Close Menu
  • Support Us
  • Newsletter
  • News
  • Features
  • Interviews
  • Reviews
    • Video Games
      • Previews
      • PC
      • PS5
      • Xbox Series X/S
      • Nintendo Switch
      • Xbox One
      • PS4
      • Tabletop
    • Film
    • TV
    • Anime
    • Comics
      • BOOM! Studios
      • Dark Horse Comics
      • DC Comics
      • IDW Publishing
      • Image Comics
      • Indie Comics
      • Marvel Comics
      • Oni-Lion Forge
      • Valiant Comics
      • Vault Comics
  • Podcast
  • More
    • Event Coverage
    • BWT Recommends
    • RSS Feeds
Facebook X (Twitter) Instagram
Support Us
But Why Tho?
RSS Facebook X (Twitter) YouTube
Trending:
  • Features
    Warframe

    Biggest ‘Warframe’ Announcements From PAX East 2025

    05/13/2025
    The First Descendant Season 3: Breakthrough keyart

    ‘The First Descendant’ Season 3 Looks Like A Gamechanger

    05/11/2025
    Mafia: The Old Country promotional still

    Everything We Know About ‘Mafia: The Old Country’

    05/08/2025
    Sunderfolk Phone Players

    10 ‘Sunderfolk’ Tips To Help You And Your Party Thrive

    05/02/2025
    Bob in Thunderbolts But Why Tho

    ‘Thunderbolts*’ Visualizes Depression As Only A Superhero Movie Can

    05/02/2025
  • Star Wars
  • K-Dramas
  • Netflix
  • Blood of Zeus
  • MCU
But Why Tho?
Home » Xbox One » REVIEW: ‘Risen’ is an RPG Out of Time (Xbox One)

REVIEW: ‘Risen’ is an RPG Out of Time (Xbox One)

Arron KluzBy Arron Kluz01/27/20235 Mins ReadUpdated:04/13/2024
Untitled design 4
Share
Facebook Twitter Pinterest Reddit WhatsApp Email

Risen is a cult-classic RPG developed by Piranha Bytes and released in 2009. While it was originally published by Deep Silver, THQ Nordic has stepped in to see the game released on the Switch, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One. However, it is important to note that the newest release of the game is not a remaster but is instead a straight port. It is the original Risen ported to newer consoles, blemishes and all, positioning it as a blast back to a different age of western RPGs.

The game begins with the player’s stowaway character washing up on the shores of a small island after their ship is destroyed by a massive being. After punching their way through wild beasts, they eventually find civilization, where the game really begins. On the island, players can explore a microcosm of the factions and subsequent politics of the larger world. There is a brutal inquisition known for enslaving people, a mysterious and magical monastery, and a camp of outlaws struggling to survive in the swamps. 

Get BWT in your inbox!

Subscribe to our weekly newsletter and get the latest and greated in entertainment coverage.
Click Here

Get BWT in your inbox!

Subscribe to our weekly newsletter and get the latest and greated in entertainment coverage.
Click Here

These factions lay the groundwork for the player to make a decision regarding which side they wish to help investigate the mysterious ruins of a temple that appeared on the island. Each side has its own benefits and morally questionable aspects that make aligning yourself with one of them a real conundrum. This also helps the world of Risen to feel more interesting and realistic because of how it helps no issue that players deal with seem clear cut. This, along with the possibilities of different character builds, helps make repeat playthroughs of Risen seem especially appealing. 

This is done particularly through how limited players are when developing their characters. Risen forces players to improve their characters by purchasing training from characters throughout the world. In addition to gold, players also need to spend learning points to do so, which are gained by leveling up through completing quests and killing a range of enemies. Players can do so not only to raise their basic attributes Strength, Dexterity, and Wisdom but also their skills for specific weapon types and skills like Swords, Sneaking, and two forms of magic. 

This system works excellently to restrict players, forcing them to consider what skills they need for their desired playstyle before sticking to those decisions. It also helps make thoroughly exploring the game’s world and speaking to as many NPCs as possible to find new trainers feel very rewarding. The reliance on gold to improve your character also helps balance the benefits of buying new items like two-handed swords or stronger bows which have high attribute requirements that players also have to pay for before wielding them. 

Risen also excels at how well it encourages players to explore solutions to its quests thanks to their interactive solutions. Most quests throughout the game can be solved in numerous ways while not devolving to the dichotomy of one benevolent and one malevolent solution each, like the Fable games released around the same time.

Untitled design 5 

Leveling up weapon skills also allows players to gain access to new skills and moves for combat, such as parrying attacks or attacks with large areas of effect to help deal with hordes of enemies. Combat in Risen starts off feeling rather clunky and barebones, and there is a definite learning curve that will see newcomers having to attempt fights early on in the game a few times to get them right. This can get frustrating early on in one’s playthrough, but as players develop their skills and get access to new abilities it grows in scope and steadily becomes easier. This likely won’t appeal to all players, but for those that are willing to stick around it provides a fantastic sense of character growth and power development. 

