Deep Silver, along with developer Piranha Bytes, is set to release their latest RPG ‘Risen 2: Dark Waters’ this April on PC, and eventually across multiple platforms. Taking place several years after the events in ‘Rising’ this open-world title takes place in a tropical fantasy setting set for adventure.
Risen 2: Dark Waters will release on PC, PS3 and Xbox 360, with a digital version available for download on PC earlier than its console counterpart. In Risen 2 humanity is nearing extinction, barely surviving in its only capital city ‘Caldera’ located on the ‘Lost Realm Peninsula’.
Even here the chaotic and violent world edges closer to the town’s walls as sea monsters have caused trade routes to be blocked, choking the already desperate town. It is at this moment when players will take the role of the hero, sent to discover the secret to destroying the monsters from the pirates of the ‘Southern Islands’. In the game you will have to infiltrate the pirate ranks, learn their secrets and prepare yourself to battle the sea monsters and save the city of Caldera.
Risen 2 is a complete graphical overhaul from the first title in the series. The game will feature advanced high-res texturing, a weather system, new water and light/shadow effects and a new NPC creation structure. Piranha Bytes have revamped the character animation in the game, this will allow the title to create new, more “unique”, NPCs then players saw in the first Risen game. These NPCs will have “daily routines” that will react to the players choices and behavior. This goes beyond just the human NPCs, animal AIs will also have behavior patterns and daily rituals like sleeping or searching for food, depending on what time of day it is.
The game will transform completely from day to night, with a dynamic weather system that creates changing weather patterns that can affect your gameplay decisions. Player-choice plays a very large role in Risen 2, not only does this change how you interact with the world but it can even change “the world itself” depending on your choices during the game. Deep Silver has stated that “Every decision made has a consequence – it may change the character’s skillset, NPC relationships, or even potential questlines”.
The world of Risen 2 takes you to a vast variety of islands, each of which were hand-designed without the use of “copy and paste set pieces”. The map and design of the game is ment to promote the sense of adventure and discovery. Whether you are simply traveling to the next location on your journey, searching for hidden treasures or exploring secret new places.
The character design and scope of the world is very impressive, different islands may have different cultures, race or inhabitants. How you interact with these people could change your relationship with other islands, or affect different quests. Deep Silver has slowly teased some of the characters that you may meet in the game (shown on the right) showing off the careful consideration that was made when creating the world that you will be playing in.
Dark Risen 2: Dark Waters Edition is set to release as a digital PC download on April 27, 2024 and on May 22, 2024 for PS3 and Xbox 360.
