particular and happening upon treasure or foes or a new quest to embark on. The main quests are just as compelling, mind you, if not moreso. Whether you're in it for the pirate theme, the RPG mechanics or both, you'll be knee deep in adventure and booty and loving nearly every minute of it.

Scott Grant for The Controller Online concludes:

The combat in Risen 2: Dark Waters is buggy and boring but it’s surrounded by a challenging game and engrossing environment. The world seems small at first but as other areas open up you’ll find out just how much there is to explore. The difficulty may scare some people off, but it will also be the element that sucks some people in. Building your character is a series of accomplishments in Dark Waters, rather than the constant march toward increased strength you get in other RPGs.

Jeff Buckland for AtomicGamer writes:

It turns out that if you throw enough pirate gags at the player, you still can't really cover up a stiff and busted combat system that's been holding you back for nearly a decade. What's new with the pirate theme is often original and off-beat, and with just a few tweaks and maybe a little letting go of their own traditions, Piranha Bytes could be making far more entertaining and exciting games.

Thanks to chautemoc for informing us about his review at Neoseeker!

Links:

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• Review at The Controller Online
• Review at AtomicGamer
• Review at Neoseeker

geschrieben von Nisarg Kommentare

Am gestrigen Donnerstag haben zwei weitere Reviews ihren Weg in die unendlichen Weiten des World Wide Web gefunden - sowohl auf PCWelt.de als auch unter Games.ch wurde eine Kritik zum heute erschienenen Rollenspiel Risen 2: Dark Waters veröffentlicht.


Für die PC Welt hat sich auf der dortigen Website Benjamin Schischka ein Bild des neuen Spiels von Piranha Bytes gemacht. Lob finden die für Risen typische und toll erzählte Story, die Entdeckungsmöglichkeiten in der mehr oder weniger offenen Spielwelt, die schöne Grafik mit den gelungenen Tag - und Nacht - sowie Wetterwechseln und die rauhen Haupt - und Nebencharaktere.

Nicht so gut gefallen haben dem Tester die Tatsache, dass der Spieler das Schiff, das nur für bestimmte Story - Reisen zur Verfügung steht, nicht selber steuern und für Seekämpfe nutzen kann, das Kampfsystem gegen Tiere zu Beginn des Spieles, die schwache optische Präsentation der Figuren (Mimik, Gesichter, Animationen) und teils langweilige Sammelaufgaben bei den Nebenmissionen.

Am Ende überwiegen im Fazit die positiven Eindrücke (Auszug):

Alles in allem begeistert "Risen 2" Fans und Neulinge aber durch die Story, die dank guten deutschen Sprechern sehr ordentlich inszeniert und spannend erzählt wird; und natürlich die extrem entdeckenswerte, offene Spielwelt. Genre-Liebhaber sollten dem durchaus charmanten Rollenspiel aus deutschen Landen trotz einiger Mängel also definitiv eine Chance geben.

Eine Wertung wird hier nicht vergeben.


Auch Christian Sieland von Games.ch (Schweiz) hat das Spiel einem ausführlichen Test unterzogen. Hierbei sind ihm in dem vier Seiten langen Test die Atmosphäre, spannende Bosskämpfe, interessante Dialoge, eine überraschende Wendung in der Geschichte, die Spielwelt, welche einen starken Entdeckungsdrang auslöst, die verschiedenen Lösungswege der Quests, unterhaltsame Charaktere, gelungene Landschaften und die taktischen Kämpfe gegen menschliche Gegner positiv in Erinnerung geblieben.

Kritik äußert der Tester dagegen an Mängeln in der Geschichte (Hauptgegner besitzt nur eine geringe Tiefe und tritt nur alle paar Spielstunden in Erscheinung), am zwischenzeitlich ziemlich langsamen Erzähltempo, an den aufploppenden Pflanzen, an den zwar interessanten, aber meist eher platten Dialogen, an den sich immer wiederholenden Arten von Quests und am Nahkampf gegen Tiere (einfaches Dauerklicken mit der linken Maustaste genügt).

Im Fazit wird ferner auch auf die schwächere Grafik und die Clippingfehler hingewiesen. Am Ende jedoch überwiegt für den Tester auch hier das Positive (Auszug):

Nichtsdestotrotz liefert uns Piranha Bytes genau das Spiel, das wir von ihnen erwartet haben: Ein stimmiges Rollenspiel in einem interessanten und unverbrauchten Settting mit unterhaltsamen Charakteren. "Risen 2: Dark Waters" gehört zu den Rollenspielen, die in eurer Sammlung nicht fehlen dürfen!

Risen 2: Dark Waters erhält bei Games.ch daher eine Wertung von 85% ("Sehr gut"). In der Pro - und Contraliste beim Fazit finden sich zudem auch teilweise noch einige weitere Stärken und Schwächen des Spieles, die vorher im Test selber nicht genannt wurden.

Links:

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• Test auf der Website der PC Welt
• Test aus der Schweiz unter Games.ch

geschrieben von MisterXYZ Kommentare

Fast eine Stunde noch müssen sich all jene Fans von Risen 2 gedulden, die ihr Spiel schon erhalten haben, denn dann wird es möglich sein, Risen 2 endlich selber auszuprobieren.

Wie werdet ihr die letzte Stunde vor dem großen Release verbringen? Kommt ins Forum und diskutiert mit anderen - gemeinsam warten macht mehr Spaß und lässt die Zeit schneller vergehen.

Allen unentschlossenen, die noch nicht sicher sind, ob sie Risen 2 kaufen möchten, legen wir unsere Review - Sammlung aller bisherigen deutschen Tests ans Herzen, anhand derer sich schon jetzt ein umfassendes Bild von Risen 2 gemacht werden kann.

Für alle, die aber lieber wissen möchten, was die Spieler selber von Risen 2 halten, haben wir einen Feedback - Thread eingerichtet, in dem jeder User, der es möchte, anderen Usern oder aber auch dem Entwickler/Publisher ein persönliches Feedback nach dem Spielen schreiben kann.

All jene, die sich entschließen, Risen 2 bei Amazon.de zu bestellen und dabei über den Link in unserer Ankündigung gehen, unterstützen damit außerdem auch die World of Risen - also uns, euren Anlaufpunkt für alles in Risen, um Risen und um Risen herum!

Links:

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• Der gemeinsame Wartethread
• Sammlung aller deutschen Testberichte zu Risen 2
• Der Feedback-Thread für die Usermeinungen
• Unsere Ankündigung von Risen 2 im Forum mit Link zu Amazon.de (auf das entsprechende Bild klicken)

geschrieben von MisterXYZ Kommentare

Deep Silver published a release trailer for Risen 2 today.



Links:

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• Trailer @ youtube.com

geschrieben von foobar Kommentare