Risen - Preview @ PC Gameplay

Belgian mag PC Gameplay got an exclusive Risen preview in their latest issue. EDV was kind enough to send us a couple of translated excerpts:

NONLINEAR LINEARITY
[...] Certain dangerous areas will only become accessible after completing an important (main)quest, which will, like in Gothic 1 and 2, start a new chapter. So more story and player control, but won’t this mean less freedom? Piranha Bytes says no because there is an elaborate quest structure with choices which may have huge consequences. You’ll have to decide in the first few hours which group to join: the rebels or the inquisition? Depending on your choice you’ll have a different story which a completely different ending. This however won’t mean you’ll not be able to get quests or trade with the other side. In the volcano stronghold you’ll find not only inquisition troops but also clerics which are masters in magic and have their own plans for the excavations.
The side quests you can undertake can, like the main quests, be solved in different ways and can unlock different story elements. There is for example a quest where you’ll have to solve a murder in the inquisition headquarters. Investigation of the crime scene will point in the direction of a smuggling gang. Which raises the question who to trust? How do they even get their goods past the guards? And wouldn’t it be more interesting to join the gang instead of playing Sherlock Holmes? Many questions and opportunities all from one quest. The developer made about 300 of those extensive quests which will all be more elaborate than those of Gothic 3. Watch yourself however, cause Risen has a dynamic reputation system which will not only keep track of your reputation within a certain community, but also from individual people. Diplomacy and choosing sides in an important part of the game. Not to worry however, because there are several possibilities to work with people from all sides, so you’ll never end up the loner no one will talk to.

HACK & LAUGH
[...] The combat system in Risen is quite instinctive and allows the player with timing and a bit of skill to make spectacular fighting combos. By building your character you’ll also see a difference in the fighting animation of your character. In the beginning it’ll cost you great strength to pull a bowstring back and you’ll have a short time in which you can aim the bow before the shaking of your hand will make aiming impossible. After learning some more about archery from a master teacher, you’ll be able to shoot in rapid succession and with a steady hand. The animations are that unambiguous you’ll wont get the not very subtle “hit now”-icons like in The Witcher. Besides bow and arrow you’ll be able to wield broadswords, stabbing weapons, axes and clubs. Interesting is the difference the type of weapon will make against a specific enemy. A lightly armored enemy can be killed easily with a crossbow, but a guy with plate armor won’t be bothered by you acupuncture. They will be slower and less agile, which can be exploited with a light sword and a big of running.
Risen isn’t only a Hack-and-Slash festival, because also stealth options are present and are required in many rebels mission. Because the developers didn’t want any flashy interface-elements you’ll have to listen to the comment from the people you’re trying to sneak up on to find out just how invisible you are. A loud “Who lurks there in the dark” or “that’s just the wind blowing through the bushes” can usefully when determining your visibility. The presence of magically trained clerics also means that besides warrior and assassin a career as a wizard can be made. The developer don’t want to give away much but transformation spells will be an more important part of the gameplay than in Gothic 3. Think of transforming into a crazy chicken to get to an area you can’t get to walking. Besides offensive classics like the fireball you’ll also be able to use tactical spells like giving the target a laugh he can’t get out of. This is not only handy to ease people you’ve offend but also to distract a guard while you sneak by.