However, the process of getting there also isn’t helped by Risen’s poor tutorials and onboarding for new players. It’s been more than a decade since I had to search through pre-2010 forums to figure out how a game’s leveling system worked, but Risen saw me doing just that. This issue also extends to certain systems and strange UI elements that make it feel like you don’t fully understand the game until doing research or sinking a few hours into experimenting before loading an old save to regain the precious resources used to do so. 

Risen is far from an RPG for everybody, but for the right player, it is a member of a rare breed that doesn’t see many new releases anymore. For fans of games like Gothic, Risen is a solid experience that balances out its impenetrability with being exceptionally rewarding. So, whether you want to visit an older style of western RPG or replay a fondly remembered cult classic, Risen is a solid port to do so with.

Risen is available now on PC, PlayStation 4, Switch, and Xbox One.

Risen
  • 7/10
    Rating - 7/10
7/10

TL;DR

Risen is far from an RPG for everybody, but for the right player it is a member of a rare breed that doesn’t see many new releases anymore. For fans of games like Gothic, Risen is a solid experience that balances out its impenetrability with being exceptionally rewarding. So, whether you are looking to visit an older style of western RPG or replay a fondly remembered cult classic, Risen is a solid port to do so with.

Share. Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn WhatsApp Reddit Email
Previous ArticleKaguya-Sama: Love is War Coming to Theaters
Next Article INTERVIEW: ‘New Gods: Yang Jian’ to life with Light Chaser Animation’s Zhao Ji and Yu Zhou
Arron Kluz

Arron is a writer and video editor for But Why Tho? that is passionate about all things gaming, whether it be on a screen or table. When he isn't writing for the site he's either playing Dungeons & Dragons, watching arthouse movies, or trying to find someone to convince that the shooter Brink was ahead of its time. March 20, 2023

Related Posts

Monster Hunter Rise Sunbreak — But Why Tho (2)

DLC REVIEW: ‘Monster Hunter Rise: Sunbreak’ (Xbox One)

04/25/2023
Digimon Survive - But Why Tho

REVIEW: ‘Digimon Survive’ Warp Digivolves a Classic Story (XBO)

08/14/2022
As Dusk Falls

REVIEW: ‘As Dusk Falls’ Is an Insightful Family Drama (Xbox One)

07/18/2022
Rainbow Six Extraction

REVIEW: ‘Rainbow Six Extraction’ Has Plenty of Promise (Xbox One)

01/19/2022
Far Cry 6

REVIEW: ‘Far Cry 6’ Brings Zany Gameplay and Great Characters (Xbox One)

10/06/2021
Phoenix Point: Behemoth Edition

REVIEW: ‘Phoenix Point: Behemoth Edition’ Gets the Point (Xbox One)

10/05/2021
TRENDING POSTS
Cho Bo-ah and Lee Jae-wook in Dear Hongrang
8.0
TV

REVIEW: ‘Dear Hongrang’ Weaves A Tangled Web

By Sarah Musnicky05/16/2025Updated:05/16/2025

With its foundation set in mystery and intrigue, it’s no surprise that Dear Hongrang (Tangeum) is a complicated viewing experience.

Murderbot Season 1 keyart from Apple TV Plus
9.0
TV

REVIEW: ‘Murderbot’ Continues Apple TV+’s Sci-Fi Winning Streak

By Kate Sánchez05/12/2025Updated:05/13/2025

Humor, action, and the weirdness of science fiction keep Apple TV+’s Murderbot hitting every single episode.

Bet (2025)
6.5
Film

REVIEW: ‘Bet’ Is a Bold and Risky Live-Action Adaption

By LaNeysha Campbell05/15/2025Updated:05/15/2025

‘Bet’ (2025) brings the high-stakes world of ‘Kakegurui’ to life (again), an American live-action adaptation of Homura Kawamoto’s manga series.

Marie Bach Hansen in Secrets We Keep
6.5
TV

REVIEW: ‘Secrets We Keep’ Will Give You Whiplash

By Sarah Musnicky05/15/2025

Secrets We Keep is a decent binge-watch. However, it needed to take a beat to let the suspense grow and be savored properly.

But Why Tho?
Facebook X (Twitter) Instagram Pinterest RSS YouTube Twitch
  • CONTACT US
  • ABOUT US
  • PRIVACY POLICY
  • SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER
  • Review Score Guide
Sometimes we include links to online retail stores. If you click on one and make a purchase we may receive a small contribution.
Written Content is Copyright © 2025 But Why Tho? A Geek Community

Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.

But Why Tho Logo

Support Us!

We're able to keep making content thanks to readers like YOU!
Support independent media today with
Click Here