Risen 2: Dark Waters

GameStar (Germany) (86 out of 100) (86%)

Sei’s drum, Piranha Bytes liefert eben genau das Spiel, das man von ihnen erwartet, abzüglich ein wenig Welt-Interaktion, dafür ergänzt um Komfort wie die Schnellreisefunktion und eine Karte, die Questziele verzeichnet. Mag sein, dass Gothic-Veteranen angesichts dessen angewidert die Nasen rümpfen. Ich verzichte aber gerne aufs Bratenspießdrehen und Wasserfassleerschlürfen, wenn ich dafür ein Spiel bekomme, das sich fertig anfühlt. Schade nur, dass Risen 2 vergleichsweise kurz ausfällt, der Vorgänger und die Gothics haben mich länger beschäftigt. Das Beste, was ich über Piranha Bytes sagen kann, ist nun mal, dass ich in ihren Welten so lange verweilen möchte wie möglich. Und zwar am liebsten ohne DLCs.

PC Games (Germany) (86 out of 100) (86%)

Profil, Seele, Herzblut: Wie auch immer Sie diese besondere Qualität nennen möchten, die manch einer modernen Multi-Millionen-Euro-Produktion abgeht, Risen 2 besitzt sie in rauen Mengen. Dark Waters ist durch und durch ein Piranha-Bytes-Spiel, mit allen damit verbundenen Vorteilen: frei begehbarer Spielwelt, hervorragende Atmosphäre, große Entscheidungsfreiheit bei Quests und Charakterentwicklung. Die Mängelliste mag lang erscheinen, doch das Ganze ist in diesem Fall größer als die Summe seiner Teile. Die großartige Atmosphäre zieht den Spieler von der ersten Minute an in diese akribisch gestaltete Welt der Korsaren und Meeresungeheuer, die so voller Leben steckt wie einst die Gothic-Sträflingskolonie oder später die Risen-Hafenstadt.

Gry OnLine (8.5 out of 10) (85%)

Walka z użyciem broni białej nie jest łatwa, sporo technik trzeba się wcześniej nauczyć. W swoim najnowszym dziele studio Piranha Bytes postanowiło trochę poeksperymentować, co przyjąłem z zadowoleniem, bo klasyczna gothicowa formuła wymagała pewnego odświeżenia. Wielbiciele gier niemieckiej firmy nie powinni mieć jednak najmniejszych powodów do niepokoju – nie mamy bowiem do czynienia z radykalną zmianą charakteru rozgrywki, jak np. w konkurencyjnej Arcanii, ale z przemyślanymi usprawnieniami, które wzbogacają doskonale znane mechanizmy. Mówiąc krótko: Risen 2 to po prostu unowocześniony Gothic.

Gameplay (Benelux) (85 out of 100) (85%)

Er zijn rollenspellen met een betere open wereld, plot en verhaalvertakkingen, maar door de jolige piratenwereld en de talloze (voodoo)keuzemogelijkheden is Risen 2 meer dan de som van zijn delen.

COGConnected / Canadian Online Gamers Network (85 out of 100) (85%)

Overall, I really enjoyed Risen 2: Dark Waters. Between the beautiful visuals, intriguing story and environments, and unique take on the RPG genre, Risen 2 should be on the radar of any RPG fan. It has an undeniable charm, and a more personal feel than many blockbuster games. It’s well worth a look.

411mania.com (8.5 out of 10) (85%)

Overall this is a very solid RPG to be enjoyed. The quest structure, characters and general setting make it unique among other games. The length is about 15-25 hours depending on how much side stuff you wish to encounter. There is some technical jank here and there but it doesn't detract from the game. If anything, it actually kind of adds to it, giving it a charm all its own. If you like games like the Witcher 2, Fable or Two Worlds 2, this is a game that shouldn't be missed.

ripten (8.5 out of 10) (85%)

Overall, though, the problems with Risen 2 are minor. Some unobtrusive collision-detection and messy dialogue don’t take much away from what is otherwise a very solid RPG experience. The game is graphically stunning, the combat solid, and the semi-open world very well-designed. It is a great example of what every sequel should do, taking what made the original fun and building on it until you get a game that is equal to its progenitor in some respects, and outright superior in others. Risen 2: Dark Waters is definitely worth your time if you are a fan of the original, any of Piranha Bytes previous titles, or action-RPGs in general.

ZTGameDomain (8.5 out of 10) (85%)

Sure the combat may be a little wonky, but that didn’t stop me from putting almost 30 hours into the game. The overall story and character progression is a blast, and everything is handled in a very streamlined, accessible way. I can’t help but suggest it to hardcore RPG players. If you can look past some of the more useless skills and sluggish combat, you’ll still have a great time while playing Risen 2.

Everyeye.it (8.2 out of 10) (82%)

Seppur tecnicamente ci troviamo distanti dai fasti di The Witcher 2 o dalla complessità di Skyrim, Risen 2: Dark Waters riesce ad uscire a testa alta da uno scontro che molti definiribbero ad armi impari. Esattamente come un rozzo nostromo con gamba di legno e uncino, Risen 2 è un titolo imperfetto, le cui lacune sono però colmate da una sincera ed accurata ricostruzione di un'atmosfera che da sempre rende uniche le avventure per i sette mari. Se non siete amanti del genere potreste considerare l'acquisto di Risen 2 per le ambientazioni mozzafiato, i duelli con le sciabole e le gare di bevute con dei pirati sudici e puzzolenti. I fanatici del gioco di ruolo non possono invece lasciarsi scappare un titolo che offre un'interessante variazione sul tema; e se scalpitate per mettervi una benda sull'occhio e gridare: «Remate, cani rognosi!», allora levate l'ancora e preparatevi per un'epica avventura!

Spazio Games (8 out of 10) (80%)

Risen 2: Dark Waters non riesce a eccellere, a causa di diverse scelte intelligenti e originali ma sviluppate tutte con troppa superficialità. Preso come gioco di ruolo puro, il titolo targato Piranha Bytes soffre di scarsa profondità, trascinato a fondo tra le altre cose da un’IA deficitaria e da una gestione del combattimento che andava studiata più accuratamente. Per nostra fortuna a elevare l’intera produzione sopra la media ci pensano delle ambientazioni da mozzare il fiato, un’atmosfera incredibile e dialoghi davvero eccezionali, elementi essenziali per ogni GDR che si rispetti. Un titolo indirizzato fortemente, dunque, agli amanti del mondo piratesco che fanno del rum, della salsedine tra i capelli e delle battaglie a colpi di sciabola la loro ragione d’essere.

Imperium Gier ( ) (80%)

Oprócz tego drugi Risen oferuje możliwość dokonania wyboru pomiędzy wspieranymi frakcjami (a to wpływa również na sposób wykonywania zadań i dostępne umiejętności), zróżnicowane i ciekawe wyspy, naprawdę dużą liczbę misji pobocznych, rezygnację z jednolitego pancerza na rzecz kolejnych elementów odzienia, przepiękne widoki wraz z niesamowitą ścieżką dźwiękową i uroczą Patty u naszego boku. To wszystko sprawia, że Risen 2: Mroczne wody, pomimo niezbyt świeżej fabuły i mało umiejętnego budowania nastroju, okazuje się udanym otwartym RPG, proponującym kilkadziesiąt godzin naprawdę przedniej rozrywki. Ot, taki bardziej dostępny i awanturniczy Gothic z rumem zamiast napojów leczących i lalkami voodoo w zastępstwie kul ognia. Warto? Jak najbardziej, jeżeli tylko nie przeraża Was połączenie świata fantasy z pirackimi klimatami.

GamesCollection (8 out of 10) (80%)

Se avete voglia di evadere dalla realtà e tuffarvi (in tutti i sensi) in un mondo di pirati, mostri e magie, Risen 2 fa proprio per Voi! Consigliato soprattutto agli amanti degli RPG occidentali di stampo classico e, sicuramente, immancabile per gli amanti delle avventure piratesche, che rimarranno affascinati dalle ambientazioni davvero evocative.

XGN (8 out of 10) (80%)

Risen 2: Dark Waters is een hele verbetering tegenover het eerste deel. De perfectie is soms nog ver te zoeken, vanwege de matige camera en alle kleine fouten, die zelfs liefhebbers van het genre kan deren. Eigenlijk is Risen 2 perfect voor hardcore gamers omdat je alles zelf moet uitzoeken en slim moet nadenken over je zetten tijdens gevechten. Casual gamers zullen hier geen lol vinden. Het grootste pluspunt is de sfeer die ontwikkelaar Piranha Bytes weet neer te zetten. Overal valt wel iets te beleven en je waant je dan ook echt een dronken, luidruchtige piraat. En aangezien deze game niet speelbaar is in 3D, kun je tijdens het gamen gewoon lekker zelf een ooglapje opzetten.

Eurogamer.de (8 out of 10) (80%)

Ich bin altmodisch mit meinem Rollenspielen - siehe Grimrock - und ich mag diesen manchmal naiven, manchmal stupiden, stets braven deutschen Stil in diesem Spiel, so wie ich ihn zum Beispiel auch in einem Drakensang schätze. Risen 2 bedient diesen Geschmack perfekt und das trotz aller seiner Macken. Es ist keine echte Konkurrenz für Wichter 2 oder Skyrim. Aber es bietet genug eigenen Charme, um in seiner Nische mit Bravour zu bestehen.

Eurogamer.se (8 out of 10) (80%)

Risen 2: Dark Waters släpps ett år efter att jag och resten av världen har hämtat andan efter The Witcher 2. Alla rollspel i dag jämför jag därför med CD Projekt Reds mästerverk från förra året, och Piranha Bytes bidrag till genren når inte upp till polackernas suveräna kvalitet, men släpper ändå ett underhållande spel som kommer att hålla dig sysselsatt i många timmar framöver.

Eurogamer.it (8 out of 10) (80%)

Risen 2: Dark Waters è dunque un titolo in grado di intrattenere coloro alla ricerca di un'avventura divertente, complessa, con personaggi e situazioni strampalate. Il mondo piratesco funziona alla perfezione e gli sviluppatori sono stati bravi a sfruttarlo per rendere il gameplay vario, ma soprattutto molto originale.

3D Juegos (7.7 out of 10) (77%)

Tenía el potencial para convertirse en un auténtico clásico, pero Risen 2 se ha quedado algo lejos de ese objetivo. La simpleza en algunos apartados y contar con un sistema de combate muy injusto e impreciso en más ocasiones de las deseadas son los culpables de ello, aunque esta sigue siendo una gran aventura de rol que ha captado como pocas el espíritu de las mejores historias de piratas. Y esto es algo muy a tener en cuenta, porque a pesar de sus fallos, hemos disfrutado mucho del videojuego.

Jeuxvideo.com (15 out of 20) (75%)

Bien qu'elle mouille dans des eaux familières, Risen 2 : Dark Waters est une suite qui sait aussi se mettre en danger en mettant le cap vers de nouveaux horizons... au risque de s'échouer sur de terribles écueils. D'aucuns déploreront ainsi le morcellement de l'univers de jeu ou encore le système de combat bien moins technique, qui marque un vrai retour en arrière. Mais Risen 2, c'est aussi la possibilité de recruter un équipage pour naviguer d'île en île, de partir en expédition le fusil à l'épaule avec le compagnon de son choix, de projeter du sable à la figure de ses adversaires, de confectionner des poupées vaudoues pour prendre le contrôle de certains PNJ, ou encore d'utiliser un petit singe pour dénicher des trésors dans des ruines oubliées. Bref, un plaisir qui se construit sur une somme de détails réjouissants, le thème de la flibuste en prime. Il est d'autant plus regrettable que le jeu soit trahi par sa finition, un mal dont Piranha Bytes ne semble visiblement pas guéri.

