Info about Risen 2: Dark Waters:

Official game description:
Set several years after the end of Risen, raging titans have devastated the world and pushed humanity to the brink of existence. Subsequently, monstrous creatures have risen from the watery depths of the sea and their attacks have brought all seafaring to a grinding halt. The hero, now a member of the Inquisition, is sent out to find out how to stop the chaos caused by these creatures from the deep. His quest begins with rumors that the pirates who frequent the southern islands are the only ones who know a way to get rid of the creatures once and for all and end their reign of terror.  
With an all-new pirate-based theme, Risen 2: Dark Waters aims to combine the most loved classic RPG gameplay mechanics of the original Risen with a fresh theme and setting on a huge variety of themed island locales. A third-person role-playing game set in a dark and gritty universe, Risen 2: Dark Waters maintains the most immersive features of the original Risen, with multiple approaches to every challenge allowing players to shape the game world based on their own decisions. These choices will serve to unlock new paths, features and additional skills for the character. Together with a highly interactive environment and a full day/night-cycle affecting countless aspects of the game world, Risen 2 will be set in the most immersive RPG game world so far.

Release date: Apr 26, 2012

Categories: Action RPG, Character Progression, Exploration, Open-World Exploration, Pirate Theme, Voodoo Mechanics, Gothic-like Gameplay, Third-Person Perspective

Feature scans:
- Mods: score 40; verdict: Buggy but Playable; summary: The game Risen 2 has notable stability issues and bugs that are somewhat mitigated by community-created mods and patches. Users frequently rely on these mods to improve gameplay and fix various issues, indicating a significant dependence on community fixes. However, the game is still playable without mods, albeit with some crashes and bugs.
- Steam Deck: score 60; verdict: Tinkering Required; summary: The game has several significant issues that impact the user experience. The most notable problems include clunky controls, poor animations, frequent crashes, and an unclear combat system. These issues collectively detract from the game's overall enjoyment and playability.

- Hardware Profile: No data
Feature extractions:
- Community Price: No data
- Playtime Metrics: No data
- Time-to-fun: No data
- Player Archetypes: No data


Below are summaries of things people say about the game per category.
Each point is assigned a weight that represents how often it is mentioned across all reviews.
What players like:
- Compelling story and characters (weight 0.34): The game features a unique and interesting plot with well-developed characters and engaging storylines. The setting, story, characters, and humor are well-received, making the narrative a strong point.
- Strong pirate theme and atmosphere (weight 0.33): The game is widely praised for its immersive pirate setting, capturing the spirit of piracy with a unique blend of fantasy and adventure. Players enjoy the distinctive atmosphere, engaging pirate plot, and the detailed implementation of the pirate theme.
- Diverse and interesting quests (weight 0.18): The game offers a variety of quests and activities, with diverse and creative quests that keep players engaged. The quests are varied and interesting, adding to the game's appeal.
- Fun and engaging gameplay (weight 0.18): Players find the game fun and entertaining, with exciting gameplay and cool mini-games. The overall experience is enjoyable and engaging.
- Exploration of tropical islands (weight 0.15): Players enjoy exploring the tropical islands, with a charming environment and the freedom to explore multiple islands. The theme of sailing and exploring islands is well-received.
- Good graphics for its time (weight 0.15): The graphics are considered very good for the game's age, with improved graphics and a fresh setting. The visuals are appealing and well-done, fitting the game's atmosphere.
- Excellent soundtrack and music (weight 0.13): The game features an excellent soundtrack with great and memorable music. The sound and music are fitting and well-received by players.
- Improved gameplay compared to Risen 1 (weight 0.11): The game is seen as an improvement over Risen 1, with better gameplay and a more enjoyable combat system. It is less frustrating and more enjoyable for fans of the original Risen.
- Unique combat mechanics (weight 0.11): The combat system is praised for its uniqueness and diversity, with a variety of melee combat options. The combat is based on timing and is considered enjoyable.
- Gothic-like gameplay and dialogue (weight 0.11): The game offers Gothic-like gameplay and dialogue, appealing to fans of the Gothic series. It features character customization and multiple quest lines, providing a nostalgic experience.
- Diverse and beautiful islands (weight 0.1): The game world is well-developed with diverse and beautiful islands. Each island has its own unique stories and themes, providing a varied and interesting exploration experience.
- Well-written and funny dialogue (weight 0.1): The game features great dialogue, especially between Patty and the protagonist. The dialogues are well-voiced, witty, and funny, adding to the game's charm.
- Well-developed characters (weight 0.1): The game features well-developed characters, with interesting and well-developed companion characters. The character models are good, adding depth to the game world.
- Unique and enjoyable experience (weight 0.09): The game offers a unique setting and experience, with a special design that sets it apart. Players find the game unique and enjoyable.
- Game with potential (weight 0.09): The game has its moments and is considered not bad, with potential for improvement. It has its good moments and is not too easy, providing a decent experience.

