Risen 3: Titan Lords
- August 13, 2014
- Piranha Bytes
- 34h median play time
Combat quibbles and muddy graphics do little to spoil the fun of this enjoyable RPG.
In Risen 3: Titan Lords, players explore a vast fantasy world as a hero seeking to defeat the Titan Lords, who have brought darkness and destruction to the world. With intense combat, diverse character development options, and a variety of magic and weaponry, players must build their skills and make alliances to save the world from eternal darkness. The game offers a thrilling pirate-themed adventure filled with diverse quests and moral choices.
Reviews
- Beautiful graphics and immersive world design.
- Engaging story with interesting quests and characters.
- Improved combat mechanics compared to previous titles.
- Combat system can feel clunky and unresponsive.
- Voice acting and dialogue can be cheesy and poorly executed.
- Game can become too easy as you progress, diminishing challenge.
- story788 mentions
- 27 % positive mentions
- 65 % neutral mentions
- 9 % negative mentions
The story of Risen 3: Titan Lords has received mixed reviews, with many players finding it average or lacking compared to its predecessors. While some appreciate the expansive world and numerous quests, others criticize the plot for being predictable, poorly executed, or disconnected from the previous games in the series. Overall, the narrative is seen as a backdrop for exploration and gameplay rather than a compelling driving force, with many quests feeling repetitive and uninspired.
“The story is full of twists and turns that will keep you on the edge of your seat.”
“The unique universe and story really pulls you in and the gameplay is pretty good as well.”
“The story is interesting and well wrapped up in the world.”
“The story is lackluster and compared to the first game, flat out boring.”
“The story falls flat and not even the side stories or characters can make up for it.”
“The story is very predictable.”
- graphics301 mentions
- 43 % positive mentions
- 47 % neutral mentions
- 11 % negative mentions
The graphics in Risen 3: Titan Lords receive mixed reviews, with many players noting improvements over its predecessors, particularly in environmental detail and vibrant colors. However, some criticize the animations and overall performance, describing them as outdated or inconsistent, with occasional graphical glitches. While the visuals can be appealing, they do not reach the standards of more recent AAA titles, leading to a perception that the game feels like a polished version of Risen 2 rather than a significant upgrade.
“The graphics look much nicer, but the UI is basically the exact same as 2.”
“However, the graphics do look pretty damn nice and the adventuring is still awesome.”
“The graphics in 3 are yet another step forward for the Risen series, very colorful and detailed, with rich landscapes and also comes with background wildlife such as parrots flying in the jungle.”
“The graphics are terrible and you can tell items on the ground so you could miss treasure.”
“The graphics are bizarre; the game came out in 2014 yet somehow looks much, much older.”
“The graphics are weak, gameplay is increasingly dull, fight sequences are just plain horrible.”
- gameplay227 mentions
- 24 % positive mentions
- 61 % neutral mentions
- 15 % negative mentions
The gameplay of Risen 3 has received mixed reviews, with some players appreciating the improvements over its predecessors, particularly in combat mechanics and graphics, while others criticize it for being repetitive, buggy, and lacking depth. Many noted that while the game offers a variety of factions and skills, the combat can feel clunky and unrefined, leading to a frustrating experience for some. Overall, it seems to appeal more to fans of the series, but newcomers may find it lacking in engaging gameplay and story.
“Risen 3 has a little improvement compared to the second but still has a lot of problems in the combat mechanics.”
“The gameplay is a lot of fun, especially as a mage.”
“Risen 3 takes from the first two games in the series and expands the world even more with much more mechanics and expanding the available skills and combos.”
“Buggy, rigid, slow, boring, repetitive, crashes, confusing game mechanics.”
“The gameplay overall just barely keeps you playing the game and not giving it up.”
“The fighting mechanics are the worst I've seen in Piranha Bytes games so far.”
- humor74 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is a mixed bag, featuring quirky characters and witty dialogue that often elicits genuine laughter, though some moments can feel unintentionally funny or cheesy. Players appreciate the entertaining side quests and NPC interactions, which contribute to a lighthearted atmosphere, despite some criticism of the voice acting and occasional awkwardness in the dialogue. Overall, the game successfully incorporates humor that enhances the experience, even if it sometimes strays into the realm of the absurd.
“The game has a lot of humor and quirky characters that will make you laugh out loud.”
“The dialogue in this game is so absolutely, hilariously cheesy.”
“Their presentation through funny and witty dialogue (which does have its cheesy moments) makes them rewarding to complete beyond the glory and loot you get.”
