GB Feature: Risen 2: Dark Waters Interview

With a beta version of Risen 2: Dark Waters making its way to Steam next week (we’re actually downloading it for a preview as I type this), I figured it would be a great time to fire off some questions to the team in order to get some last-minute answers before we go hands-on with the RPG sequel. Here’s are a couple of the answers that Piranha Bytes project director Björn Pankratz was willing to share:

GB: You’ve stated that we’ll be the captain of our own ship in Risen 2, and that it will be a “central” part of the game. Can you break down how ship customization and travel will function? Will there be on-board combat scenarios and upgrade options to make the ship more powerful/faster?

BP: The player’s ship can moor at all islands and the mainland, so long as the player has discovered their location. To travel, the player can use a travel map to tell the helmsman on board where to go; the ship then casts off and makes for the chosen destination. On board, the player can walk around on deck and talk to crew members, or enter the captain’s cabin to rest. How to acquire a ship in the first place is something you should find out for yourselves…

…

GB: How have you improved the companion system in the sequel? Will we have more control over our companions, particularly when it applies to their advancement options, equipment, and combat AI?

BP: First of all, in most situations players can choose whether to take a companion along, and which companion. The companions make comments, sometimes get involved in conversations, and have different skills. One may be a healer, while another collects items for me, etc. At any time during the game, players can tell the companions they have in their crew to wait, return to the ship, or give them healing potions.