Common complaints:
- Clunky and frustrating combat (weight 0.38): The combat system is widely criticized for being clunky, unresponsive, and unsatisfying. Players find it sluggish, unbalanced, and poorly implemented, leading to a frustrating experience.
- Frequent game crashes (weight 0.17): The game is reported to crash frequently, especially in the Steam version. This includes periodic crashes to desktop, which significantly disrupts the gaming experience.
- Poor character animations (weight 0.16): Character animations are noted for lacking polish and appearing underdeveloped. They are described as outdated and wooden, detracting from the game's immersion.
- Useless and repetitive quests (weight 0.15): Quests are criticized for being useless, bugged, and repetitive. The quest design is often tedious and lacks variety, relying heavily on backtracking.
- Save game problems (weight 0.14): There are significant issues with saving the game, including broken saves and inconsistent saving. The lack of an auto-save feature exacerbates these problems.
- Bugged achievements (weight 0.13): Achievements in the game are reported to be bugged and not working properly. This includes issues with achievement counters resetting after closing the game.
- Uninteresting and weak story (weight 0.12): The story is criticized for being monotonous, predictable, and lacking depth. Players find it boring and unexciting, which affects their overall engagement with the game.
- Not as good as the first part (weight 0.12): Players feel that the game is not as good as its predecessor, Risen 1. It is considered more complicated and slightly worse than the original.
- Poor customer support and localization (weight 0.08): The game is criticized for poor customer support and localization. Additionally, the control scheme and combat system are considered poor.

Gameplay feedback:
- Diverse combat system (weight 0.38): The game features a combat system that includes melee weapons, firearms, and magic. Players can engage in combat using swords, pistols, muskets, and other weapons, providing a variety of combat experiences.
- Character system and progression (weight 0.31): The game includes a character system with attributes, skills, and a progression system. Players can upgrade their skills and abilities, and choose different factions and story paths.
- Pirate-themed setting (weight 0.3): The game is set in a pirate-themed world with various locations and a colonial setting. Players can explore different islands and engage in pirate adventures.
- Open-world exploration (weight 0.3): The game offers an open-world environment with multiple islands to explore. Players can discover secrets, hidden treasures, and different themes across various islands.
- Voodoo mechanics (weight 0.1): The game introduces voodoo mechanics, allowing players to control other characters and engage in voodoo quest lines. This adds a unique element to the gameplay.
- Enemy variety (weight 0.08): The game offers a variety of enemy types, including different animals and pirates. This adds diversity to combat encounters.
- Side quests and NPCs (weight 0.07): The game includes numerous side quests and interactions with NPCs. However, some side quests may be shallow.
- Gothic-like dialogue (weight 0.07): The game features dialogue in the style of the Gothic series, with a mix of humor and coarse language.
- Criticism of combat system (weight 0.07): Some players criticize the combat system as primitive or poorly designed, indicating a need for improvement in combat mechanics.
- High replayability (weight 0.06): The game offers high replayability with many hours of gameplay. Players can enjoy the game multiple times due to its engaging content.

Performance notes:
- Frequent game crashes and freezes (weight 0.36): Many players report that the game frequently crashes and freezes, often at various points such as during gameplay, cutscenes, or after extended play sessions.
- Performance and optimization issues (weight 0.2): Players experience performance issues such as low FPS, frame drops, and high CPU usage. The game is also reported to have poor optimization and high system requirements.
- Compatibility and settings issues (weight 0.17): There are reports of compatibility issues, particularly with gamepads and specific operating systems like Windows 10. Players also mention the need for various patches and adjustments to improve game performance.
- Animation and graphical polish (weight 0.09): The game's animations and graphical polish are criticized for lacking quality. This includes issues with lip-syncing, character animations, and various graphical effects.
- Loading times and control issues (weight 0.05): Players have noted long loading times and stiff controls, which can detract from the overall gaming experience.
- Cloud saving and achievement issues (weight 0.04): There are reports of issues with cloud saving, particularly on platforms like the Steam Deck, as well as bugged achievements.

Recommendations:
- Worth trying at least once (weight 0.11): Many players suggest that the game is worth playing at least once, indicating a generally positive reception.
- Flawed but charming experience (weight 0.1): The game offers a worthwhile experience for fans of action RPGs despite having an underdeveloped combat system and bugs. It is charming and atmospheric, typical of Piranha Bytes games.
- Recommended for pirate RPG fans (weight 0.07): This game is highly recommended for fans of unusual RPGs, particularly those who enjoy pirate and swashbuckling themes.
- Recommended for story-driven exploration (weight 0.07): The game is recommended for those who enjoy story-driven narratives with an emphasis on exploration and unique mechanics.
- Play for trilogy completion (weight 0.05): Some players recommend this game only for those who want to complete the Risen trilogy or finish the hero's storyline.
- Start with earlier games (weight 0.05): Players suggest starting with earlier games in the series, such as Risen 1 or Gothic 1 and 2, for a better experience.
- Underappreciated gem (weight 0.05): The game deserves more credit than it receives and is worth playing for those willing to embrace its changes and unique aspects.
- Use guides and patches (weight 0.05): Players recommend using guides, especially during specific parts of the game, and downloading the 64-bit patch to avoid frequent crashes.
- Nostalgic appeal (weight 0.05): The game may be enjoyable for those playing out of nostalgia for earlier titles by Piranha Bytes.
- Affordable and accessible (weight 0.05): The game is noted for being cheap and accessible, especially when purchased on sale or in a bundle deal.
- Enhance enjoyment with cheats (weight 0.05): Some players suggest using cheats or console commands to make the game more enjoyable, indicating potential difficulty or frustration points.
- Recommended for Piranha Bytes fans (weight 0.03): The game is recommended for fans of Piranha Bytes games, known for their distinctive style and challenges.
- Recommended for bug-tolerant players (weight 0.03): The game is recommended for players who can tolerate bugs and enjoy challenges, suggesting a niche audience.
- Play for story, not achievements (weight 0.03): Players recommend focusing on the story rather than achievements for a better experience.
- Casual fantasy experience (weight 0.03): The game is recommended for casual RPG players looking for a solid, not too intense fantasy experience for a few evenings.

