*Generic appreciation thread*

I was hoping they would add this eventually.

Even though Risen 2 is a steaming pile of feces, the first game in the series is quite good! Very reminiscent of the early Gothic games.

I'm a fan of Gothic and Gothic 2, so I'm quite happy to see Risen on GoG.com. Kudos!

What's wrong with Risen 2? I've only seen some screenshots of it, but it looked like Risen with a more "piratey" theme to it. I love RPGs, and I love pirates, so I was really looking forward to that one someday, after I got around to finishing the first Risen game.

I am not sure, but I think I read somewhere, that Rise 2 will come in next time.

I would say go to Angry Joe on youtube and check his review of Gothic 2(it should still be there). It had a lot of problems

I've played both Risen games and they are different animals. Best not to play Risen and jump straight into Risen 2 as the combat mechanics are totally different.

However, I Risen 2 is not a bad game. You can have a lot of fun with it and once you get used to the combat mechanics fighting is fine. As with Risen, you need different tactics to defeat different opponents and your techniques in certain skills improve with training.

Indeed, having Risen here on GOG is a pleasant surprise.

old school game
Indeed a pleasant surprise :)

Dont listen to him. He's just on the bandwagon of haters. Probably did not even get far in the game. I loved Risen 1, and i think Risen 2 is better in a lot of ways. It is NOT a bad game by any means. People love to exaggerate though. If you liked Risen 1 i see no way that you won't like Risen 2.

I bought both titles, because the second part kind of adapts to the first and uses some of the characters.

This is a very IMHO kind of view:
Installed Risen2, saw the animations... left it there.
Installed Risen and loved it immediately. My leg is broken from the start (weird character model) but not everyone in the game stands and moves like chimps :P

Plus on Risen (I haven't really played Risen2 yet):
1. The character doesn't run all the time, this takes away a lot of stress I have in many other games.
2. Careful planning of routes becomes essential to avoid being killed.
3. I often also walk or enjoy the many nice spots to look at the sea or the beautiful valleys.
4. Graphics of the landscape are great.
5. Wildlife and behaviour, wolves eat nearly anything you throw at them. Try to bow-kill something near them and they will start eating the cadaver. Animals sleep at night and if you are careful, they are easier to kill.
6. The skill-system is easy enough, if you know where to find the trainer.
7. The logbook is brilliant, is lists and shows on the map every merchant, trainer or quest-giver you ever discovered. Custom markers on the map would be just perfect.
8. Monster placement, no grinding whatsoever. You get enough XP from solving quests and talking to NPC, monsters can often be avoided entirely on a trip. The most monsters at a time I had to fight yet, were about five wolves and if there are more, it is usually quest related with some assistance in form of NPC party members. You can always raise a skeleton as companion, they are tough.
9. Combat is similar to Witcher, plan your attack. Take some potion or cast a spell to boost your stats. Use a bow or magic first, move into a higher position, then attack. If you can take out one or two in a group of three with the bow, you are fine. Switch to your melee weapons as they come closer. Cleave with your Zweihander (in one hand if you have the skill left mouse and use the direction keys) through several opponents or concentrate on one to disarm or counterattack (right mouse button, you can charge up attacks by holding the left mouse). Protect yourself from blows with a shield.
10. It is not like you are fighting all the time to get experience as in many other games, eat lots of apples (spoiler), brew a potion or cook some food to permanent increase your stats for example.
11. Riddles with different solutions to them (scrolls come in handy).
12. The dialogues are tough and you can actual piss someone that much off, so he won't talk to you any more or attack you to have a brawl (no worries, you won't die but might get looted if you lose, you can charm him with a spell). If you decide to become a bandit, do not except honorable tasks, prepare for a lot of swearing and don't expect a hearty welcome from most other members. The order will AoS (arrest on sight) and deport you...

I've always wanted to know, what group would the protagonist canonically join? In the Gothic series, I always kind of assumed GothicGuy joined up with Lee.

I played the game many years back as a rebel, yet I'm not sure what our dude here would do.

In Risen, I think the idea is to either intentionally join the 'good' order guys or get arrested and forced to?
On the other hand, the first NPC you meet is a bandit and recommends to stay away from the white ones and the order.

I personally felt compelled to avoid order and white ones at all cost in the beginning ;)

p.s. So, I finished it as a bandit and it was great but a little short, I would have liked to stay a little longer on the island. Later in the game there is not much else to do but follow the main storyline. Even though it is an open world, you end up with generic responses from all characters or no answer at all (interact with shops but not say hello) once their quests are finished.

I really wonder how people are supposed to finish the game as a righteous member of the order? No pickpocket, no lockpicking/stealing, no brawls and only honorable fights with a wooden stick?

Risen 3 release on GOG summer 2014 ?
No doubt I would buy it immediateley :-)