[Parmenion62]

Received the game from Play yesterday. Playing it on my Samsung Q210 netbook P8400, NVIDIA 9200M GS so dont ask me about graphics - I am on 800x600 medium settings - runs fine. I have heard from RPG watch forums that it runs at max settings on moderate hardware. One warning apparently it doesnt work on GeForce 6000 or 7000 series graphics cards - you have been warned.

Gameplay is very good a lot like Gothic 2 and much better than Gothic 3. I love these games they are like the SLRs of the games world i.e. not just point and shoot!

EDIT: there is a demo available - make sure you get v2 - version 1 had a problem with installation
http://www.pcgameshardware.com/aid,6...demo/Download/

[eiren]

Going to have a look at the demo.

It uses the same engine as STALKER: Clear Sky apparently, and I love single player FPS rpgs.

[Parmenion62]

According to rpgwatch.com PB are working on a fix for the problem with 7900 series cards in case anyone is concerned.

The gameplay is fantastic and exploring off the beaten path is well rewarded - so far a great game - far better than gothic 3 - no bugs found so far and combat is very good.

[Sunshinewelly]

the reviews of this are very negative from those i have read

[Parmenion62]

The only negative reviews I have read mainly concern the graphics on XBox360 version - PC version has recieved some very good reviews- see:

RPGWatch

All I can say is that so far it has me hooked - great voice acting in the bandit camp! Gothic style games are never easy for beginners - you can meet very high level monsters at the beginning just by wandering off the beaten path - and get your ass kicked but that is what I love about these games - it takes a bit of thought how to deal with these situations.

[Joe Pineapples]

Tried this under windows xp and 191.03 driver. Everything was 'ok' maxed @1920 ,around the beach and the first jungle area, though i did get the odd judder, and at certain points during combat. Ok so far, things i could live with (played G3 afterall). Then got to the swamp camp at night with a lit torch and the framerate turned into a complete joke - very much initial G3 release performance. Anyway, totally put me off the game, but i have just tried it under Vista with the 190.62's, and it has transformed it. Still not perfect in the camp, but actually playable, and the combat is totally smooth. Now i can start to get into it proper.

[Sheepish]

I was playing this yesterday too. Im not very far in, only reached the camp because I had to start the game again due to a very annoying bug where I couldnt unsheath my weapon and had no autosave point to go back to. The game runs very nicely on my 4770 @ 1080p. The first time through I left it at 720 and noticed a lot of the lighting in the jungle was buggy (polygons being lit wrong) but all is pretty at 1080. I think im going to enjoy it though

[Joe Pineapples]

[QUOTE=Sheepish;10513406]I was playing this yesterday too. Im not very far in, only reached the camp because I had to start the game again due to a very annoying bug where I couldnt unsheath my weaponQUOTE]
I had this too. If it happens again, try unequiping your weapon from the inventory screen, then re-equiping it - that sorted it for me (could then unsheath/sheath it from that point on).

Working my way through the swamp camp quests, and liking it so far. I really enjoy the yorkshire accents, with the sort of dialogue i'm familiar with , (they sound like the same ones used in the Witcher). Combat can be tricky, and timing is crucial (not just button mashing)

One graphic problem i have is a dark brown halo around my character. Most noticeable during the day and when moving. Running the 190.62's (Vista).

[Sheepish]

Originally Posted by Joe Pineapples

If it happens again, try unequiping your weapon from the inventory screen, then re-equiping it - that sorted it for me (could then unsheath/sheath it from that point on).

I think i tried that, changing weapons, no weapon etc but couldnt put him into a fighting stance at all

One other thing i meant to mention - has anyone else seen the camera vibrate occaisionally? Initially i thought it was a glitch but I think there may be a subtle rumbling noise in the background as it happens and I seem to remember someone mentioning a volcano on the island.

[Joe Pineapples]

Originally Posted by Sheepish

IOne other thing i meant to mention - has anyone else seen the camera vibrate occaisionally? Initially i thought it was a glitch but I think there may be a subtle rumbling noise in the background as it happens and I seem to remember someone mentioning a volcano on the island.

Yes, so far, within two caves, along with the accompanying rumble sound.

[eiren]

Played the demo for a bit, seems quite good. The graphics are definitely the same engine as STALKER: Clear Sky... so there's some lovely lighting and environmental effects.

The STALKER games are usually quite buggy to begin with, so I'd be surprised if this doesn't take a few patches to get it running great.

[Joe Pineapples]

Originally Posted by eiren

Played the demo for a bit, seems quite good. The graphics are definitely the same engine as STALKER: Clear Sky... so there's some lovely lighting and environmental effects.

The STALKER games are usually quite buggy to begin with, so I'd be surprised if this doesn't take a few patches to get it running great.

Yeah, hoping a patch is not far away, and it takes care of the dark halo i see around all the characters Its not stopping me from playing it, but is only adding to the general muddiness that the graphics can take. Have wondered what it might have looked like, had they used the far cry engine.

