In Risen 2 you work for the inquisition but need to secrectly join pirates to find the source of the titans. Engage in quests, loot, train, barter and obliterate all kinds of seafearing creatures. Explore the beautiful world of Risen and make your own decisions to solve any quest to unlock new skills and paths.



Follow my step-by-step guide on installing, configuring and optimizing Risen 2 in Linux with PlayOnLinux.

Note: This guide applies to the GOG version of Risen 2. Other versions may require additional steps

Tips & Specs:

To learn more about PlayOnLinux and Wine configuration, see the online manual: PlayOnLinux Explained

Mint 17.3 64-bit
PlayOnLinux: 4.2.10
Wine: 1.8

Wine Installation

Click Tools
Select "Manage Wine Versions"


Look for the Wine Version: 1.8
Select it
Click the arrow pointing to the right


Click Next

Downloading Wine


Extracting

Downloading Gecko


Installed


Wine 1.8 is installed and you can close this window

PlayOnLinux Setup

Launch PlayOnLinux
Click Install


Click "Install a non-listed program"


Click Next

Select "Install a program in a new virtual drive"
Click Next


Name your virtual drive: risen2
Click Next


Check all three options:

• Use another version of Wine
• Configure Wine
• Install some libraries

Click Next


Select Wine 1.8
Click Next


Select "32 bits windows installation"
Click Next


Wine Configuration

Applications Tab
Windows version: Windows 7
Click Apply


Graphics Tab
Check "Automatically capture the mouse in full-screen windows"
Check "Emulate a virtual desktop"
Desktop size: Enter the size of your Linux Desktop
Click OK


PlayOnLinux Packages (DLL's, Libraries, Components)

Check the following:

• POL_Install_corefonts
• POL_Install_d3dx9
• POL_Install_d3dcompiler_43
• POL_Install_gdiplus
• POL_Install_physx
• POL_Install_tahoma

Click Next


Note: All packages will automatically download and install

Click Browse

Select "setup_risen2_2.1.0.12.exe"
Click Open


Click Next again

Click Options
Check "Yes, I have read and accept EULA"
Uncheck "Create desktop icons"
Click Install


Any errors
Click OK


Click Exit


PlayOnLinux Shortcut

Select Risen.exe
Click Next


Name your shortcut: Risen 2
Click Next


Select "I don't want to make another shortcut"
Click Next


PlayOnLinux Configure

Select Risen 2
Click Configure


General Tab
Wine version: 1.8


Note: Click the + to download other versions of Wine. Click the down-arrow to select other versions of Wine

Display Tab
Video memory size: Enter the amount of memory your video card/chip uses


Close Configure

Risen First Launch

Select Risen 2
Click Run


Note: Click debug to see errors and bugs

Optimization

Click Options


Click Video


Adjust:

• Resolution
• Refresh Rate
• Sync
• Brightness
• Contrast
• Gamma

Click Graphics


Adjust:

• Anisotropic Filtering
• Depth of Field
• anti-Aliasing
• Water Reflections
• Shadow Quality
• Landscape Quality
• Texure Quality
• Foliage Quality
• Shader Quality
• Object Distance
• Landscape Distance

Rule of Thumb:
Lower settings = Lower quality, higher frame rates
Higher settings = Higher quality, lower frame rates

Conclusion:
Risen 2 Dark Waters ran really well on my GeForce 550 Ti. I didn't experience any bugs or crashing. Animation is really smooth and the world is very alive with vegetation moving, water, creatures and day/night cycle. Everything performed great.

Gameplay Video:


Screenshots: