Every next Risen game is worse than previous. First had very strong Gothic charm. Second was some pirate-story, and third... It is playable, but not very interesting. I don't want to replay first 2 games but they are left good memories. Third one - I barely finished it. Thing for one time.
Modern classic - Age of Decadance is challenging RPG for new players. Reason is simple - modern player is lazy. He think that game must be easy and casual. Every character must have right to live from start to the end, visit all places, win all quests and competition and kill Big Bad Boss without sweat. Even if it was very unbalanced character made without care. In that games world made for players character - not players character try to survive in world. AoD give you another point of view. Most build are valid it is true. But every build have its flaws and you will be wandering - is your build good at all? You can play your game with talker - but then you must back away from combat. You cannot resolve all situations just with words. And of course you cannot be Arenas Champion. You can play game as combat character - but then you miss some quests and even locations. You can try and play hybrid - it is most challenging but most rewarding experience. But even then - you will see only small part of the game. Factions play major role in story line and all factions have different chains of quests for player. Sometimes it is same event - like assassination - but from the another faction perspective. And almost every quest have different endings. Often you can betray your masters and sometimes they will betray you. Plus in this game your actions matters. In many games you kill dozens of enemies but still some stupid thugs try to rob you in the bright day! Here body count is part of dialog system. If you are bloody murderer some people think twice before insult you. Combat is very hard but balanced. Quests are sensible and hand-crafted. Crafting and alchemy is brilliant. Quest decisions, builds, choice, equipment and tactics - all matters and have consequences. What more you want from classic RPG? It isn't pop-culture Hollywood style game and it isn't have romances and that biowarian thing about LGBT rights. It is art from people who love CRPG and it is awesome!!!
