Visual tweaks & improvements

Disclaimer

PB released 24/1/2023 new update and so far I can't tell what from this guide will work or not. I'll do my best to update the guide after few bugfixes from developers. There are quite a few new bugs...

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I would like to summarize most essential tweaks for Risen that I found in various forums, discussions etc. to help you play this great game on modern computers at maximum possible fidelity.

If you like this guide or find it anyhow useful, please take a second to rate it or write me a feedback. THX!

Update

First thing I would recommend to do is install Unofficial Patch 1.3 which fixes many bugs that developers left in the game and never were able to fixed them.

Download it from here[www.worldofrisen.de]

Installation is quite simple, just copy content of the archive into your game folder.
BUT If your game localization is not German/English/French/Italian/Spanish
DO NOT COPY data\compiled\strings.p00 file.

It's highly recommended to start a new game because update won't affect quests already in progress.

Skip intro videos

Remove intro videos from playlist

• Go to the installation folder.
  
• Go into data\extern\videos.
  
• Open logo.ini and delete all of its contents.
  
• Save the file.

Improved Graphics [INI Tweak]

Since Risen runs VERY WELL on most of the new computers and some of us would like to see some visual improvements rather than performance. Apply these changes if you really want to make Risen look good.

1.Make backup of your configDefault.xml (in game folder .../Risen/data/ini/).
2.Modify following lines:

Longer drawing distance for the vegetation

Under <vegetation> and <high> element in xml.

LINE 819: ViewRange="7500.000000" 

to

 LINE 819: ViewRange="16000.00000" 

Longer drawing distance and better quality for the shadows

Under <Shadows> and <high> element in xml.

LINE 156: DetailShadowMapCount="3"
LINE 157: DetailShadowMapSize="1024"
LINE 159: DetailShadowMapViewRange="7500.000000"
LINE 162: TerrainShadowMapSize="1024"

to

LINE 156: DetailShadowMapCount="5"
LINE 157: DetailShadowMapSize="2048"
LINE 159: DetailShadowMapViewRange="15000.00000"
LINE 162: TerrainShadowMapSize="2048"

Longer drawing distance for objects and landscape

Under <Window> and <Render> element in xml.

LINE 96: ScreenObjectDistanceCulling="0.008000"
LINE 100: zFarHigh="60000.000000"
LINE 101: zFarMedium="30000.000000"
LINE 102: zFarLow="15000.000000"

to

LINE 96: ScreenObjectDistanceCulling="0.000800"
LINE 100: zFarHigh="120000.00000"
LINE 101: zFarMedium="90000.00000"
LINE 102: zFarLow="45000.00000"

Note!

To make these changes apply, you need to delete your configUser.xml file and reconfigure your settings.

configUser.xml location:
Win7/Vista/W10: C:/Users/your_name/AppData/Local/Risen
WinXP: C:\Documents and Settings\your_name\Local Settings\Application Data\Risen

Anti-Aliasing

There is no native Anti-Aliasing support in Risen but as always glorious PC master race can help itself! There are three possible options. Sorry for very brief explanations for Radeon cards but I don't own one so I can't be more specific.

FXAA

Simply force FXAA trough your graphic card drivers
Radeon owners will need download Radeon Pro Utility [www.radeonpro.info]
Nvidia owners can set it in Nvidia Control Panel[www.geforce.com]

Force "real" AA - Nvidia only

You have to download NVIDIA Inspector [www.guru3d.com]
Learn how to use it [wiki.step-project.com]

Open NV Inspector, open driver profile setting and find Risen
Enter special behavior flag number to antialiasing compatibility field -> 0x000002C1 and set Antialiasing Behavior Flags to none

Now just experiment which setting your rig can handle

My setting for example:

Antialiasing compatibility - 0x000002C1 
Antialiasing Behavior Flags - none 
Antialiasing Mode - Override any application setting 
Antialiasing Setting - 4x [4x Multisampling] 
Antialiasing Tran. Multisamping - Enabled 
Antialiasing Tran. Supersampling - 8x Spare Grid Supersampling 

Downsampling

(recommended)

What is downsampling

Downsampling, also called OGSSAA : Ordered Grid SuperSampling AntiAliasing, is in this case the concept of rendering the game at a much higher, custom made, resolution than your monitor is capable of displaying and subsequently having the GPU rescale the image ( as in downsample ) to that of your monitor's native resolution to which the end result is a "cleaner", sharper and less aliased image.

