It’s not often that fantasy role playing games appear on the PC some months before a console counterpart emerges, but that’s exactly the scenario with Risen. It’s said the time since it’s PC release has been used wisely to make improvements demanded by console role playing fans.

With that said, Risen should end up being a pretty impressive title all round when it’s released on the XBox 360 on February 23rd 2010, as the PC version from late last year wasn’t a bad game by any means – though it did leave some room for improvement.

RISEN TRAILER

Risen see’s you washed up on an unknown island – where exactly you don’t know, but it does not take long for you to realise that you aren’t the only inhabitant. Two rival factions already exist there, known as the Bandits and the Inquisition. Both factions have their own way of life on the island, and also their own ultimate intentions.

As ‘the hero’, you are tasked with choosing an alliance to a faction and your choice will have big impact on the Risen game that you experience. Other residents on the island are some bizarre looking creatures, most of which are intent on killing you – either for food, or just for the fun of it. Needless to say you have the ability to fight back.

The combat system is one thing which has been improved in Risen for the XBox 360 since the PC release. Everything promises to play out much more smoothly, as you’re able to map certain actions to various buttons on your controller to easily access them at vital moments. Risen is one of the best debut role playing games we’ve seen for some time, and it takes a lot for an RPG to impress us!