Risen 2 a charming addition to the family

Ah, summer. It's interesting – or creative – business planning by the industry, that as the weather gets warmer, the video games get worse. Summer is the deep breath before the plunge into the fall lineup.

So it was with a certain skepticism that I played Risen 2: Dark Waters, especially having just re-played Skyrim, the pinnacle in the role-playing game (RPG) genre.

Think of Risen 2 as Fable's annoying little brother and Skyrim's awkward cousin. Sure Cousin Risen is still invited to the family reunions, but he sits in a chair to the side while everyone is enticed by Cousin Skyrim's latest exploits and Brother Fable's playful antics.

At first, most gamers will either be horribly disappointed with the character designs or simply laugh at them. It's hard to really connect to these characters, with their stymied facial expressions, ridiculous gesticulations during dialogue and ventriloquist lip-syncing.

Add to that flickering textures and periodic lags. The visuals lack the precision we've come to expect from RPGs.

And yet, if you muscle past the painful visuals and give Risen 2 a chance, you'll be pleasantly surprised. Underneath its watery presentation is a solid adventure game with a clear, effective interface that pulls you into the role-playing elements and action.

For starters, Risen 2's soundtrack lulls you into the swashbuckling adventure in an authentic way and the voice acting and charming dialogue brings characters to life much more than the visuals. Characters of lower class will swear at times, something you won't find from the upper crust of this society.

There is a realism in the tone that pervades every element of the game – well, except in character design. Every element is there for a clear purpose. One might even say that while some elements to Fable or Skyrim are superfluous (if you don't want to learn certain skills or dig for treasure you don't really have to) Risen is streamlined so that you almost need to incorporate all elements to be successful.

Perpetuating the realism, enemies are challenging and combat takes timing and skill. When injured, you won't regenerate health automatically. At first, I commented, “Hey, in Skyrim ...” and then I paused. Why would health regenerate?

As with any good RPG, there's room for exploration, lending a certain authenticity to the settings. While you can't open every drawer or cut across country like you can in Skyrim, nor can you go on a stealing spree Ĺ• la Fable, there are enough provisions, chests, and monsters to loot to provide a satisfying experience. Many a time I found myself jetting off the straight and narrow, following my inner what's-over-here drive. The game draws you into exploration in an organic way that speaks volumes for the care and subtlety that went into its design.

Another interesting twist surrounds experience points. In all RPGs, you complete quests to gain experience, but in Risen 2, attack the wrong person or get caught stealing and you'll actually lose experience points. Again, very realistic. It also keeps you aware of your actions.

Alone, each element walks the line between mediocre and somewhat impressive. When they're all combined, however, the result is a game that's surprisingly entertaining and possessing a charm all its own. Could some elements been given more polish? Sure. But given the fact that the developer, Piranha Bytes, doesn't have the resources of Bethesda (Skyrim) or Lionhead Studios (Fable), you could consider Risen 2 a crowning achievement.

So while the seemingly bigger, better duo or Brother Fable and Cousin Skyrim may look upon the exploits of Risen with a certain sardonic smirk, at the end of the day, they are sure shaving him a knowing nod, a loving wink, and adding, "That'll do, Risen. That'll do."

When he's not teaching junior high school, St. Albert Catholic High School alumnus Derek Mitchell can be found attached to a video game console.