Radeon owners follow this guide [www.neogaf.com]

Nvidia owners got it very easy thanks to Nvidia DSR setting integrated in drivers.
Just use this[nvidia.custhelp.com] guide and there is no need for using GeForce Experinece just enable DSR in Control Panel and then select desired resolution in game options.

Mods

The Risen Mod Starter

The Risen Mod Starter is a mod manager which is hooked into an online mod database. It'll automatically display the mods available and let you pick and choose which ones to download and install. It doesn't have a big list of mods, but the important ones are there. Awesome!

Risen Mod Starter can be found here[www.worldofrisen.de]

I recommend to use at least Risen LowPolyTexturmod V1.0 and Ambient Sound Fix mods.

Warning!

If you try to download multiple mods your game can crash due to "out of memory" error.
Only solution is 4GB Patch[www.ntcore.com] which will allocate more RAM to Risen executable BUT this will overwrite original exe and Steam's DRM will not let you play. You can make it work by using not official exe...

Adjust key commands

In the ConfigUser.xml you can also change locked key commands. An example:
Key_F8=”QuickSave_0”
Key_F9=”QuickLoad_0”
You only have to replace the bolt letters with another key that isn't in use.

Credits

[Ctrekoz]

@parogen I have 1920x1080 screen and tried to set the same resolution in <GUI>, but ui is too small then. By default for me it is set as 1365x768 for 16:9 (in og 2009 release version), and keeping it like that makes for perfect ui dimensions imo, albeit a bit blurry but that's fine.

[soliD]

"Could not load script module: "steamapps/common/Risen/bin/scripts/Script_Game_Patch.dll" is the message when I try running Risen on steam. Just a black screen, when Alt-Tabbed, this message is shown.

- I have downloaded and copied both of the files in the "Unofficial patch" into the steam game folder into their respective directories (just matched the files downloaded with files provided by steam - as a farmer would).
- I have enabled Vertycal Sync in Nvidia Control Panel for Risen.exe (Seen from a german guy on YT)
-I have done "Skip Intro Videos" (From this thread)
-I have done "INI Tweaks" as well as deleted "configUser.xml" as shown (From this thread)

Please someone help this poor guy - I need help, dunno what I'm doing wrong here.

[Zbiten]

No one of this doesnt work with publicbeta. Just rebind. Plus you can do yr character invisible :D

[Mr_Hickey]

Looking forward to your updates for the guide. Is there anything to be expected in the near future?

[parogen]

Be sure to change the resolution values in <GUI> at the top. For some reason, it's set to 1024x768 width and height for each ratio except 16:9 which is 1228x768. Setting it to the resolution you are using for your aspect makes the icons 1:1 and doesn't blur the text. Or you can choose whatever dimensions you want, just mentioning cause I just noticed it.

[Arcion Holy Windmaster]

does the unofficial patch fix the dissapearing when climbing up on ledges?

[vulchor]

@Mr_Hickey - Yes, absolutely, SGSSAA must be the same as the MSAA setting.

[Liquidfire]

3440x1440 Ultrawide Support???

[Mr_Hickey]

about your AA settings: Doesn't the SGSSAA value always have to match the MSAA setting in order for it to work? In your case it is 4xMSAA and 8xSGSSAA.

[mnicklisch89]

You can find the mod starter database here: here
and the unofficial patch: here