Risen 2: Dark Waters Interview

Hooked Gamers has an interview with Piranha Bytes’ Bjorn Pankratz, project director on Risen 2: Dark Waters, in which he talks about the transition from the Gothic IP to a new universe, the sequel’s combat system, the new art style and more. Here’s a snip:

Hooked Gamers: One of the major drawbacks of Risen was its awkward combat system (not a strength of the Gothic games either). The automated target selection felt like it was in the way more often than not, often causing you to attack different enemies than intended. How does combat work in Dark Waters, has this been improved?)

Björn Pankratz: The combat system has been totally reworked for Risen 2. As we have added muskets and pistols and completely changed the magic system, combat will be very different. For example, muskets are two-handed ranged weapons, and pistols can be used left-handed while wielding a cutlass in your right hand.

Hooked Gamers: Graphically, Dark Waters appears to move away from Risen, offering a more colorful world. We wouldn’t go so far as to say ‘˜cartoony’ but it’s infinitely brighter than its dark predecessor. What inspired this change?

Björn Pankratz: The story of Risen 2 is about pirates, set on several tropical islands in the South Seas where there are strange and colorful characters on board the ships featured in Risen 2. The light conditions and vegetation are in keeping with this setting. Also, unlike Risen, the game will feature much longer sections taking place on the surface. There will still be the usual darker and more sinister places though.

Hooked Gamers: An oft-heard comment on Risen was that it was a very old fashioned RPG, which was not necessarily a complaint. Still, we’re sure many fans are eager to learn what advancements Dark Waters will bring. What would you say is the biggest innovation you have made?

Björn Pankratz: There are a lot of new elements in Risen 2, but as our fans are used to a rather classic fantasy setting, the biggest innovation is probably the fact that this is a pirate RPG. In this connection, firearms and voodoo are another change, as are the many cutscenes we added to support our storyline.