Risen 3 is a game with odd faults. Some are detrimental to the experience, such as the unbalanced combat or the game's bad first impression, yet most somehow contribute to the enjoyment of the game. Even the cutscenes can be enjoyed from a "so bad it's good" lense when they don't necessarily hit the right beats, the opening sequence being a shining example. Despite the early frustrations, there is a lot of fun to be had here. After about two to three hours and a few skill purchases, the game shifts from occasionally annoying to very fun. Your speed matches - and with time surpasses - enemies'. The sense of progression takes you from wimpy undead vassal to an incredibly strong force to be reckoned with. The skill progression could've been more convenient, but within a few clicks you tend to find who teaches what. The writing tends to shift from bad to amusing and back on a whim. One moment exposition is being delivered and the next your characters are trading funny quips. The voice acting is decent if at times peculiar. There are a few gimmicky sections, such as the ship battles, that are entertaining but are few and far between. They're completely removed from the stat system and, as such, are nice little diversions that pop up now and again. It outlines how the game doesn't truly take advantage of the pirate theme, though it gets close enough with the setting. Where the game truly shines is in how everything comes together so that you can explore these beautiful islands and be richly rewarded for it. The graphics aren't top tier but the amount of talent that went into the background and setting design is astonishing. The devil is in the details and there's plenty to be had here. This review makes the game sound like a mixed bag, but it is a very enjoyable journey. The jank tends to contribute to enjoyment and the rest of the faults aren't considerable enough to avoid reccomendation, especially in the face of the beautiful and expansive game world.
