Risen is an amazing open world rpg with alot of free choices but a rather underwhelming ending.

After the first few minutes playing a short introduction you are free to roam the island as you wish, if you are new there will be some traps that can be more or less annoying depending on how you like to play (ie fighter or mage) but the world is quite large and nicely detailed with many places to discover.


Positive

• Large area to explore
  
• Alternative choices
  
• Harvest plants and mine ores
  
• Crafting (swords and trinkets)
  
• Alchemy to create potions

Negative

• Rather disappointing ending
  
• Not much armor to find/buy

Neutral - everyone decides for himself whether this is good or bad :)

• Beginner traps
  
• Steep learning curve

If you like open world rpg's that give a challenge you should definetely give risen a chance, even if the ending may not be satisfying, considering the game time you can spend just exploring the island or doing side quests makes this game alot fun for me.