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6.7

Mixed or average reviews- based on 1215 Ratings

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  1. Feb 7, 2012
    9
    Not as good as Skyrim, but this is a very good RPG. There are some good ideas (inventory, armors, weapons creation) and the story looks good. Some problems: cameras and V Sync on PC (with v sync enabled loadings time are more than a minute on a high end pc).
    I'll give it a 9
  2. Mar 3, 2012
    9
    The graphic style is cartoon-y, offering a fresh alternative to some of the other RPGs of this generation, making the game a pleasure to look at, with varied and beautiful environments. The character look unique and special, but the lip-syncing could be better and the draw distance is not great. I haven't encountered any major graphical glitches yet, and the game runs smoothly.
    The
    The graphic style is cartoon-y, offering a fresh alternative to some of the other RPGs of this generation, making the game a pleasure to look at, with varied and beautiful environments. The character look unique and special, but the lip-syncing could be better and the draw distance is not great. I haven't encountered any major graphical glitches yet, and the game runs smoothly.
    The dialogue is hit and miss; one type is a tedious list where everyone seems to have the same general options where they will offer vague, similar opinions on a topic plus maybe one additional character-specific topic that will lead you to a quest. The other is a mass-effect choice style where you can choose how you respond to a character (usually an important character). You also get a Fallout-style persuasion option which shows you the chance of success based on your persuasion skill. For main characters, dialogue is interesting and cool, but when you're just exploring, it doesn't do as good a very good job of immersing you but rather bores you, and while the developers could've found a more entertaining way of putting information across, this still does the job; you'll know what you need to know if you want to know it. Additionally, the choices you make have very minor effects and have no impact on the storyline whatsoever. This is fine as the game never claimed to contain major moral choices, but it's something to note if you're planning to get the game.
    Due to its third person perspective, Reckoning isn't as accessible as first-person games like Skyrim. It's open-world, but it still has clear boundaries that you cannot cross. It's like A LOT of linear, confined areas have been put next to each other to create a pretty big open world, which works. The interesting thing about Kingdoms of Amalur is that it manages to take bits and bobs from other major RPGs, such as the Dragon Age skill tree, Elder Scrolls looting, Mass Effect dialogue, etc. but still remains original in its own way. You likely won't find something and marvel at its originality, but when you look at the game as a whole, it's easy to see that the developers have taken the best bits out of other games, put them all together and added the element that many of them were somewhat lacking in, game-play, and made a game that is perhaps more complete than any other fantasy RPG on the market.
    The game-play, as I'm sure you will have heard is very good. The combat feels fluid, fun and varied, with an array of weapons and spells to use. For the most part, it doesn't feel too challenging at the Normal setting, but there are certain creatures that will certainly pose a threat. The game offers a real-time XP/Level-up system, rewarding players for killing creatures as soon as they do so, which is good. The level-up system is reminiscent of Dragon Age's, where you pick a perk every time you level up and choose which skill from one of the three skill trees (Might, Finesse and Sorcery, or basically, Warrior, Bowman and Mage) to invest points into. Arguably the best thing about Amalur's level-up system is the fact that it never locks you into a certain path. If you invested all your points into Sorcery but never use staffs, that's fine. There's nothing stopping you from playing the game that way. Matching your playing style to your point investment definitely helps, but is never required.
    The inventory system is inferior to pretty much every other modern RPG. It's basically a list, going into another list etc. then you get to what you like. Luckily, you can equip any weapon to a Primary or Secondary weapon and can switch between them at the press of a button at any time during game-play, (so you can have a sword as your primary and another sword as your secondary, or a sword and a bow/staff and so on) which is good, but if you want to remap one of your weapon slots, you have to go through several tiers of lists. There is a hotkey system for spells, a dial for potions and two slots for weapons but ultimately this falls flat compared to Skyrim's all-encompassing favourite system which allows you to just have what you want in one, easy-to-access list.
    One gripe I have with Reckoning is that it just dumps tons of information onto you as if it was meaningless. The implication of doing something can be as little as a tick on the quest screen. You don't feel like you're doing what you're doing for a reason but rather to just complete the quest. You'll find a town, meet some that give you a quest each, go do their quests (which will likely be generic and boring), turn them in, get your reward and be done. The faction and main story quests are much more fun, but the majority of the side quests aren't.
    Overall, Reckoning is fun to play, and that's what matters. The RPG elements work fine, the world is vast and packed with content, and the combat doesn't feel laborious or monotonous, but fun and varied; his game is definitely worth playing if you're an RPG fan.
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  3. Feb 9, 2012
    9
    Fable meets The Elder Scrolls meets Dragon Knight Saga: huge world, open character progression system, giant loot pool and a fluid combat system. Scratches the exploration and loot haul itches at the same time. Amazing game for a new IP.

    The only downer is the difficulty: unless you're new to action rpgs you totally want to play on Hard.
  4. Feb 8, 2012
    9
    KoA is probably one of the most underrated games out there. And yes, I realize that it is getting a decent critical reception. However, there are a few things that belies this games true nature. To get some of the cookie cutter things out of the way: it looks great, good engine, it isn't buggy (actually a big feat for a game this large) and the music and voice-acting is decent enough for aKoA is probably one of the most underrated games out there. And yes, I realize that it is getting a decent critical reception. However, there are a few things that belies this games true nature. To get some of the cookie cutter things out of the way: it looks great, good engine, it isn't buggy (actually a big feat for a game this large) and the music and voice-acting is decent enough for a AAA title. Now that being said:

    When the game opens, the character is dropped into a very 'Torment: Planescape"-ish environment. Stranger awakens from death in a strange place, with many more questions than answers. The player must learn the three base play styles (Might, Finesse, Magic) with introductory battles with giant rats, evil humanoids and culminating at the end with a mini-boss that gives the false impression of daunting power. For other RPG vets like myself, you are probably rolling your eyes and thinking, "Great, another cookie-cutter RPG... NEVER seen this formula before." But really 38 Studios only uses this formula here, to teach the new players (and veterans alike) how to play the game in a familiar setting.

    In a world defined by Fate and Fate alone, you are the Fateless. You are declared very early on as being an anomaly in the world. This is a fantastic mechanic. For a multitude of reasons. It gives your character a very protean gameplay personality and especially fans of AAA MMORPGs this is a fun dynamic. Ever respec in WoW? If you know what I am talking about, then you know that it is an integral part of games because it gives the player a wide skill set, making the game more deep and interesting. In KoA players will determine their fate by visiting Fateweavers, who in essence, respec the player's character.