[Doctor Hades]

I tried the Risen demo last week and played it right to the end which took about an hour. I wasn't impressed by it at all; it's neither awful nor especially good, just very ordinary. Graphically it's a mixed bag looking great as a static screenshot but pop up, flickering textures and clipping spoil it in motion and the latter two are especially noticeable in the laughable cinematics. (Why does it thunder and lightning every night though?). Voice acting is borderline passable as is the dialogue, music seems suited but unmemorable and the gameplay feels uninspired.

I'm glad I played the demo instead of blind buying. With Dragon Age: Origins just a month away and looking vastly superior in every way (IMO), I can't see why anyone would want to waste their money on what seems to be a mediocre RPG based on the demo.

[Parmenion62]

Just thought I would post an update about the game:

They are working on a patch - not sure of all the things they are working on but I know they are fixing the bug with 6000 and 7000 series NVIDIA cards - good news for me I have 7900GT on my PC. They are also working on a patch for Xbox 360 (mainly improving graphics quality).

I have now got through the Bandit Camp the Harbour city and the become a mage quests in the monastery - I think this game is great - not as good as gothic and gothic 2 but better than Gothic 3. I have been playing oblivion on PS3 and had got a long way through that (level 36) but I much prefer Risen. I am not that bothered about graphics - I am playing on my netbook (see first post) on 800x600 everything on low so if this is important to you I suggest playing the demo first - I realise this game will not be for everyone. If you are new to this series of games you are missing a treat and should play gothic and gothic 2 first - I envy you playing these games for the first time!

Two game breaking bugs in the monastery quests - save new games often - make sure you complete basic training before solving the murder. Dont tell the main mage (forgoten his name) that you have solved all the master mage quests until you have spoken to all of the masters to ensure that you have indeed completed their quests. These bugs didnt effect me but I have read about them in forums. I have only had one crash so far in all the time I have been playing the game. Thats it for now must get back to the game!

[Hawklord]

Thoroughly enjoying this game. Just finished the first chapter and I'm going the DON route. The game is rock hard at first but once you've leveled a bit it is nicely balanced.
Should keep me ocupied till dragon age comes out :D

[Fe_man2000]

I am enjoying this game after an rather nasty starting experience but I have a few ideas on how to make your start a little more fun.

also I a previous poster compared this to Dragon Age - which it not a good comparision for 2 reasons .

1.Dragon Age is not out and hence we cannot play it, so this game is better in that respect.
2. this is live "arcade" combat, where as dragon age is not, its similar to KOTOR with command based combat.

Dpnt worry I am looking forward to DA as well. but for more of the KOTOR experience, this is more like oblivion or fallout 3.


Anyway a few tips for new players.

1. get out of the woods.
when you start you basically are armed with a bit of wood or (rusty sword at best) no armour and no training so fighting is deadly, dont be put off, you will die a lot in the first 30mins of play, until you get to camp or the town.

I went the combat route (with the Don) if you choose similar be aware that you can only do some of the missions at the Dons camp at low levels, get into harbour town and level up some before you try to do them all, as most town Quests dont involve fighting.

2. Money is tight.
You have no cash at the start but after you have played it abit it comes no problem so dont worry about it early on. Just pick up everything you can find and things that mosters drop (e.g swords etc) and sell them.

3. Combat is hard.
At first - each level of sword fighting give you a new move or ability so by lvl 4 you can actually fight pretty well.

4. Blocking is the new black.
Block block block all the time, counter blows are the best way when you are low level - be patience when fighting and get you back to a wall or similar if facing more than one opponent at once.

Hope this helps, the more I play this the more I like it - I just got level 6 swords so I can use a Bas-tard sword in one hand and a shield in the other !

NOTE - personally I recommend getting sneak early on and lockpicking - I use them constantly.

[Parmenion62]

Now in chapter 3 and at level 22 - this is a great game - really enjoying just about every aspect of it. One tip invest in axe training if you are a fighter - you get the chance to have an axe in one hand and a shield in the other at level 6 axe (and there are at least two rings of axe +1 in the game) - also there are some axes available with awesome damage levels- even in chapter 2. I also invested in pickpocket to level 2 - good source of cash - which is in limited supply. Also invest in level 3 potion making - can make permanent attribute potions using hero's crowns and other herbs that are available in game (eg ogreroot + hero's crown = +5 strength potion) - there are about 19 hero's crowns in the game - some are very hard to find but thats what makes this game so good - happy hunting!

[SHARKuk]

I d/l the demo the other day and was very impressed with the gfx and sound. Picked up some wood and had a fight on the beach with two birds. Gave them both a good hammering and took there meat to cook on a fire. Woke that women up on the beach walked into the wood came across a third bird. Down he went then walked on a bit further and come across a porcupine type creature and it gave me a right ass whooping lol. So little game play and I really liked it. However I have my pc hooked up to a 32" HDTV and like to have it set at 1200x668 but this game doesn't support that res. Not sure if I could force it by editing some file but couldn't be bothered to look.

[Parmenion62]

Well finished the game now. Chapters 1 and 2 were excellent - kept me hooked. Chapters 3 and 4 were good and challenging - some good dungeons - very atmospheric. I could have done with more side quests in the last two chapters - perhaps another town opening up. The end boss fight was a massive dissapointment to me - it had no place in this game - a real shame - a very poor climax to what up until that point was a very good game. Still I hope they do an add on - would like to return to the world of Risen.