GameObserver:
Like most European RPG designers, Piranha Bytes is known for making PC role-playing epic games that have long since gone out of style. In an age where cross-platforming has killed the hardcore computer role-playing game, it's hard to find a company out there willing to create a "90s style" CRPG that bucks the recent trend of dumbed down gameplay and instead adopts the gameplay elements of titles long forgotten. While Bioware and Bethesda seem content to market third-person shooters as RPGs, it's these little European developers that willingly dive back into the past and bring back the kinds of games we old folks love reminiscing about.
Here's why Risen might be one of the best RPGs you probably haven't played. We'll consider various aspects of Risen and discuss its strengths.
I played it a bit, but it's one of those games I just forgot about. Same with the two worlds games, gothic 3 and Arcania: Gothic 4. It sounds and looks nice (for the time) but it just doesn't scratch that itch quite right.
Idk why but I usually like their games , risens, elex etc. I've only played risen 2 risen 3, elex and elex 2. I'm gonna get the risen 1 at some point
Paul writes: "Risen is a game from 2009, in all its faded glory, but yet, there is something about the world that will keep you trying."
These games "look" good from video clips/screenshots, but apparently they're pretty buggy and gameplay is wonky.. like developers had a great concept but with the scope, it was hard to deliver.. and that's for 3 games..
WTMG's Aaron Price: "The long and short of it is that Risen is a fun action-adventure RPG. It is very rough around the edges, not to the extent of some other games in the genre that came out around the same time (looking at you, Two Worlds), but it has charm. If you’re a fan of Oblivion, or Skyrim, and want to see another game that has a similar style, this might be a good pickup.
Risen 2 is still available for digital download meaning you can easily get lost in this world but hours upon hours if you found yourself enjoying it. I don’t personally find this re-release to be a massive improvement over the original, as little to nothing in it has been actually revamped, but it’s still great to see the game get a release on more consoles than just the Xbox, or even just a way to experience the start of the series if you maybe played the sequel on PS3."