Risen 2: Dark Waters Preview

The latest to offer a preview for Piranha Bytes’ pirate-themed sequel to Risen is GameDynamo, reminding us why there is much to look forward in this open-world title. Here’s a sampling:

The mechanics of Risen 2 are receiving a bit of an overhaul, as well. Bows and arrows have gone the way of the dinosaur, replaced by gunpowder firearms – what’s a good pirate without his trusty revolver and a few cannons on his ship, right? Naturally, both melee combat and magic are still going to be present in the game, as well. There’s not much info on the magic system at the current moment, but the combat animations are a lot more fluid and visually impressive than Risen’s oft-awkward and clunky sequences.

Piranha Bytes is going out of their way to make their fantasy world appear as real as possible. The game’s got a regular day-night cycle, and everyone (even monsters) sleeps eventually. Can’t seem to beat down that ogre to steal the chalice he’s guarding? Wait for him to take a nap and make off with it in the night?

Freedom of choice is also big in this game – if you want to shoot that corrupt governor in the head, feel free; just be prepared to suffer the consequences when his guards bust through the door to find out what happened to their boss. Factions also play an important part in the game – if you want something from a person or group, they need to trust you first.