- atmosphere64 mentions
- 56 % positive mentions
- 39 % neutral mentions
- 5 % negative mentions
The atmosphere in Risen 3 is a mixed bag, with some players appreciating its unique blend of pirate and medieval fantasy elements, while others feel it lacks the immersive quality of its predecessors. The game features beautiful graphics and a strong soundtrack that enhance the experience, but inconsistencies in NPC presence and quest design detract from the overall atmosphere. While some find the world engaging and atmospheric, others describe it as feeling less cohesive and at times boring, indicating a divide in player experience regarding the game's environmental immersion.
“The game has a unique and immersive world with a dark and gritty atmosphere that will keep you hooked.”
“The settings, the NPCs, the towns, the music, the humor... everything adds to a distinct atmosphere that only Piranha Bytes can create.”
“For me, mostly because the world that has been created is amongst the most atmospheric and credible game worlds I have ever experienced.”
“The problem with Risen 3 is that it tries to be a catch-all, sometimes failing to assume its medieval fantasy aspect, sometimes failing to assume its pirate atmosphere.”
“Risen 3 feels highly railroaded; it has less atmosphere, less flair, worse quest design, less fun mechanics, and a very un-Piranha Bytes-esque visual design.”
“On the other hand, it just exudes an uninterested, glassy, dreary atmosphere.”
- music56 mentions
- 45 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 5 % negative mentions
The music in the Risen series has received mixed reviews, with some praising its atmospheric qualities and ability to enhance the game's setting, while others find it forgettable or lacking in impact compared to earlier titles. Risen 1 is often highlighted for its superior soundtrack, while Risen 2's Caribbean-themed music is appreciated despite some criticisms of its ease. Risen 3's music is described as decent but not memorable, with some players noting that it fails to evoke the same emotional response as previous entries. Overall, while the music contributes positively to the atmosphere, it varies in quality and memorability across the series.
“The soundtrack is great, and I love the music in general that was composed for the game.”
“The music, sounds, and atmosphere are well done, and character progression is classic, starting off weak and becoming an invincible behemoth.”
“The audio and music overall is pretty good; the soundtrack is very good and really kicks in when you are exploring these wonderful levels.”
“Worst music tracks in the series.”
“Not so much for music though - it's like white noise - not to be remembered, not to be annoying, not to improve the immersion.”
“I don't think the music keeps in line very well with the themes of the earlier games (Risen 2 all the way back to the first Gothic title), though it has its moments.”
- stability42 mentions
- 5 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 95 % negative mentions
The game's stability has received mixed reviews, with many players reporting significant bugs, crashes, and freezing issues, particularly at higher visual settings. While some users noted improvements over previous titles in the series, such as fewer major glitches and a more stable engine, the overall consensus is that the game remains quite buggy and can be unplayable at times. Despite these issues, a few players found the experience enjoyable once they adapted to the quirks.
“The engine is also fixed - no broken achievements, companion AI is quite alright, and I can't think of any glitches. The game froze on me just twice, and that was during very long sessions.”
“Seems bug-free so far.”
“Firing water with a musket crashes and freezes the game (and PC - unplayable).”
“I bought Risen 2 and Risen 3 while it was on sale, still haven't been able to play the game due to freezes at the loading screen.”
“Buggy as hell, initially had trouble even getting the game to start without crashing.”
- optimization28 mentions
- 29 % positive mentions
- 36 % neutral mentions
- 36 % negative mentions
The game's optimization has received overwhelmingly negative feedback, with many players reporting significant performance issues such as stuttering graphics, low frame rates, and crashes, even on high-end systems. While some users managed to achieve reasonable performance after adjusting settings, the overall consensus is that the game is poorly optimized, leading to a frustrating experience. A few players noted smoother performance and pleasing visuals, but these instances are overshadowed by the widespread complaints about optimization shortcomings.
“It took me about 5 minutes to balance the graphics versus the performance, but once that was done I really started to enjoy the game.”
“The game runs smoothly for me and the graphics aren't perfect, but they are certainly very pleasing.”
“Nice visuals, smooth performance, very polished.”
“From stuttering graphics on a fairly powerful computer to a wooden performance with bad voice acting, this was a pain to play.”
“The game is poorly optimized; it seems locked at around 33 fps on a 3070 ti and a 5800x with 32 GB RAM.”
“They ruined my game; I feel so stupid for buying this game. It's very badly optimized; it lags for no reason.”