JeuxActu (15 out of 20) (75%)

Et il faut faire avec quelques bugs graphiques, comme ces objets qui s'affichent brusquement au loin ou encore ces feuillages qui changent bizarrement de taille selon la distance à laquelle on se trouve d'eux (comme s'ils se gonflaient et dégonflaient selon qu'on avance ou qu'on recule). On espère vraiment qu'un patch et/ou une mise à jour des drivers graphiques viendront résoudre ces petits problèmes agaçants. Dernier grief, et non des moindres : la politique éditoriale qui saucissonne le jeu et nous le vend à la coupe. Trois contenus téléchargeables viennent ainsi "compléter" l'aventure le jour même de sa sortie. C'est évidemment un moyen d'augmenter le prix réel du jeu, et ce n'est pas digne d'une équipe aussi talentueuse que celle de Piranha Bytes.

Gamer.nl (7.5 out of 10) (75%)

Verder is Risen 2 een heel geslaagd spel; het vechtsysteem is ook niet dusdanig slecht dat het de hele spelbeleving aantast. Vooral door het amusante verhaal, het uitgebreide levelsysteem en veel variatie in de missies blijft je geboeid. De visuele pracht en de originele setting geven de boel bovendien de nodige sfeer mee, waardoor Risen 2 al met al een prima RPG is.

Meristation (7.2 out of 10) (72%)

Risen 2 no es tan buen juego como el primero. Está bien terminado en comparación con otros juegos de Piranha en sus primeros días, pero en el camino se ha dejado algunos elementos que hacen a los juegos de este estudio especiales. Se ha tratado de cambiar la estructura para llevar un poco de la mano al jugador durante las primeras horas, pero eso sólo ha conseguido que esas primeras horas sean tremendamente tediosas. Los cambios en el sistema de combate no funcionan y presenta numerosos problemas, además de resultar poco interesante y poco variados en líneas generales. La idea de sacrificar un gran mundo por uno dividido en islas diseminadas tampoco acaba de funcionar y quita algo de misterio e interés en el componente de la exploración, tan presente en otros juegos del estudio alemán.

PCActu (7 out of 10) (70%)

Le titre a pris des risques par rapport à son aîné et n'est pas récompensé totalement. Malgré de bonnes idées, les combats sont devenus trop simplistes et l'ambiance n'est pas totalement au rendez-vous malgré de magnifiques environnements. Le manque de vie de certains lieux et le manque de personnalité musicale sont donc rédhibitoires. Malgré tout, Risen 2 n'est pas une catastrophe et promet quelques heures de très bons moments grâce à un monde qui reste globalement assez plaisant et les interactions avec les personnages sont toujours aussi passionnantes.

Jeuxvideo.fr (7 out of 10) (70%)

Plus scénarisé et doté de dialogues plus intéressants que la plupart des jeux de rôle du moment, Risen 2 se démarque assez nettement de titres tels que Reckoning ou Skyrim, mais aussi de son prédécesseur, Risen premier du nom. De fait, l'aventure apparaît comme plus cloisonnée, plus linéaire aussi, mais ce qu'elle semble perdre en liberté, elle le gagne en richesse, en immersion. Doté d'un scénario qui s'ouvre progressivement et qui privilégie souvent l'interaction avec les personnages non-joueurs, Risen 2 est un titre que l'on a plaisir à découvrir d'autant que son ambiance, ses décors changent nettement de ce que l'on a coutume de voir. On regrettera encore quelques problèmes techniques et certains errements de gameplay, mais si on ne tient pas LE jeu de rôle du moment, on passe un très agréable moment en compagnie de pirates et de créatures fantastiques.

Gamekult (7 out of 10) (70%)

Avec ses décors luxuriants, ses îles chatoyantes et ses couchers de soleil magnifiques, Risen 2 est de plus assez joli, même si en termes d’optimisation il n’a encore pas la classe de son aîné et méritera un bon patch pour devenir correctement jouable chez tout le monde. Un bon jeu, donc, qui manque de peu le coche, la faute à une concurrence assez agressive, à une simplification légère de quelques mécaniques de jeu, et à un système de combat sans génie à défaut d’être complètement honteux. Restent une ambiance excellente et un univers parfaitement exploité, qui changent agréablement du médiéval fantastique traditionnel, et un travail d’écriture louable, qui en font un RPG idéal pour se changer les idées.

