It's a rather straightforward rogue-lite that may seem simplistic at first, but it has some depth which makes everything really enjoyable. The gameplay is not too complex and it feels truly intuitive after a while.
Risen is one of those RPGs where everything is created with attention to the detail. The lore and the quests are a positive example for other newer dull RPGs because of their realistic nature and creative structure. I rarely review a game, but Risen caught my attention being distinctive from other games of the same genre apart from Gothic I and II that were made by the same developer, Piranha Bytes. It is basically a Gothic game, but with a better design and a bug-free experience. For me, this is the only Piranha Bytes game that managed to create a truly original and interesting setting along with Gothic I. It has an open-world right from the start and the protagonist is just a guy who wants to survive the dangers of the Sicily like island he wrecked where a really fascinating Inquisition is also present. The guild-based progression system from Gothic I and II returns. Also the NPCs with daily routines and the exceptional voice acting are some of the main aspects that help the atmosphere to be a unique and realistic one. The graphics are simple and beautiful along with the atmospheric soundtrack. You can join one of the three guilds, each one with its own story, skills and outfits. You can train your character to fight with different types of weapons. Also the magic-skill system is very well designed and it is easy and enjoyable to use. You can also craft potions and weapons, but you need to be careful on which skills are you spending your learning points which are acquired by leveling up because almost every choice in this game is meaningful and permanent. The first hours in Risen can be quite difficult, but the experience is rewarding and after the beginning everything becomes easier without the engaging quests to disappear. If you haven't played Risen yet, you should give it a try because it will give you a sense of rewarding and accomplishment which will remain in your memory for a long time. (Nvidia PhysX needs to be installed manually)
This is one of the few games which I have finished several times without getting bored. For me, Gothic is still the best RPG experience even after all these years. Sadly, it is still innovative because there is no game that developed the features of the first Gothic game such as NPC daily routines and an original plot. Personally, I think that this is the best Gothic game because of its unique mysterious and dark locations and characters that build up an actually Gothic atmosphere. Gothic offers an open-world setting in a prison valley surrounded by a magical barrier where every action and choice has consequences. You are at the beginning only a common nameless guy who wants to survive after being imprisoned. The protagonist is an excellent choice for an RPG game because every player can resemble this nameless character. You must fight your way to survive and gain the respect of your fellow convicts, but there are many quests which can be solved in different inventive ways and the game is fully voiced and the voice acting still holds up pretty well. The world is rather small, but it is hand-crafted and every location is well used and interesting . In this gritty world every person has a specific daily routine. The NPCs aren't only quest-givers and they move through the world along with the player. The ingenious story gives enough freedom to the players to explore the world and feeling that they are part of the game setting. However, one of the best characteristics of Gothic is the guild-based progression. The nameless protagonist must join one of the three camps in the colony in order to progress through the story. Every guild is unique and gives the player a sense of belonging. This aspect also offers a lot of replayability. Each one guild gives the player specific armors and helpful skills. Besides the combat is not just mindless clicking. In order to play Gothic on Windows 10 you should install Playerkit v1.08k and the System-Pack-1.7.