- grinding22 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The grinding aspect of the game has received mixed feedback, with many players finding it tedious due to repetitive combat mechanics and lengthy questing that often feels like filler. While some appreciate the intricate dialogue and evolving story, others criticize the lack of engaging side quests and the overwhelming grind required to progress, leading to a sense of frustration and boredom, especially in later stages. Overall, the experience can be enjoyable for those who appreciate a time-consuming RPG, but it may deter players seeking a more dynamic and less grind-heavy gameplay.
“So far the fighting is tedious with the same 3-hit combo and slight variations, along with a slip spam menu item (D-pad controller user).”
“Some parts are grindy and fill in for lack of story content to get you to the next level to progress the story because the developers were too lazy to put in any good side quests or fun hunting/crafting to fill in between story missions.”
“And while there's plenty of content, it eventually becomes a tedious slog through the same old monsters.”
- character development20 mentions
- 15 % positive mentions
- 70 % neutral mentions
- 15 % negative mentions
Character development in the game is a mixed bag, with some players praising its rewarding system and diverse faction choices that impact gameplay and story, while others criticize the lack of depth and noticeable growth in characters, particularly companions. The character design is noted to fit the pirate theme well, but opinions vary on its quality. Overall, while the character development system shows improvement over previous titles, it still falls short for some players who seek deeper narrative and character engagement.
“The world and character development system is quite neat and rewarding; besides that, the story's great too. You should definitely give it a try!”
“+3 different factions to choose from - each one is unique and offers specific character development options as well as plot consequences.”
“The character development system is very close to the one Risen 2 had, with some minor but welcome changes.”
“There is no depth in it, no noticeable choices or visible character development.”
“- companions - they're extremely boring and shallow without any character development.”
“Only good point of this game is the graphics and freedom of character development, but so many other games do it so much better.”
- replayability19 mentions
- 37 % positive mentions
- 47 % neutral mentions
- 16 % negative mentions
Overall, the game exhibits a mixed level of replayability. Many players appreciate the multiple paths, factions, and endings that encourage different playthroughs, while others feel that the lack of significant incentives for starting new games limits its replay value. Despite some criticisms, the variety in gameplay styles and quests offers a decent amount of replayability for those interested in exploring different character builds and storylines.
“The game has a lot of replay value, with multiple paths and endings to discover.”
“The sheer amount of quests in this game is absolutely astonishing, pretty good replay value as the different guilds you can join add great spells into the mix.”
“You can go just about anywhere right from the start, and the different gameplay styles and factions give it a fair amount of replayability.”
“Not only does it have less content than Skyrim by a lot, but it also has less replay value as I don't see many people starting another playthrough of Risen 3.”
“- not much replay value”
“- no replayability”
- emotional5 mentions
- 80 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 20 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game is highlighted by the believable and heartwarming relationship between the protagonist and Patty, as well as nostalgic interactions with characters from previous titles, which add depth to the experience. However, some players feel that the overall gameplay and story lack engagement, overshadowing the emotional connections.
“His relationship with Patty is very believable and sometimes heartwarming, though don't let him hear you say that.”
“It was also heartwarming to see the characters from previous games; you can even meet with the antagonist of the second game and clink some drinks with him. Even though it plays a small role, it is a very nice addition, and I really appreciate the developers for giving us, players, tangible lines to merge previous games with the newest title.”
- monetization2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The monetization of the game is perceived as a low-effort cash grab, with critics arguing that it lacks originality and quality, suggesting that the developers aimed to exploit trends rather than create a worthwhile experience.
“Comes off like a low-effort cash grab by a group of developers that wanted to rip off other better games, but didn't have the time, budget, or ability to do any of it quite right.”
“Thinking you can slap something that bad together and be happy with it is ridiculous and is part of why this game was just a cash grab.”
Critic Reviews
Risen 3: Titan Lords Enhanced Edition Review
So, as an avid PlayStation 4 owning adventurer you’ve completed The Witcher 3, seen all it has to offer, and still have a craving for more gritty open world action. What title do you turn to next?
70%Risen 3: Titan Lords
A Pirate’s Afterlife For Me
70%Risen 3: Titan Lords - Enhanced Edition Review
Risen 3 is one of those RPGs that could've been much better, mostly because the action (combat, mainly) gets more attention than the RPG elements, and even then, the action isn't deep or varied. The story is very basic and the characters can only be called characters in the sense that they play a particular shtick. It is not a challenging game, not unless all points are allocated to skills not related to combat. Nonetheless, the environments are beautiful, it's good to get weapons and clothing that can be used to role-play, and the core gameplay is solid. There are some decent quests, too. Just avoid the immense amount of bugs by saving often; otherwise all progress might be lost.
60%