ActionTrip (7 out of 10) (70%)

It's not impossible to enjoy this game, but there's a lot to put up with. In many ways, Risen 2 feels like I've experienced the remnants of a once great game and that game is called Gothic.

Atomic Gamer (7 out of 10) (70%)

It turns out that if you throw enough pirate gags at the player, you still can't really cover up a stiff and busted combat system that's been holding you back for nearly a decade. What's new with the pirate theme is often original and off-beat, and with just a few tweaks and maybe a little letting go of their own traditions, Piranha Bytes could be making far more entertaining and exciting games. But as you play, you'll keep coming back to the feeling that the developers didn't seem to make a game that you wanted to play in the first place, and no amount of gnomish profanity, monkey thieving, or parrot antics are going to fix that. Risen 2 is another ambitious effort from one of Germany's most well-known game developers, but once again it is dragged down by combat that doesn't really ever feel right, and it's kind of sad to see so much effort and talent go into their games when some of the fundamentals have been ignored for so many years.

Game Over Online (70 out of 100) (70%)

I’m in a bit of a conundrum here. I have to be honest and give this entry the low marks that it clearly deserves. But at the same time, I feel like I’m smothering my child to death. After all, I can’t be the only reviewer who is going to dog-pile on this game, and when the numbers are finally tallied, publisher Deep Silver may just decide to end the Risen series altogether. So yes, Risen 2: Dark Waters is not worth buying at full price (grab it in a Steam sale for $20, six months from now), but, contradictorily, I really hope people ignore my advice and buy the game up anyway and enjoy the experience despite the abortive pacing. Because as much as I enjoy the thought of people taking my reviews seriously, I would rather play a longer, more polished, Risen 3 and 4 instead.

GameSpot (7 out of 10) (70%)

Risen 2's slow-paced progression and clumsy combat require and reward patience, something Risen and Gothic veterans have in spades. If you are such a player, you might be surprised by how focused this sequel is when compared with its sprawling, unforgiving predecessors. But Risen 2: Dark Waters surpasses its foibles, offering up a joyous and occasionally profane odyssey through humid jungles, dank caves, and imposing temples. It also lets you make monkeys fight each other, and that's a mechanic any RPG lover can get behind.

GameOver (Greece) (7 out of 10) (70%)

Παρά τις απλοποιήσεις που υπάρχουν, κάποια χαρακτηριστικά του Risen 2 είναι πιθανό να "τρομάξουν" μία μεγάλη μερίδα παικτών. Ωστόσο, αυτό δεν είναι αναγκαστικά κακό, μιας και μιλάμε για στοιχεία που διαμορφώνουν την προσωπικότητα του παιχνιδιού και δουλεύουν σωστά. Τελικά, το Risen 2 προσφέρει μία αξιόλογη εμπειρία, αλλά δεν είναι κατάλληλο για όλους. Έτσι, προτείνεται κυρίως σε όσους έχουν μία σχετική εμπειρία με το είδος, και μπορούν να παραβλέψουν μερικές ατέλειες και το -απλά ικανοποιητικό σε σχέση με άλλα, πραγματικά ΑΑΑ παιχνίδια- επίπεδο παραγωγής.

Games.cz (7 out of 10) (70%)

Dark Waters je hra, která se velmi těžko hodnotí. Ve většině aspektů objektivně překonává svého předchůdce, zároveň se mu ale koncepčně až příliš podobá i s mnoha nevyřešenými letitými nedostatky a resty. Ani pár novinek, poutavý příběh či hezká krajina nezakryjí, že Dark Waters je koncepčně zastaralé RPG, které by potřebovalo vyvětrat, stejně jako cimra kapitána Kida po ránu.

Game Chronicles (7 out of 10) (70%)

Risen 2 isn’t a game that you can just casually jump into and expect to power through. It’s an experience that asks for dedication, but your effort pays off. While you can never totally forgot about all of the game’s issues, there’s enough good in the game that makes it worth pushing through. It isn’t an experience for everyone, but if you consider yourself capable of taking on the challenge and don’t mind overlooking its technical flaws and some perplexing user interface decisions, Risen 2 is a rewarding experience with plenty of piratey fun.

