Risen 2: Dark Waters
A pirate-themed action RPG set in a fantasy Caribbean.
Risen 2: Dark Waters is an action role-playing game from 2012, created by Piranha Bytes and released by Deep Silver. It follows the first *Risen* game as the second entry in the series. The game adopts a pirate theme within a fantasy setting that includes monsters, ancient gods, and voodoo magic.
The PC version arrived in late April 2012, while the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 versions followed in late summer of that year. Piranha Bytes handled the PC development directly, and the French studio Wizarbox took on the console ports. Critical reception was mixed. A sequel, *Risen 3: Titan Lords*, came out in 2014.
In terms of gameplay, it is an action role-playing game viewed from a third-person perspective. Players control a main character whose physical appearance is fixed, but they can change clothing and develop skill sets. The game features five core attributes: Blades (for swords, daggers, and throwing weapons), Firearms (for pistols and rifles), Toughness (damage resistance), Cunning (stealth, thievery, persuasion), and Voodoo (black magic and rituals). Each attribute covers multiple sub-skills called Talents, which offer various perks. Players earn Glory by completing quests, discovering locations, and defeating enemies, and they spend Glory to improve attributes and talents. Talents can also be boosted temporarily or permanently by certain items, clothing, or jewelry. Trainers found throughout the world teach additional abilities—such as kicking opponents, training monkeys or parrots to steal or distract, alchemy, gunsmithing, and forging—but these require a minimum attribute level and a gold fee.
Combat uses two weapon slots that players can switch between with hotkeys. The right hand typically holds a bladed weapon or a two-handed rifle, while the left hand carries a secondary item like a pistol, sand to blind foes, or trained wildlife. Some items need both hands to aim. Drawing weapons near non-hostile characters is discouraged unless they flee or attack. AI-controlled companions can join the player, offering combat aid and unique abilities.
The setting is a fictional Caribbean-like tropical region, divided into islands and coastal areas with jungles, caves, tribal villages, and outposts.
Quick Facts
- Title
- Risen 2: Dark Waters
- Developer
- Piranha Bytes / (Win) · Wizarbox / (PS3 & X360)
- Publisher
- WW · Deep Silver · JP · Ubisoft
- Engine
- Genome with NaturalMotions Morpheme
- Series
- Risen
- Genre
- Action role-playing
- Modes
- Single-player
- Platforms
- Microsoft Windows / PlayStation 3 / Xbox 360
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
Risen 2: Dark Waters is set in a fictional, fantasy-orientated region based on the Caribbean tropics. The world is divided into multiple islands and coastal areas home to jungles, caves, tribal villages, and outposts. Travel between islands is done with the player's pirate ship, and each location can only be accessed for the first time through progression of the main story quest, though they can be revisited later. The game features a day and night cycle, and players can fast-travel between discovered points of interest.
The story begins in the Crystal Fortress at the port of Caldera, the last fortress of the Inquisition and the Old Empire, under assault by ancient gods called Titans. A sea monster called the Kraken, under the command of the Titan goddess Mara, prevents supplies from reaching Caldera. The hero, a former Inquisition member, teams up with the pirate Patty to find her father, the pirate Gregorius Emanuel Steelbeard, who has discovered the location of the Titan Harpoon—a weapon that could kill Titan Lords. After acquiring the Harpoon, Steelbeard reveals that three other Titan artifacts must be used in conjunction with it to kill Mara. The hero then seeks these artifacts from their owners.
Reader's Guide
Risen 2: Dark Waters received mixed reviews from critics. Its significance lies in its continuation of the Risen series with a shift to a pirate setting, incorporating voodoo magic and firearms alongside traditional melee combat. The game offers a variety of character customization through five key attributes—Blades, Firearms, Toughness, Cunning, and Voodoo—each with multiple sub-classes called Talents. Players gain Glory by completing quests, discovering locations, and defeating enemies, which is used to level up attributes and talents. The combat system allows two weapon slots, with bladed weapons in the right hand and secondary items like pistols or sand in the left. AI-controlled companions can aid in combat and questing. The game's legacy includes a sequel, Risen 3: Titan Lords, released in 2014, but the mixed reception of Risen 2 suggests it did not achieve the critical success of its predecessor.
Did You Know?
- The PC version was developed by Piranha Bytes, while French developer Wizarbox handled the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 versions.
- Players can train monkeys and parrots to steal and distract foes.
- The game features a voodoo doll that allows direct control of other characters.
- The Titan Harpoon can potentially kill even the Titan Lords themselves.
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