Risen 2: Dark Waters is the sequel to the quite interesting project Risen by Piranha Bytes, released in October 2009.
The game takes place a few years after the ending of the first Risen. The familiar nameless hero finds himself on the island of Caldera and spends all his free time loafing at the tavern, trying to escape from unpleasant memories. The protagonist has changed in appearance: a different hairstyle, an eye patch hiding the Inquisitor Mendoza's Oculus. The main character has turned to drink due to his helplessness, even though he saved the island of Faranga and defeated the Fire Titan. In the rest of the world, other Titans still rule, and new monsters have appeared in the sea, attacking passing ships. As a result, sea routes and communication between the islands are practically destroyed. In a moment of sad contemplation with another pint of alcohol, he is found by Carlos, who was once the commander of Harbor Town and has now become the chief inquisitor of the order.
Seeing the protagonist's pitiful state, Carlos offers him a chance to earn some money by salvaging the wreck of another ship that has met with disaster. There, the nameless protagonist meets the daughter of Steel Beard named Petty, who survived the shipwreck. She tells the hero about a safe way to navigate the seas teeming with monsters. In turn, Petty learned this from pirates who figured out how to avoid attacks from the creatures first. This is where the main plotline begins to unfold. With the support of the chief inquisitor of the order, the main character and his friend set off on a journey to find Gregory, nicknamed Steel Beard, and, by combining their strengths and knowledge, put an end to the chaos in the world.
The game world consists of two vast continents, one of which, the Old Empire, is located in the North and has been completely destroyed by the Titans. The southern continent is Arborea and a multitude of islands located between the two lands. Many of the islands have been inhabited by people, while some are under the control of unknown forces and have never been touched by human foot. Almost nothing is known about Arborea itself, but active exploration of the southern territories is ongoing. Most importantly, there are no Titans there, which gives certain hopes for the future.
What’s new in Risen 2? The world has become much larger, new locations and territories are available, and it is still possible to visit the islands from the first part. The main character can recruit members from various factions to his crew, all of whom will be aboard the native ship. He can take any of them on the journey, depending on the upcoming mission. Each companion possesses a unique set of skills, which must be considered for the upcoming quest. Additionally, the combat system has been spiced up with the introduction of firearms.