Destructoid (7 out of 10) (70%)

What Piranha Bytes has developed could have been a thoroughly supreme game, one that could have gone toe to toe with the heavyweights of action role-playing. Due to a number of highly questionable design decisions, however, a lot of that potential has withered away. With so much lost, it's perhaps a testament to how talented the team secretly is that Risen 2 is still packed with fun in the face of truly inhibiting setbacks. That deserves a modest round of applause, at the very least.

PC PowerPlay Australia (7 out of 10) (70%)

Despite the puppeteer's strings getting caught, Risen 2 puts on a good show that you'll see through to the end.

4Players.de (69 out of 100) (69%)

Und dabei begegnet man einem wankelmütigen Figurenverhalten - Piranha Bytes hat sich zurück entwickelt: Als Rollenspieler vermisse ich ein freies Fraktionssystem (die eine Entscheidung ist ein Witz!) genauso wie gut inszenierte und konsequente Diebstahl-, Schlossknack- oder Einbruchsituationen. Obwohl das Abenteuer im letzten Drittel etwas offener wird und auch mal clevere Aufträge sowie mehr Erkundungsfreiheit anbietet, hat mir der größte Kritikpunkt immer wieder die Lust geraubt: Das schrecklich schwache Kampfsystem! Ich habe selten so viel so blödsinnig klicken müssen - von situativem Nervenkitzel ist bis auf wenige Bosskämpfe keine Spur. Am Ende war ich froh, dieses hübsche, aber flache Karibik-Abenteuer endlich zu verlassen.

GameTrailers (6.7 out of 10) (67%)

Risen 2 has more than a few issues, but there's plenty of buried treasure waiting here for players who are willing to dig for it. Unfortunately, the excavation is demanding, and the slaphappy combat and bland quest structure might prove too overpowering for players who want to sample one of the few examples of a genuine pirate roleplaying game. Suffer through the worst of it, though, and you might find that walking the plank isn't so bad after all.

IGN (6.5 out of 10) (65%)

With Risen 2 Piranha Bytes continues to demonstrate skill at crafting big, believable worlds. Dark Waters is at times beautiful, offering a finely detailed set of islands to explore on your quest to become a notorious pirate captain and vanquish an ancient evil. It's Piranha Bytes' most accessible game yet, and though its style and boorish, humorous dialogue fit well with the pirate motif, it's a role-playing experience that uses convention as a crutch and marginalizes or strips away a lot of elements that made the studio's past games stand out. Disappointing character development options, sloppy combat and run-of-the-mill questing structures often make Dark Waters more of a chore to play than it should be, and exploration isn't nearly exciting enough to make up for its many flaws. If you desperately to role-play as a pirate, you certainly can in Risen 2, but you'll also find little that's memorable, and a multitude of poorly implemented ideas and missed opportunities.

Games Finder (6.5 out of 10) (65%)

Risen 2 does a great job at capturing the pirate lifestyle and presenting it to players with impressive environments. Unfortunately the games other aspects are just average making the pirate appeal its main draw.

Vandal Online (6.5 out of 10) (65%)

No sabemos si las prisas por lanzarlo ya han tenido algo que ver, pero viendo el resultado final quizás lo más deseable habría sido que Risen 2: Dark Waters se hubiera retrasado un par de meses para pulir todos los problemas técnicos que padece y optimizarlo para que su rendimiento fuera óptimo, al igual que ha ocurrido con la versión para consolas. Viendo sus virtudes a nivel narrativo, de contenido y de desarrollo, podríamos haberle perdonado su irregular apartado gráfico, sus bugs e incluso su pobre sistema de combate, pero su optimización pone la puntilla y acaba por dinamitar un juego que podría haber sido bastante notable.

