Risen - Review @ PCGZine

The first full English review of Risen we're aware of can be found in issue #34 of PCGZine.  It's a .pdf file, so you'll have to download to read it.  There's plenty in the article to warm the heart of a Gothic fan and the final score is 84%.

Meanwhile, Rock, Paper, Shotgun has some short comments after some time with an early preview build.  There's a spoiler in the piece, although I think it may reassure quite a few readers, so it's worthwhile in my opinion.  Here's a sample, stepping past the spoiler:

It’s a fascinating statement of intent on the game’s part – this isn’t some fluffy, friendly world. I have to say I was a little ticked off I couldn’t then declare war on the nasty oik without the entire town attacking me, but perhaps it’s something that’s revisited later in the game.

I only got a little time to explore beyond that, but I get the sense there may be a sizeable world beyond. There were certainly plenty of options in terms of where to go, who to talk to and how to talk to them. I started creeping towards potential resolutions to the greedy-overlord situation, and with hints that however it played out, someone would lose. No easy answers, I suspect.