Saturday, February 11, 2012

Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning Review Summary



It was obvious with a gathering of legendary figures such as Ken Rolston (executive designer) of Elder Scrolls fame, R. A. Salvatore (game lore and universe) author of the DemonWars Saga and Forgotten Realms novels, and Todd McFarlane (artwork) comic Superstar of Spawn renown, we were in for a treat. 

Developed by 38 Studios and Big Huge Games, Kingdoms of Amalur features 5 distinct regions, 4 playable races, and 3 class trees with 22 abilities per tree.  Combat is based on the timing of button press, which won't get you far unless you rely on strategy and "proper" RPG playing.

(drools....)

Prologue:"Your body was left to rot in a pile of corpses, another failed experiment. But you are alive. Unbound by the chains of Fate, you are free to choose your Destiny. And with the Faelands enveloped in the Crystal War, your power will not go unnoticed—by friend or foe"

(drools....)

Currently scoring 80% (xbox 360) and 81% (Ps3) on Metacritic.com, it isn't perfect, but boy has it got lineage and perhaps the finest combat system designed for any RPG.

Quote of the bunch:"Does all the boring, difficult parts of RPG game design very well, and marries them to exceptionally slick combat and a towering stack of stuff to do" Eurogamer

Reviews Summary:
Deep, polished gameplay wrapped around an interesting and engulfing universe
Combat scenarios themselves are painfully pedantic and lose any surprise after the first few hours of play
Immaculately crafted and beautiful, yet still simple and accessible
RPG players craving depth and the ability to make real choices or play a role will be out of luck
KOAR is simply staggering; it's a tremendous achievement and an experience you shouldn't miss.
Just isn't fleshed out enough to be the product of the three visionaries behind it.
The combat is what really sets the game apart rivals Skyrim's scope
A labor of love from creative people with the ways and means to bring their ideas to fruition, and it shows
It's less a world you discover, ultimately, as one you revisit, and that's a failing no amount of fancy footwork can disguise
Reckoning is the first title to offer a legitimate challenge to the Elder Scrolls juggernaut
An arcade version of Skyrim, packed with the visual style of World of Warcraft and an action combat system. 

Official Website
Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning Game Wallpaper

Alf the Helper: ah you want me to get a tissue?
Elderly: A tissue? why would.. oh the drooling! yes unfortunate that, no no I'm fine
Alf the Helper: So... well... are we getting this?
Elderly: Yes yes no doubt...
Alf the Helper: :) really why that's just excellent
Elderly: I'm glad your happy, now you won't feel half so bad without your wages
Alf the Helper: :) ...?  !..wait... hold on... mr. elderly.. what did you say about my wages... mr.elderly

15 comments:

The Ocotillo Kid said...

Anxiously waiting to play this one, I'm going to borrow a friend's copy when he finishes. The videos I've seen look fantastic!

Unknown said...

Hi Ocotillo Kid, thanks for comment :)

I do agree the videos are stunning!! It may well join Two Worlds, Last Remnant and Divinity II: Ego Draconis in my "love and must finish list", but sooner or later KOAR will be part of gaming experience..... so many games, so little time :(

gnome said...

(Sits on Alf)

But, really, Elderly... a tissue?

Alf the Helper said...

8P ....cough....

(the little todlite's face turns an interesting shade of blue)

Unknown said...

:( ... I know it's not ideal, but the drool bib chaffs my neck....

..here try it....

(money making scheme #297 develops in his rather underworked aged brain)

:D I've just had an idea... what if we were to .........

(for the sake of your sanity we shall skip the next 3 hours of inane debate between the two friends and cut to the close...)

:( .... oh well back to the drawing board...

Alf the helper fan said...

I think it's atrocious the treatment that young man receives, you should both be ashamed of yourselfs.....

...now there I've said it...

Unknown said...

(removes keyboard from Alf....)

gnome said...

(terrorizes Alf's fans)

Hmmm... think the prols are organizing again, aren't they?

Alf, we must have a chat on our common good.

Alf the Helper said...

(Alf quickly realising that as the common good may include taking his next breath, nods fervently in agreement with Gnome)

:')

Unknown said...

Thanks for the breakdown old timer! I probably grab this for pc a bit later..
I have many, too many hours in Skyrim at the moment to jump in this.

The combat does look really good tho!

Unknown said...

DEITRIX!!!!! :DDDD

(runs to the maestro, imparts a big hug and a denture loosening clap on the back....)

:D It is indeed a pleasure to see you here again

FFxii-2 broke my trance with Skyrim, I was begining to resent Bethesda for creating such a masterpiece, which i've spent hours on to the complete exclusion of all other games in my collection...

no doubt I'll buy more games this year than I'll ever get to finish, but KOAR is up there....

Now don't move, I'll put on the kettle and we can catch up.....

Unknown said...

Dang! I moved.

I got a 360 controller for the pc and played the demo. I will defiantly pick this up later on a steam sale.

... this tea is cold.

Unknown said...

You connected you xbox 360 controller....!?

(elderly leaves for a short while, several hours later, having drilled numerous holes in his PC, elderly is none the wiser as to how Deitrix got his xbox 360 controller to work his pc)

...yee young people, always pushing new boundaries....


Oh yes the tea, no wonder it's cold, you moved!! this is a rare highly prized and quite expensive Salarian Geopositioning tea....

(pulls Deitrix's chair back to the optimum spot....)

Now! :) that should taste divine

Unknown said...

... is this tea made from poop like some coffees..?

Unknown said...

:) no no, The leaves are chewed to a pulp by Salarian priestesses, then spat into a gigantic Dytharean Cauldron, covered in silk, left to ferment for two Aiborghian cycles and then fed to......

Yup poop, :(

I'll get you some sugar.....