GameWatcher / Strategy Informer (6.5 out of 10) (65%)

There’s a great game in here, and people who buy Risen 2 will probably be quite content with their purchase if they can get past the infuriating first few hours (and that sugar quest in the giant termite cave, shudder). Sadly it’s dug itself a hole with a few terrible design decisions and the good things about the game can’t dig Risen 2 out of it. Not even with a big red ‘X’ on top of that hole. Dodge button and ship combat next time, please?

Absolute Games (AG.ru) (63 out of 100) (63%)

Зато к чистоте программного кода почти не подкопаться. За вычетом неприятного «бага» с квестом, Risen 2 ведет себя на редкость пристойно для уроженки Германии. Приятно видеть отлаженную игру, но лучше бы Piranha Bytes вдохнула в нее жизнь.

PC Gamer (61 out of 100) (61%)

Risen 2 is as coarsely put together as the pirates it references throughout. Dig around and there’s real gold to be found in the hours of game-time it offers, but the sheer hard work required to unearth them will be too much for all but the truly dedicated RPG plunderer.

BeefJack (6.1 out of 10) (61%)

For all its interesting elements and admirable ambition, Risen 2 is ultimately an unsatisfying and at times unedifying experience. Piranha Bytes still have a way to go to before they reach the RPG summit.

RPG Site (6 out of 10) (60%)

Risen 2 is an odd game filled with elements that don't really match with each other and often times conflict leaving the player wondering whether this was a well-conceptualized game. Odd choices in gameplay as well as a frustrating combat experience can leave you angry at times but the joy that can be had with its narrative and cinematic experience is something that can alleviate said annoyances. If pirates are your thing and you want to have a journey with a bit of hampered gameplay on the way then Risen 2 might be for you.

Game Informer Magazine (6 out of 10) (60%)

Seeing the promise that occasionally shines through Risen 2’s many flaws is disheartening. Collecting crewmembers could have been great, if they were any more than occasional quest objectives and distractions in combat. The animations for parries and counterattacks are wonderful in the five percent of fights where you get to take advantage of them. The world itself is stunningly beautiful at times, but content players are able to interact with meaningfully is thin on the ground. As much as I wanted to love it, Risen 2 ends up as another entry in the long list of games with a great premise, a few interesting ideas, and an unforgivable anchor dragging the whole thing down.

RPGamer (3 out of 5) (60%)

Risen 2 is a hard game to judge, because its overall quality depends entirely on what you're looking for in a video game. As an actual game, Risen 2 is mediocre. The gameplay is primitive and the technical problems alone are more than enough to recommend shying away from it. However, as an experience, Risen 2 is highly entertaining. Players willing to overlook the issues with the gameplay will find themselves sucked into a sweeping, high-seas adventure that's rare for the RPG genre.

GameSpy ( ) (60%)

If it sounds like I have a love/hate relationship with Risen 2, then guilty as charged. This is one of those games that's brimming with quirks, ranging from the minor (killed turkeys give you chicken meat) to momentously glitchy (complete a couple missions in the "wrong" order late in the game and an overarching quest breaks). And for all the artifact-gathering and hand-wringing over Risen 2's "big bad," the final fight is anti-climactic and relatively easy. But... for all its problems, I still recommend this game to RPG fans who are forgiving angels in real life, but unforgiving scurvy dogs in-game.

Cheat Happens (6 out of 10) (60%)

Risen 2 drips with charm and takes its pirate setting very seriously. Unfortunately, it's also filled with weird design choices and a slew of glitches that do nothing but take you out of the game. You're going to want to love Risen 2, but it's a bit of a tough sell.

PC Invasion (INC Gamers) (6 out of 10) (60%)

Objectively speaking, Risen 2 a bit of a broken, over-ambitious mess, but it’s a bizarrely enjoyable one because of the way the flawed mechanics flow together, and it’s buoyed up by its amount of heart. Once you get past the aggressive opening and the punishing first few hours, it opens up enough that it provides a half-decent RPG experience – and one with pirates. If you hurled a coconut at Risen 2 you’d be almost guaranteed to hit a problem of some sort, but it’s a game that’s certainly more than the sum of its parts.

NowGamer (6 out of 10) (60%)

There was much that could have been accomplished here, and at times you catch a small glimpse of greatness. There's plenty of content to dig into, also, if you're more worried about simply having something to do. With a bit more polish and care, Piranha Bytes could have unearthed buried treasure. But it’s possible the developer could have missed the big red “X” that was scrawled on the map its RPG forefathers.

Gameblog.fr ( ) (60%)

Risen 2 : Dark Waters est un bon jeu de rôle action mais certains choix de gamedesign et plusieurs défauts notables mettront la patience des joueurs à rude épreuve. Mais cette patience sera sans doute récompensée tant la montée en puissance, bien que lente, se révèle jouissive. Le vrai problème de Risen 2, outre sa difficulté et sa narration basique, c'est qu'il arrive sur le marché après les rouleaux compresseurs que sont Skyrim et The Witcher 2, qui le supplantent dans tous les domaines et le relèguent ainsi au rang de RPG action simplement correct...

Inside Gaming (6 out of 10) (60%)

Risen 2: Dark Waters sets out to deliver an adventurous RPG experience in a genre that doesn’t see much attention these days. While it partially succeeds in exploring some of the aspects of pirate life, it doesn’t deliver on it enough to make the experience super exciting. Its environments and visuals will draw you in, but the gameplay likely won’t hold the attention of the mainstream audience very long. The game has its moments, but put simply, I just didn’t have much fun. If you’re a pirate fan looking for a basic but functional adventure set in the land of pirates, Risen 2: Dark Waters is only a decent arrrrrrrpg.

Eurogamer.net (UK) (6 out of 10) (60%)

Ultimately, I'm going have to be a true pirate and shoot a hole in this game's sails. There's simply not a single thing that Risen 2 does well, not its stilted combat, not its transparent towns, and definitely not its plot, which feels like something you'd come up with after passing out with the Pirates of the Caribbean DVD menu music in the background. Then again, there's nothing it does badly either, so it's no thief. Not at all. Just a ship with no star to sail by.

Cheat Code Central (3 out of 5) (60%)

Essentially, Risen 2 feels rushed. With more time to spend, the developers could probably have fixed the combat, cleared up the most annoying graphical glitches, and implemented a better navigation system. Instead, they released a half-completed game. It's possible that further patches will help matters—other reviewers have pointed out that The Witcher 2 had similar combat problems until a patch overhauled the system. But barring some serious improvements, Risen 2 is an obvious candidate for the "do not buy" list.

G4 TV: X-Play (3 out of 5) (60%)

Risen 2: Dark Waters is full of ideas and designs that read great on paper. But fold that paper into a boat and try to sail with it, well... you're gonna have some soggy boots to say the least. For RPG genre fans willing to overlook some technical flaws, Risen 2 may very well be a treat and a refreshing change of pace. For the rest of us, this is a game that will never quite rise to the occasion.

RPGFan (58 out of 100) (58%)

Ultimately, Risen 2 feels unfinished. I feel like I played half a game, in terms of both content and quality. Unlike some games with small, but well designed worlds, Risen 2's feels small. Quests, main and side alike, are shallow and repetitive with few decisions for the player to make. A few choices early on prove meaningless, and the frequency of such branching paths decreases as the game progresses. Other elements feel half completed. Minor glitches occur, the art design lacks a coherent vision, and sound effects go missing. Companions go temporarily missing as well, likely hitting the bottle when they should be fighting so I don't have to. The translation is clearly incomplete, as only half of it makes much sense. And let's not mention the gameplay again. During my playthrough, I felt Risen 2 might come asunder at any moment.

Metro.co.uk (4 out of 10) (40%)

The final issue though is just how mercilessly unfunny the game. We have to stop ourselves making any stereotyped jokes about the standards of German comedy, mostly because the game itself relies on an uncomfortable range of sexist and borderline racist and homophobic 'jokes'. We're willing to believe it was all intended in good jest, and part of the problem is no doubt the quality of the English translation, but like the rest of the game it just doesn't really work as intended. At the very least most of the people you come across appear needlessly foul-mouthed and rude, which given the sort of quests they usually want to send you off on does not help to endear them to you.