    One moment you are skulking in the shadows, assassinating a high level bandit leader, and the next you are covered in plate mail smashing through a trolls face with a massive hammer. You can also blend the playstyles as well. For fans of the Elder Scrolls series, things like Nightblades (Thief/Mage) and Spellblades (Mage/Warrior) abound. But where the game really shines, is in an area almost all RPG's have fallen short, or in some cases (*cough* Fallout 3 *cough*) fallen flat on their faces - is combat. KoA's combat system is fluid, timing based and simple. However it is also rewarding, accessible and wildly entertaining. Using the threads of Fate themselves as weapons, the player has the ability at times to charge a super attack, which will slow down time and perform a heroic action that will instantly destroy the target of the attack. These are alot of fun and since they are proc-based and can only happen every once in a while. Not enough to become over-used, but not so far in between it is an unused mechanic. There are a few things, however small, that KoA missed the mark on:

    Speechless protagonist. Absolutely irritating feature that half of developers think is a completely acceptable mechanic in AAA RPG's. He pulls off epic feats of heroism, but he can't speak? BioWare did it in an MMO, this was a big planning mistake and needs to be though about for their next title.

    Sort of unlinear.... but really it isn't. To a degree you can go do whatever you want once you exit the starting zone. That being said... not really. You are restricted by level in most areas and in others there are numerous side quests that have gear/money etc that become crucial for advancing.

    "Collect and kill number of " quests are everywhere. I realize this is an RPG and these things are unavoidable. Granted alot of these quests aren't too bad. The objectives are fairly simple and easy to access. But in Skyrim, these sort of quests had weight, made you care about them. KoA doesn't totally fail here, but when you can recognize the formula without skipping a beat, means I am not quite as immersed as I should be.

    Run into a building ---- Loading Screen ---- Run out of a building ---- Loading Screen ---- Enter Area.... etc. We may have been spoiled by games like WoW and Skyrim, but the age of loading screens is swiftly dieing. Developers really need to start getting on board with doing away with this practice.

    ---------------------------
    Overall this is a great game and a great debut by Mr. Curt Schilling and 38 Studios. Of course when R.A. Salvatore is leading the creative team, creating the gameplay world; you are probably going to be pretty pushed to fail.
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  5. Feb 8, 2012
    9
    Overall this is a great game, I have been looking forward to the KoA: Reckoning's release for about 6 months, and I am certainly not disappointed. Well worth the $$'s I paid to pre-order it.
    Pros: + Compelling story and voice acting + Great graphics + Amazing fighting system + Great multi-class and customization features
    Cons + Movement in the world feels somewhat restrictive +
    Overall this is a great game, I have been looking forward to the KoA: Reckoning's release for about 6 months, and I am certainly not disappointed. Well worth the $$'s I paid to pre-order it.
    Pros: + Compelling story and voice acting + Great graphics + Amazing fighting system + Great multi-class and customization features

    Cons + Movement in the world feels somewhat restrictive + Would like to see more graphics options
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  6. Feb 8, 2012
    9
    This game is far better than what i though firstt!
    The combat system is really dynamic and it's lots of fun figuring out different combos and stuff! it might not be as much of an "rpg" as lets say skyrim but the gameplay is IMO miles better. dont know why this got rated this low..
  7. Feb 10, 2012
    9
    I have to say, i am having a great time with the game. Much more fun than the demo let on. I know people have complaints about the console version and not being able to map more than 4 abilities, but that issue is not present on the PC version when using mouse and keyboard. The combat and graphics and sound are hugely impressive, I find I can not wait until I can engage the next large mobI have to say, i am having a great time with the game. Much more fun than the demo let on. I know people have complaints about the console version and not being able to map more than 4 abilities, but that issue is not present on the PC version when using mouse and keyboard. The combat and graphics and sound are hugely impressive, I find I can not wait until I can engage the next large mob as I have so much freedom in the tactics of how i want to take them down. Drop a mine and pull a guy over it? Leap in and just start hacking and slashing, or just sneak in for the insta kill, all very easy to do, nothing cumbersome to deal with. All the dungeons are unique and interesting. The story is great, the only downside is there seems to be an almost unlimited amount of side quests and if you are like me and want to finish them all, you will lose track of the reason why you are here in the first place lol. I have about 18 hours in and have yet to find any glitches/crashes/problems, which compared to some of the recent launches of games speaks very highly of this games level of polish. I am enjoying the games difficult, as i have never been a potion spammer. At most I drink one before a fight for some sort of buff and than one during the fight. This causes most big battles to become very challenging and tense which just adds to the enjoyment. Pros:
    Beautiful graphics
    Great sounds
    Outstanding Combat
    Great flexibility in builds
    Enjoyable quests
    Constantly has me excited for the next big battle

    Cons
    UI/Inventory is kinda clunky
    Soo many sidequest you lose tack of the main objective
    Not being able to jump/drop off little ledges is weird for a 2012 game
    No mulitplayer/coop (also weird for a 2012 game)
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  8. Feb 10, 2012
    9
    Cons: Skill trees are somewhat wonky, kind of small and restrict the choices in a strange way if you're playing a hybrid class. Camera zoom is awfully strange sometimes. However ,those are the only two real problems I have with this game so far in the many, many hours I've played in the past week.

    Pros: Some of the most fun combat I've ever played in an RPG; it flows extremely well, and
    Cons: Skill trees are somewhat wonky, kind of small and restrict the choices in a strange way if you're playing a hybrid class. Camera zoom is awfully strange sometimes. However ,those are the only two real problems I have with this game so far in the many, many hours I've played in the past week.

    Pros: Some of the most fun combat I've ever played in an RPG; it flows extremely well, and has a ton of depth. My big gripe with a lot of other games is how clunky and/or boring the combat is. KoA has none of these problems and the combat alone would make it worth playing. However, almost everything else about it is also excellent. The writing is very well done. I'm finding myself quite wrapped up in the universe and on a lot of the main quest lines. There's a lot to it and it's fairly complex, but if you spend time talking to the important NPCs there's a ton to get out of it. The loot system is very well done, everything feels very unique and crafting is quite satisfying. I actually like the graphics even though some people seem to have a problem with them. They certainly aren't realistic, but I think they go well with the type of game it is. The environments and enemies all look great so long as you're not looking for gritty realism. Overall, this game has very few flaws, and they're minor ones at that. It's very unique in the genre, and I highly recommend that everyone play it.
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  9. Feb 11, 2012
    9
    Finally an RPG without stupid automated bot controlled mmo'ified COMBAT. I've been waiting for videogames to get back to being games and not movies! This game was made FOR ME. Someone who has been disappointed with the so called "rpgs" of the last 10 years which catered to the reflexless and skill-less masses who only want pretty movies rendered on their consoles and PC's and theFinally an RPG without stupid automated bot controlled mmo'ified COMBAT. I've been waiting for videogames to get back to being games and not movies! This game was made FOR ME. Someone who has been disappointed with the so called "rpgs" of the last 10 years which catered to the reflexless and skill-less masses who only want pretty movies rendered on their consoles and PC's and the gameplay can take a backseat.