Other player notes:
- Bundled game purchase (weight 0.03): The game was often purchased as part of a bundle, indicating that players may have acquired it alongside other games.

Emotions:
- Enjoyment (weight 0.26): Players find enjoyment in the pirate theme, engaging story, and exploration elements of the game. The atmosphere, humorous dialogues, and unique pirate setting contribute significantly to the overall fun and entertaining experience. Additionally, the improved combat mechanics and interesting quests enhance the gameplay, making it a solid and enjoyable experience despite some flaws.
- Frustration (weight 0.25): Players experience frustration primarily due to frequent crashes, buggy achievements, and a clunky combat system. Technical issues, such as game crashes during cutscenes or travel, and poor combat mechanics, including unsatisfying sword fighting and firearms mechanics, contribute significantly to this frustration. Additionally, the game's performance issues and the need for cheats to achieve 100% completion add to the overall dissatisfaction.
- Disappointment (weight 0.15): Players feel disappointed due to the game's departure from the expectations set by its predecessor, Risen 1. The shift in theme from medieval fantasy to pirates, along with simplified mechanics and a weaker story, contribute to this sentiment. Technical issues, such as frequent crashes and poor graphics, further exacerbate the disappointment, making the overall experience underwhelming compared to the first game.
- Nostalgia (weight 0.07): Players experience nostalgia when replaying the game, as it brings back memories of their childhood or earlier gaming experiences. The familiar pirate theme, atmosphere reminiscent of classic games like Gothic, and the charm of Piranha Bytes' unique style evoke a sense of nostalgia. This emotion is often tied to the personal history and fond memories associated with the game.
- Satisfaction (weight 0.04): Players feel satisfied with the game's dynamic and interesting gameplay, diverse quests, and unique pirate setting. The transition to muskets and pistols, along with good voice acting and improved game mechanics, contribute to a pleasant and well-rounded experience. Despite some flaws, the overall gameplay and engaging story provide a sense of satisfaction.
- Joy (weight 0.04): Players experience joy from the game's unique and interesting pirate setting, beautiful landscapes, and engaging story. The charming pirate theme, enjoyable humor, and immersive atmosphere contribute to a great time playing the game. The combination of these elements creates a joyful and entertaining experience.
- Appreciation (weight 0.03): Players appreciate the game's richly detailed world, compelling setting, and freedom of choice. The atmosphere, improvements in gameplay, and the unique pirate setting are highly valued. Additionally, the rich social interactions, quest variety, and Gothic-like gameplay elements contribute to a sense of appreciation for the game's design and development.
- Anger (weight 0.02): Players feel anger due to technical issues that make the game unplayable, such as frequent crashes and launching problems. Poor combat systems, buggy minigames, and lost progress due to crashes contribute to a frustrating experience. The combination of these technical and gameplay issues leads to a sense of anger and dissatisfaction.
- Excitement (weight 0.02): Players feel excited about the game's immersive pirate setting, variety of quests, and adventurous atmosphere. The unique pirate theme, dynamic gameplay, and engaging story create a sense of excitement. The fresh setting, improvements, and character customization options contribute to the overall enthusiasm for the game.
- Positive (weight 0.02): Players have a positive experience with the game's setting, role-playing aspects, and overall gameplay. The improvements, story, side quests, and skill tree contribute to an enjoyable experience despite some flaws. The combination of these elements creates a positive and satisfying gaming experience.
- Surprise (weight 0.01): Players are surprised by the game's positive aspects and unique setting. The unexpected quality and engaging elements of the game contribute to a sense of surprise. The game's ability to stand out with its unique features and setting creates a surprising and pleasant experience.
- Admiration (weight 0.01): Players admire the game's quality and complex combat system. The well-designed mechanics and overall high quality of the game contribute to a sense of admiration. The game's ability to deliver a compelling and well-crafted experience is highly regarded.
- Enthusiasm (weight 0.01): Players are enthusiastic about the improved combat system and dynamic world interactions. The beautiful open world and interesting story create a sense of enthusiasm. The engaging gameplay and immersive setting contribute to an enthusiastic and exciting gaming experience.}