I love me some RPG. For me the epitome of a virtual world game is one you really feel like you can get lost in. Games like The Witcher, Fallout 3, Fable, these games ring my bell big time.

Trouble is games as good as these, really competent RPG's that balance fun and realism with giant worlds are few and far between. Now it seems I have a new game to watch out for.

Risen tells the tale of a mysterious hero (you) who washes up on a mysterious island, home to an active volcano, a city and a fanatical inquisition that forbids anyone from leaving the city once you have entered. A number of mysterious ancient temples have also risen from the depths around the island in a very Lovecraftian turn of events. Naturally its up to you to get out there, do some exploring, complete some quests and eventual work towards completing a story some where.

So that's all we really no so far, details are pretty scarce but developer Pirhana Bytes have been kind enough to share a few screenshots which look pretty damn nice, highlighting some of the unusal inhabitants of the island and stuff quarter staff combat, wa-hey!

It's worth checking the official Risen website from time to time for updates but currently there isn't very much there just now. The game has a tentative release of date of 2009, so expect it to release sometime between now and the end of 2009, I suppose. Fingers crossed for a slightly more detailed release date soon. The game is to be released on PC and Xbox 360.