    The team behind Kingdoms of Amalur gets what gaming is about - doing things and being in control, not about watching movies. The most important part of the game - the combat, beats most RPG's that have come out over the last 10 years. While KoA (kingdoms of Amalur) is rough around the edges in terms of story and quests, the battle, loot and crafting systems are great and have even more potential in a sequel. I absolutely loved the arena section of the game and being able to have townhouses where you stash your items. If you love videogames you have to buy this game so a sequel gets made to fix the rough edges of this gem in the rough. If the game had more time in development it could have smoothed out the rough edges for story types, but as a videogame it is a must to buy to make sure more actual games get made and not stupid bot driven combat cutting out the gameplay for conveyor-belting you through a story as other RPG's and MMO's have all become over the last 10 years. The combat system makes all other MMO type RPG's look like games for skill-less and reflexless retards. Kingdoms of Amalur gets back to basics for videogames after 10 long years of automated combat.
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  10. Feb 11, 2012
    9
    Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning is a fantastic game. It is a little rough around the edges in some places (I'm looking at you character models), but the majority of the design is very well done, and the all important fun factor is a 10/10. Unfortunately, for some reason, the PC version of the game has taken a beating from users, and when searching through other reviews, I would encourage youKingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning is a fantastic game. It is a little rough around the edges in some places (I'm looking at you character models), but the majority of the design is very well done, and the all important fun factor is a 10/10. Unfortunately, for some reason, the PC version of the game has taken a beating from users, and when searching through other reviews, I would encourage you to look critically at them. Complaints like not being able to aim bows are irrelevant. There is an auto-aim system. With that out of the way, feel free to read the rest of this review, which will be more in-depth.

    First, the game runs great. I actually have it installed on a two year old laptop, and I get good performance at all but the very highest possible graphic setting combination. There are some framerate issues where you would expect - high intensity particle effects during combat, and when the you switch from looking mostly at the ground to a more environment intensive "heads-up" view. During my 25 hours of gameplay, I have experienced only one major graphical glitch, which is another plus.

    The game plays very much like an arcade, complete with a very classic combo-oriented fighting style. Each enemy is different, and there are frequent cases where you must adapt how you play in order to prevail. That said, each no play style feels frustratingly pointless. Stealth, Magic, and Might all have their own merits, and are enjoyable to play. You can also combine these fighting styles in any grouping and be sure that it is a workable way to play. If you are ever frustrated and want to restart, you can even reset the skill trees that you can invest in each time you level up. Gameplay is fast paced, dynamic, and responds to what you put in.
    My experience with the Dispelling mechanic is my only real complaint, and even then, I feel that it may be my own ineptitude.

    However, the game is noticeably easy. As the ideal player model who finds normal modes a fair but plausible challenge, I don't have too much problem on hard here. However, if you have played the demo, note that the game is harder in the actual version.

    Graphically, the game is Cartoony and colorful, the graphical aspect at times feels a little cliche. That really isn't a bad thing though, all things considered. The terrain is wonderfully detailed and constructed, feeling varied and exciting. However, character models, while certainly not awful, are severely lacking - particularly your own, who you do have to watch stare mutely at various NPCs during the cutscenes that litter the game. The fighting is great fun to watch, and I must say, the kill cams when you manipulate fate are a treat to see.

    The sound is nice, if unobtrusive. Music is very beautiful and fitting, but relatively sparse. The sound effects are nice as well, blending in well, with no obvious annoying noises sticking out. Where the game sags a little is the voice acting. Most of it is actually very good, but the accents chosen are horrifically corny. All the gnomes have that terrible Olde British sound that has been an RPG staple for years. The thing is, that sound has worn off by now, and many other voices fall prey to the same trap.

    The menus are a little clunky on the PC, and having seen some console gameplay, it is clear that the game was designed with consoles in mind, with their button mapping being much cleaner. You CAN rebind keys on the PC at least, which is a plus.

    Now for the story. This is something you will have to decide yourself. I personally enjoy it, although it doesn't live up to something like Deus Ex: Human Revolution. However, I do not believe there is any way someone could legitimately call it inept, or terrible. Either way, the thing to take away is that the story is not what drives the game, and if you like it, hey! Bonus points!

    The nice thing about Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning is that it is huge. You could probably spend 200 hours on this game without repeating yourself if you were thorough, and the main quest alone, while I have not completed it, is shaping up to be at least 50-60 hours long.
    It is technically open world, but the level scaling does mean that certain places are unbelievably dangerous to head into too early on. It also works more like separate map chunks linked by thin passages, but if you were to take away the maps of the game, nobody would notice the difference. I would have liked to see more enemy variety though. Each area seems to have two or three staple enemies, which sometimes gets a little old.

    The bottom line is, there are several rough spots in Kingoms of Amalur: Reckoning that mar an otherwise incredible game. While it may not be objectively as good as something like Skyrim, it is different enough to certainly warrant your time. The good far outweighs the mediocre in this amazing game from Big Huge studios. I would give it an 8.5 out of ten, but Metacritic requires whole number ratings, and this game is deserving of more than an 8.
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  11. Feb 11, 2012
    9
    I really love this game, i enjoy more this game then Skyrim. I'm very happy and love the combat, and everything, remind me of a mmorpg but solo :-)
  12. Feb 11, 2012
    9
    I created an account just to pop in a few comments on this game. I am around 20 hours in at the moment and having read some of the positive and negative reviews and comments I was honestly expecting the gaming equivalent of Marmite (you love it or hate it). Well, I can honestly say I love it. It's everything Fable should have been and a little more. Combat is great fun - I think everyoneI created an account just to pop in a few comments on this game. I am around 20 hours in at the moment and having read some of the positive and negative reviews and comments I was honestly expecting the gaming equivalent of Marmite (you love it or hate it). Well, I can honestly say I love it. It's everything Fable should have been and a little more. Combat is great fun - I think everyone agrees on that, but I also really like the Lore and story, quests are interesting too. Yes, they are go fetch, DHL or kill 10 rats but what honestly was anyone expecting? The combat more than makes up for this IMHO.

    The game's graphics are enchanting, and the world solid, bugs appear to be few and far between (PC version). Long time since I got lost in a game like this without getting distracted I would say it's one of my sleeper hits for this year. Yes I played Skyrim, don't expect that sort of open world epic and you won't be let down. The game appears to be massive it's not completely linear though, I think the people saying that are being a little unfair. Go try the demo if your unsure - personally I think you would have to be expecting too much or a little mean to give this game less than a 7.
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  13. Feb 11, 2012
    9
    PC Gamer here, At first I was a bit disapointed HOWEVER tweaking the nVidia panel and I must admit this game ROCKS VERY HARD!! Best fighting mechanics without a doubt, great gfx and a cool story line, don't be fooled by some of these chops posting nonsense here, they played 2 hours max and made up their mind that it sucks!? I'm giving it a 9 rating for sure.
  14. Feb 11, 2012
    9
    Okay, so the environment and character graphics (Including foliage and 2d rendering areas of it) are "Outdated" as I've seen many state; keep in mind this IS a port from console world, which leaves many things left to be desired for PC gamers. WE are serious people about our games, though most of "Us" whine when games tax our systems, and we whine when they do not; go figure. TheOkay, so the environment and character graphics (Including foliage and 2d rendering areas of it) are "Outdated" as I've seen many state; keep in mind this IS a port from console world, which leaves many things left to be desired for PC gamers. WE are serious people about our games, though most of "Us" whine when games tax our systems, and we whine when they do not; go figure. The controls are clunky with aiming, again due to CONSOLE porting, it leaves the accuracy and what we are "used to" as PC gamers out. So that's the bad, or most of it from my standpoint. The good?

    It is FUN! It is a "hack and slash" RPG, though in some ways more hack and slash. The RP elements are very strong when you look at the differences in class and character builds that can be done. It is HUGE on build potential via the mechanics. I've been playing for about 30 hours thus far, and have seen VERY few bugs (That's impressive, since even the worst games suffer from perennial bugs on day 1 releases) aside from an install issue, I've had 0 issues with it. The gameplay and fighting isn't "Japanisized" as most "action" games seem to go toward lately, which is terribly annoying, though the swords are a tad huge, they aren't the size of cars like FF and the others that give me nausea. The story line is GREAT and gripping, if you take the time to invest your thought in it at the beginning of the game. Sure, some concepts are tired, but...what more is there for RPGs or any other game for that matter? It isn't as if there are thousands of "New" ways of adding role playing elements to any gaming structure. Did I mention the fighting is fun? It is, though my mouse finger is TIRED! The game is smooth, no stuttering at all with everything maxed, sure that's because of the consoleesque textures, but still, I've played uglier that ran MUCH worse. Has all the "Usual" characters, but they are a necessity in most all RP style games in a not-modern environment. The voice acting though a bit stiff, is good. The lip syncing is outstanding, the company that did the facial animation is top-notch at their profession it seems. People comparing it to Skyrim are silly, it looks and feels nothing like it. If you don't like a game because it is "Different" then that is your issue, not the developers' fact is, without those differences we'd be even more bored and all be playing some nonsensical Reality TV based RP or WoW instead. It is rich, well written and if you don't click through everything it will grab your mind. Play with it, the options are endless and differ well enough to give anyone a challenge in some way.
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  15. Feb 12, 2012
    9
    I am having a blast playing Reckoning! I really don't understand all the super low scores on here. I can understand the 5 and 6's because it just may not be your type of game. However to give the game a 1-4 is saying this game is absolute trash. This is a FUN game. PRO: -Combat is awesome. I am discovering new combatI am having a blast playing Reckoning! I really don't understand all the super low scores on here. I can understand the 5 and 6's because it just may not be your type of game. However to give the game a 1-4 is saying this game is absolute trash. This is a FUN game. PRO: -Combat is awesome. I am discovering new combat mechanics constantly
    -Great and exciting loot.
    -Personally I like the art and graphics.
    -When you play a game and say "I wish it would do this". Reckoning probably does. -Personally I like the story. It's nothing mindblowing but it's not a con (there is a con to it though)

    Con:
    -Story takes awhile to care about.
    -Needs an even harder difficulty, it is hard on hard, but I would like a super hard mode.

    This is a love it or its a "meh" type game. I hope everyone will at least try the game. If you like the aesthetics and combat, the game gets so much better as you go. This is what a game should be, fun.
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  16. Feb 12, 2012
    9
    A very fun and addictive game. Loot, salvage, craft, sell - rinse and repeat. If you enjoy questing and customizing, this is the game for you.

    Another little cool feature is the ability to customize you character's appearance at any time. Get bored with the way he is looking and you can tweak it. No need to start a new game. Also, when you save - the game allows you to play while it
    A very fun and addictive game. Loot, salvage, craft, sell - rinse and repeat. If you enjoy questing and customizing, this is the game for you.

    Another little cool feature is the ability to customize you character's appearance at any time. Get bored with the way he is looking and you can tweak it. No need to start a new game. Also, when you save - the game allows you to play while it is saving. A very small yet very cool feature. I enjoyed Skyrim and I am enjoying this.

    It's okay people - you can enjoy both games! :)
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  17. Feb 12, 2012
    9
    Reckoning is an unbelievable debut outing of a game. There is so much to do and see. There is no wrong way to build your character. Most fun and visceral combat I've ever seen in an RPG. The art direction, in particular the gorgeous range of the color palette, is a breath of fresh air in today's gray and brown mainstream video game world. I've read a lot of complaining that "the NPC's haveReckoning is an unbelievable debut outing of a game. There is so much to do and see. There is no wrong way to build your character. Most fun and visceral combat I've ever seen in an RPG. The art direction, in particular the gorgeous range of the color palette, is a breath of fresh air in today's gray and brown mainstream video game world. I've read a lot of complaining that "the NPC's have too much dialogue" or "there are too many quests". Think about what you're asking for - it's every other game I've played in the last 5 years. I think 38 studios should be applauded for packing so much into this world - they've got an interested follower in me. Expand
  18. Feb 13, 2012
    9
    Lovely RPG with lots of quest, a good story and an excellent combat system. There is loads of things to do in this game and it will take a very long time to get through all the content. The graphics might seem a little 'cartoony' in the screenshots, but it is actually a very beautiful game where it is fun to explore. It reminds me of Fable in the way it connects the different areas of theLovely RPG with lots of quest, a good story and an excellent combat system. There is loads of things to do in this game and it will take a very long time to get through all the content. The graphics might seem a little 'cartoony' in the screenshots, but it is actually a very beautiful game where it is fun to explore. It reminds me of Fable in the way it connects the different areas of the game, but where that feels limiting in Fable, it does not here. The area are large enough to explore and the connections between the areas feels more 'natural', so the world seems like a big coherent place. The combat is fun and quick. A lot of the fights are pretty easy when you get the basic move in your system, but you will be challenged as well. KOA is how action-RPG should be made. Lots of content, a good story in an interesting world, well handled skill system and exciting combat. Expand
  19. Feb 14, 2012
    9
    Kingdoms of Amalua is an enjoyable game. The gameplay and story are gripping. The graphics and art style are well suited to the exaggerated weapon and armour design.

    There is so much satisfaction in swinging a large sword into an enemy and chaining moves to create combos. There is a great feeling of impact in battles. An uppercut with your sword will send your enemy skyward giving the
    Kingdoms of Amalua is an enjoyable game. The gameplay and story are gripping. The graphics and art style are well suited to the exaggerated weapon and armour design.

    There is so much satisfaction in swinging a large sword into an enemy and chaining moves to create combos. There is a great feeling of impact in battles. An uppercut with your sword will send your enemy skyward giving the player time to execute the next move of choice before the enemy hits the ground.

    How the player chooses to battle is completely up to the player. The player is not stuck running through the same sequence of commands in every battle. The gameplay in this game is great.

    The side quests usually involve killing X number of things and thatâ
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  20. Feb 16, 2012
    9
    Fun and plenty of things to explore much like Skyrim but more action-orientated. Enjoyed playing it with both K+B or keypad. Didn't encounter any game breaking bug nor CTD so that is a good pint. Of course the game is not perfect but the fun factor is high and I see some re-playability in it although it might be a single player game.
  21. Feb 16, 2012
    9
    Kingdoms of Amalur is a great action-RPG. It's pretty much the game Dragon Age 2 should have been and compares favorably to Skyrim. I really don't understand the harsh reviews, so I'll focus on what many have listed as it's short-comings.

    -Generic fantasy world. I didn't really find this to be the case. It's much less generic than the setting of the Elder Scrolls. It's at least as
    Kingdoms of Amalur is a great action-RPG. It's pretty much the game Dragon Age 2 should have been and compares favorably to Skyrim. I really don't understand the harsh reviews, so I'll focus on what many have listed as it's short-comings.

    -Generic fantasy world. I didn't really find this to be the case. It's much less generic than the setting of the Elder Scrolls. It's at least as original as the Dragon Age setting. Sure it uses traditional fantasy races like elves and gnomes. But it also draws elements from other traditional folk lore that hasn't been touched as much. -Not open world. Of course it is! Movement isn't as free as it is in Skyrim, but it's close to Fallout. Really, navigation is pretty much identical to Dragon Age - you can't jump and the areas are fairly "narrow." For example, you'll run through a forest and have to stick to paths. But you have the freedom to go anywhere you want at any time - that's open world. Saying this game isn't open world is like saying that the GTA games weren't open world since there are buildings that force you to stay on streets. The first region of the game does feel a little flat and claustrophobic, but this changes later in the game. You'll find a desert canyon area that has plenty of dimension, a plains area that is much more wide open, etc.

    -Weak story, characters, and side quests. I really like the main plot. The whole fate is a really interesting aspect, and it definitely has that epic feel without being too cliched. I think the characters are also very interesting. There's the traditional wizened world-guide character, but he's much different from the stereotype as he has personal issues that make him very interesting. I think the other main character is enigmatic and compelling. I've played a ton of RPGs, and the side quests in this game are very original and don't feel very repetitive. Yes, there are a fair share of "go here and get this item," but there are others which don't fit the traditional mold and most have good plots and twists that make you want to do them. If we're comparing KoA to Skryim, I feel that KoA has the vastly superior plot, deeper and more original characters, and side-quests that are at least as good and in many cases better than those found in Skyrim.

    -Graphics. I actually agree here. They're serviceable, not amazing. Definitely cartoonish, which does seem to clash a little with the somewhat dark nature of the setting. Probably 6/10 for these.

    -Camera. This can be annoying. You can't manually zoom, which leaves you really close in to your character when exploring. This contributes to the sort of claustrophobic feel, and if you could zoom out you might be able to enjoy the surrounding environment a bit more. In combat, the camera doesn't rotate to give you a good view of your enemies enough. Sometimes it will zoom waaay out to try to give you a view of an enemy that is far enough away that it's not a threat, and giving you a poor view of the enemies you're actually engaging. Not game-ruining, by any stretch, but plenty of room for improvement.

    In conclusion, KoA is a great RPG. The combat is fast-paced and interesting. Character customization is really flexible, letting you mix and match abilities rather than confining you to narrow character classes. The main plot and side quests are engaging. Again, compared to Skyrim, it has better story, characters, and combat. It is less immersive due to weaker graphics, camera, exploration, and interaction with the environment. I'd say they are about on the same level, a solid 9/10. I feel like giving it a 10/10 to balance out those ridiculous 1/10 reviews, but I'll just be honest with my score.
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  22. Feb 16, 2012
    9
    Kingoms of Amulur to me is a great game, reason being is I have been playing skyrim almost 300 hours and got this game as a palet clenser and it works. Todd mcfarlane is one of my favorite people and his designs make it feel right at home for me with the twisted and skulky characters input into this game, R.L Salvatore made the story fit perfectly to let "You" fill in more of the blanksKingoms of Amulur to me is a great game, reason being is I have been playing skyrim almost 300 hours and got this game as a palet clenser and it works. Todd mcfarlane is one of my favorite people and his designs make it feel right at home for me with the twisted and skulky characters input into this game, R.L Salvatore made the story fit perfectly to let "You" fill in more of the blanks that others expected to be given, I mean isn't that what reading is all about anyways and he managed to do it in a visual standard and then Todd howard, so much of this game reminds me of a fantasy animated elder schrolls elements based game. In other words people quit being such harsh critics when you should understand all the elements that make up this game, iff I didn't have to say one thing about this game that is a slight negative would be the camera sometimes wants to scroll down but hey im fine with it otherwise, Good Job guys 9.0+ Expand
  23. Feb 16, 2012
    9
    This game is a combination of Diablo, World of Warcraft, Skyrim, and Dragon Age. The gameplay may be the best in any current generation RPG, and is much better than Skyrim's. I really enjoyed this game and can't believe all these negative reviews.
  24. Feb 18, 2012
    9
    While the storyline and some of the environments are a big generic and mmo-like, the combat system is unique and the combo system will blow you away (wait until you see reckoning mode..it sounds lame, but it's easily forgiven, what a cool game mechanic). Also, this game had the courage to say "screw realism" and ask themselves how to make a truly fun game (arrows recharge and your shieldWhile the storyline and some of the environments are a big generic and mmo-like, the combat system is unique and the combo system will blow you away (wait until you see reckoning mode..it sounds lame, but it's easily forgiven, what a cool game mechanic). Also, this game had the courage to say "screw realism" and ask themselves how to make a truly fun game (arrows recharge and your shield appears when you hit a button - not realistic, but boy does it work well!). The game is a bit too easy as well, I play on hard and it is not challenging. Another thing - the game stays from the depressing gray and browns that plague today's "realistic" games and created environments which are artsy and beautiful. There are certain games where you can tell the designers stayed late to create their game out of love for what they do. It is evident that the designers put a great deal of work into KOAR and it shows, they have every reason to be proud of it. Expand
  25. Feb 21, 2012
    9
    I played the demo and wasn't 'grabbed' but decided to pick up the game anyway, hoping the full version would be better. Initially, again the game seemed flat, but then as I gained more abilities (and remapped the aweful default keyboard bindings) the game grew on me in a big way. The combat system is outstanding and the abilities are really a lot of fun. Most of my time is with a rogueI played the demo and wasn't 'grabbed' but decided to pick up the game anyway, hoping the full version would be better. Initially, again the game seemed flat, but then as I gained more abilities (and remapped the aweful default keyboard bindings) the game grew on me in a big way. The combat system is outstanding and the abilities are really a lot of fun. Most of my time is with a rogue style character but even my low level caster and warrior will see more play. For those comparing TES to KOA, they both have their strengths and weaknesses. I've loved the TES series from the beginning but the combat was always a bit weak. KOA does great in this area. Where could KOA do better? 1) The inventory system on the PC is pitiful--way too many clicks to sort out and compare items, 2) variety of adversaries--good but I agree with others in that it could be even deeper, 3) default keymapping was a hand cramping nightmare--I nearly gave up playing until fiddling with it, 4) more options in character creation with more depth of meaningful choices, 5) broader skill set (as opposed to the abilities) or at least make all the current ones more balanced between each other (lockpicking and others are worthless.) All this being said, I'm having a blast with Amalur and will be playing several different characters through the engaging storyline. For those that gave the game a 3 or less...really? I don't think I've ever played a 3 or less in my life. If I had, it would have been memorable as the most pitiful failure I'd ever spent money on. Do we really have to throw scores to the extreme?

    In closing, I'd love to see a program pulling the best features of both the TES and KOA franchises together. To be honest, based on this initial attempt by 38 Studios, I think the next version of KOA could be the prime contender to a fully realized game world with a very engaging combat system.
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  26. Feb 21, 2012
    9
    Reckoning's combat very much reminds me of Fable, which is certainly a plus, while the exploration and size of the world are akin to Skyrim. If you really like Fable, but want a lot more content, this game will be very appealing to you. Don't let the Skyrim "fan-boys," trolls, and haters dissuade you; this is a very good game that has excellent art direction, combat, world immersion, story, etc.
  27. Feb 26, 2012
    9
    GRAPHICS: 85 - Nice color palette and blending, missing better light/shadow effects and details

    SOUND: 85 - Decent soundtrack, especially the Tuatha score is epic, some dull moments here and there. GAMEPLAY: 93 - Spot on controls, Well done utilizing mouse/keyboard combination. Haven't seen so fast and sharp combat since WoW. Minigames regarding dispelling,lockpicking works!! VALUE: 95
    GRAPHICS: 85 - Nice color palette and blending, missing better light/shadow effects and details

    SOUND: 85 - Decent soundtrack, especially the Tuatha score is epic, some dull moments here and there.

    GAMEPLAY: 93 -
    Spot on controls, Well done utilizing mouse/keyboard combination. Haven't seen so fast and sharp combat since WoW. Minigames regarding dispelling,lockpicking works!!

    VALUE: 95 - Looking at my steam played counter for Kingdoms of amalur : 57.7 hours. I´ve only discovered about 25% of the regions in the game, and my bet is that the amount of quests I´ve done (65), are about the same. This game is HUGE.

    APPEAL: 85 - The game is somewhat slow to start. The story requires patience to unfold. And perhaps too much side information is given. It wasn´t until around 20 hours played that I got a good idea of where this story was taking off to. But it is worth the wait. Some quests are tedious, and I would have love a bit more in depth conversation and response to my character from the NPC´s.


    OVERALL: 90
    A brilliant single player RPG with tons of locations/lore/stories to explore. The character building is spot on with tons of possibilities. The story - once taking off, is exciting and thorough.
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  28. Mar 3, 2012
    9
    KOA:R, while not as graphically stunning as recent RPGs, still delivers where it counts - great gameplay, story, and overall satisfaction while playing. It's easy to waste a few hours without feeling as though any time has passed at all, which is a great indication of it's fun factor.
  29. Mar 6, 2012
    9
    Kingdoms of Amalur is hands down the first roleplaying game to nail how combat should feel going forward in the genre. The only drawback to the game is that the story and lore are not as memorable as its fantasy role playing counterparts like Skyrim, Dragon Age, and Fable. Otherwise if your are looking for an action role playing game with excellent loot,role playing systems, plenty ofKingdoms of Amalur is hands down the first roleplaying game to nail how combat should feel going forward in the genre. The only drawback to the game is that the story and lore are not as memorable as its fantasy role playing counterparts like Skyrim, Dragon Age, and Fable. Otherwise if your are looking for an action role playing game with excellent loot,role playing systems, plenty of content, and a beautiful, luscious, and colorful fantasy world, Kingdoms of Amalur is the game for you!! Expand
  30. Mar 7, 2012
    9
    Maybe the best RPG Fighting system i ever had the pleasure to play. The graphicstyle fids very good and the world feels all fine. There is a tone of content (20 if you rush 100 if you try to do everything).The biggest downside is the balance. I started on hard and it is still sometimes far to easy - especially crafting can make you some rly op items. - small side note, very fast load times
  31. Mar 16, 2012
    9
    This is the most fun game Ive played in 10 years. I am not saying its the best game ever, but its FUN! There is nothing quite like it out there. Its got plenty of flaws, but its fun its just fun! If you want a great hack n slash game, than this is for you. Its like fable x3, with tons and tons of loot, a crafting system and soooo many ways to multiclass! A fantastic play! Here is a videoThis is the most fun game Ive played in 10 years. I am not saying its the best game ever, but its FUN! There is nothing quite like it out there. Its got plenty of flaws, but its fun its just fun! If you want a great hack n slash game, than this is for you. Its like fable x3, with tons and tons of loot, a crafting system and soooo many ways to multiclass! A fantastic play! Here is a video review I did: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KlQ2e6g9TIM Expand
  32. Mar 21, 2012
    9
    Great combat (meaning fun) make this the best 360 game I've played. Story is weak but combat makes experience enjoyable. Some bugginess in areas make them mostly unplayable as well. Overall highly recommended.
  33. May 2, 2012
    9
    One thing to note about this game, is that it's a brand new IP. A lot of people seem to be having really high expectations for this companies first game, which some ways is really unfair, but at the same time I think this game meets a lot of those expectations and demands. Which is impressive. Also a lot of people will see the connection to EA and go zomg #@&@(*&# EA. Good news is thatOne thing to note about this game, is that it's a brand new IP. A lot of people seem to be having really high expectations for this companies first game, which some ways is really unfair, but at the same time I think this game meets a lot of those expectations and demands. Which is impressive. Also a lot of people will see the connection to EA and go zomg #@&@(*&# EA. Good news is that after this game I do believe that BHG will be able to do things on their own. They just needed EA for the release or it wouldn't have been released at all. Further product will be, as far as I have heard, released through their own company. Now for the game, everyone has their own opinion about this game and from what I see, what people get from this game is very diverse. The combat for this game is awesome, I've never had more fun fighting in a rpg before. Your ability to mix the classes really adds to the fun of this as well by having the ability to be a mage/rogue, a warrior/mage ... etc etc. Lots of different ways to mix your spec. Or you can just do a pure build if you want. I'm all finesse atm having a ton of fun setting up battles and planning how I'm going to do things. Now the graphics of the game to me are awesome, very bright and very colorful, so if you like that dark realistic Skyrim ( just using an example) look this won't be the game for you. I agree with some peoples statements that the toons graphics are a bit outdates, in BHGs defense this game has been in the works for quite awhile and the characters looks did get a bit behind in the times. This didn't really distract me that much from the actual fun I was having playing the game. Armor sets and gear...... there is tons, your character will look like a badass, almost from the moment you start the game. Blacksmithing to me is overpowered so if you prefer to use gear you find, I wouldn't recommend putting too much time into that.
    I'll make this short as I realize this is getting long, if you like having fun, genuine fun playing a game, this is it, give it a chance to grow on you and you will love it. The amount of fun I have, easily over shadows any of the small shortcoming this game has. To be fair, I would love to give this game a 10, but..there is room for improvement as well and I'm sure this company will do that. So I will give it a 9, I would prefer 8 but the 9 will balance out some of the non constructive reviews on here.
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  34. Jun 11, 2012
    9
    90 some hours into the game and I am loving it. The graphics aren't the greatest and there are few bugs here and there, but I'd rather play a game that has over 90 hours of game play and depth than a game with high graphics and no depth and short play time. Good side quests, faction quests, main storyline quests. Also has a great combat system and character customization as well.
  35. Jun 15, 2012
    9
    The only major problem with this game i had is somewhat cartoonish graphics, and a little bit too colorful seting. But otherwise very good game...Beats Diablo 3 anyway...
  36. Mar 16, 2013
    9
    It was a solid, well done and greater battle system RPG that I played last year. In 2013 I wanna play the expansion, really anyone who likes RPG will love this game. The main quest are amazing.
  37. Nov 5, 2012
    9
    The game itself was very much enjoyable, minus the jittery camera movements and aside from the fact that the demo itself had to be tweaked a bit to have it work properly.

    The numerous weapon types and crafting made the game fun and different, but the Chakrams, in my opinion, were a little too overpowered. I found myself always wanting the use the Chakrams for their range and power.
    The game itself was very much enjoyable, minus the jittery camera movements and aside from the fact that the demo itself had to be tweaked a bit to have it work properly.

    The numerous weapon types and crafting made the game fun and different, but the Chakrams, in my opinion, were a little too overpowered. I found myself always wanting the use the Chakrams for their range and power. Also, some of the quests are a bit glitchy (i got locked out of a quest building that i couldn't start over, forever having a quest i couldn't complete). On the whole, i loved the game.
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  38. Jan 29, 2013
    9
    A lot of people are judging this game harshly because of certain mechanics or that it was too easy. In my opinion this game is a solid blend of fighting mechanics of Dark Souls and the special abilities of WoW. It keeps things interesting by allowing you to play as you please. It doesn't require you to use special abilities to win fights but also doesn't make it seem like hack and slash isA lot of people are judging this game harshly because of certain mechanics or that it was too easy. In my opinion this game is a solid blend of fighting mechanics of Dark Souls and the special abilities of WoW. It keeps things interesting by allowing you to play as you please. It doesn't require you to use special abilities to win fights but also doesn't make it seem like hack and slash is the easiest way to conquer this title. So far I have logged 26 hours into this game and I am still attached to the storyline and am still developing my play style. I play on Hard and I can honestly say that it is a challenge and the rewards are oh so glorious. The side quests are boring? They alter entire villages and quest lines? For example you can wipe out an entire village or just kill the boss. You can kill villagers as you please. And they stay dead. Simple minded MMO for solo? Maybe so, but at least the quests are better and more interesting then most MMO's and RPG's. Outdated graphics? Maybe so, but considering how it is generally open world with no load screens? Exception of course being when you enter a dungeon or house. The largest flaw I found was the camera but that's easy to fix, it's called a right joy stick. This game was advertised as your standard RPG level-up with side quests and with publisher 38 studios and their normal take on graphics I got exactly what I expected and more. Sorry to those who don't see it the same way, but before judging this RPG try playing others that this one is in competition with, WoW is a good one to start. At least the combat in this game makes you think and move. Expand
  39. Sep 1, 2013
    9
    This game was great. Seriously. Screw all these other guys expecting it to be another skyrim, which it's not. Its more of a cross between Dragon Age, Fable, a bit of God of War and a little bit of Diablo. Definitley worth it.
  40. Jun 15, 2013
    9
    KK guys, dont look at these outdated reviews of noob users of cheat engine that keep saying the games is crap haha... now, i just bought the complete pack of this game and here how it is.

    Main story and some sub quests: 17-20hours Teeth of Naros DLC: 10hours (Epic 10hours!!) 4/5 Legends of dead kel: 10-15hours 4/5 Amor & weapons bundle: Epic stuff this is just fantastic! its full
    KK guys, dont look at these outdated reviews of noob users of cheat engine that keep saying the games is crap haha... now, i just bought the complete pack of this game and here how it is.

    Main story and some sub quests: 17-20hours
    Teeth of Naros DLC: 10hours (Epic 10hours!!) 4/5
    Legends of dead kel: 10-15hours 4/5
    Amor & weapons bundle: Epic stuff

    this is just fantastic! its full of amazing content!! i saw some ppl saying "duh this sucks after 10hours" loooooooolll look every city has a small story to tell you so when you pass through a city and buy some gear with your cheat engined cash (like a noob) just stop and do the quest to get some money and rare items unless than hacking!

    This game isnt short, fantastic graphics, amazing gear/mobs/stuff, AN EPIC combat system and a lot more!
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  41. Oct 5, 2013
    9
    The problem with being in the same genre as Skyrim is that if you're not as good as one of, if not the, best game ever in the genre, then people claim you're awful.

    KoA is one of the best open world and fantasy games to have ever been released. While not being Skyrim, the game systems are very rewarding, the artwork stunning and original, and the over all presentation being very
    The problem with being in the same genre as Skyrim is that if you're not as good as one of, if not the, best game ever in the genre, then people claim you're awful.

    KoA is one of the best open world and fantasy games to have ever been released.

    While not being Skyrim, the game systems are very rewarding, the artwork stunning and original, and the over all presentation being very highly polished.

    It is a great injustice that the game fared so poorly commercially, and that we will likely never get a sequel.
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  42. Sep 26, 2013
    9
    Fun game. Excellent gameplay. Some replayability. Great combat. Needs a sequel bad! This game is how you develop combat in rpgs. Very exciting stuff while looking for adventure.
  43. Nov 9, 2013
    9
    The game is really fun and great combat big beautiful world, huge amount of side quests thought the world and plays great with no bugs even from the launch.
    defiantly worth to pick up and play,
  44. Dec 15, 2013
    9
    Dont get fooled by all the hate reviews. This game is worth every penny. Its mistake was that it came after Skyrim and Dragon Age.
    Combat mechanics are absolutely phenomenal.
    The world is simply stunning. The story is very gripping and side quests are much better than any other rpg right now. It may feel a little "made only for console" but i dont think it will matter much. The only
    Dont get fooled by all the hate reviews. This game is worth every penny. Its mistake was that it came after Skyrim and Dragon Age.
    Combat mechanics are absolutely phenomenal.
    The world is simply stunning. The story is very gripping and side quests are much better than any other rpg right now. It may feel a little "made only for console" but i dont think it will matter much.
    The only negative I feel is that you cannot change the camera distance. Other than that its flawless. Must buy for rpg fans.
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  45. Jun 10, 2014
    9
    Woah, this game is underrated. Normally, I'm more into "realistic" RPGs, like the Dragon Age, Elder Scrolls or Witcher series. This game is pure fantasy, and it's amazing. I never thought I could enjoy such a game so much. The combat is truly amazing: the controls are intuitive and you feel really powerful while executing all the cool combos and special moves. Reckoning mode (slow motion +Woah, this game is underrated. Normally, I'm more into "realistic" RPGs, like the Dragon Age, Elder Scrolls or Witcher series. This game is pure fantasy, and it's amazing. I never thought I could enjoy such a game so much. The combat is truly amazing: the controls are intuitive and you feel really powerful while executing all the cool combos and special moves. Reckoning mode (slow motion + extra cool stuff) also works like a charm. This is, btw, the first game in which I have enjoyed playing a mage.
    I'm not that far in the game, so I can't tell you much about the story yet. The hook, however, seems pretty awesome. It's already clear to me that the main story is just a story, and you have many sidequests, which are all pretty interesting.
    If you're really into roleplaying, as I am, you also have some options, although your choices don't affect the world as much as I would have liked. You can, however, choose different reactions to peoples' conversations and requests. The roleplaying aspect is a bit underdeveloped in this game.
    Thus, this is a great game if you don't expect the wrong things from it. Don't expect it to be like Dragon Age or the Witcher, where all your choices matter greatly. You also shouldn't expect it to be realistic (it's the first RPG in which I used bloom, just to make it feel even more fantasy-like). You should expect a great adventure/action game with a really great combat system instead.
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  46. Feb 3, 2014
    9
    I think this is perhaps one of the most underrated games I've played. Truly, it has it's flaws (EA publishing being one of them), but overall, it's a mix of things I greatly enjoy. Fable II's fun combat system into something significantly and dynamically more fluid. The first Fable's enjoyable and rather diverse magic abilities. Skyrim's level of questing and sheer expansiveness of theI think this is perhaps one of the most underrated games I've played. Truly, it has it's flaws (EA publishing being one of them), but overall, it's a mix of things I greatly enjoy. Fable II's fun combat system into something significantly and dynamically more fluid. The first Fable's enjoyable and rather diverse magic abilities. Skyrim's level of questing and sheer expansiveness of the world. When playing through it, it will make you think of an MMO environment and loot basis, but with the enjoyment, immersion, exploration, and questing of the singleplayer game it is. A game so good, I bought it twice - Once for xbox, and again for PC. It's worth getting. Simple as that. Expand
  47. Jun 4, 2014
    9
    The game is probably one of my top favorite RPGs, I love the class system and the combat was really smooth and entertaining. The story is written by one of my favorite fantasy authors so that is also a win.
  48. Oct 25, 2015
    9
    This is a great game with fun and fast-paced combat in a vibrant world with excellent loot and character models. I enhanced the graphics with a program and made some other minor tweaks but, overall, enjoyable game. I recommend it.
  49. Apr 19, 2017
    9
    This game is very underrated because most of the people did not give it a proper chance. And most of them keeps comparing it to other big RPGs like Skyrim. The game lost because it was released a few months after the release of Skyrim and everyone was just playing Skyrim and using mods and stuff.

    This game is more like a SinglePlayer MMORPG. Its massive with a big map and lots of stuff
    This game is very underrated because most of the people did not give it a proper chance. And most of them keeps comparing it to other big RPGs like Skyrim. The game lost because it was released a few months after the release of Skyrim and everyone was just playing Skyrim and using mods and stuff.

    This game is more like a SinglePlayer MMORPG. Its massive with a big map and lots of stuff like side quests and things to collect and uncover. The story is alright, The world is so beautiful and colorful. The gameplay is really nice you have some good solid combat with lots of moves and abilitys and you wont get bored anytime soon. Some people complain about the voice acting but its not that bad to be honest. Its a lot better than the games we are getting today like the trash DA:Inquisition and such.

    Don't listen to everyone telling you that this is bad game because its not and its probably very cheap now. Pick it up and give it a chance. Don't give up after a few hours because the game is very big and it will only get better.
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  50. Dec 11, 2016
    9
    I simply loved this game in a way i cannot explain. Don't know exactly what got me, but i had really fun with this, i remember avoiding playing it afraid of finishing it too fast.
  51. Oct 30, 2018
    9
    The only problem I had with this game was that you could not jump. I did not understand why this game received such low marks. I thought it was great. If you liked Fable 1, or games like this, I would definitely suggest this one.
  52. May 20, 2021
    9
    Story is interesting. You die, reborn and try to find who killed you. We are also not affected by fate, which is why they call us the fateless one. Lore is also interesting. Almost everything has a story to tell.

    It gives you nice rpg experience. Collectibles actually adds something to the game. Combat is thrilling and there are many different combos. There are many enemies to
    Story is interesting. You die, reborn and try to find who killed you. We are also not affected by fate, which is why they call us the fateless one. Lore is also interesting. Almost everything has a story to tell.

    It gives you nice rpg experience.

    Collectibles actually adds something to the game.

    Combat is thrilling and there are many different combos. There are many enemies to fight and it is not just spamming.

    Special abilities are amazing. You feel like a invincible warrior.

    You can craft your own weapons and armor. You can make overpowered stuff and break the game.

    Max level is 40 and this is not enough.

    We run everywhere. There should've been horse.

    World is really special. It pleased me. The music, atmosphere, locations. It is not like other soulness open world games.
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  53. Oct 14, 2021
    9
    Um RPG com uma ótima mistura de Hack'n Slash e que se parece muito com algum tipo de MMO.
    Muito divertido, a história é ok e a criação do personagem é bem fraca, mas o jogo é cheio de conteúdo e de missões... É algo que eu valorizo mais do que um enredo interessante pelo menos.
  54. Feb 11, 2012
    8
    If they can manage to patch in a difficulty mode that actually provides any sort of challenge then 38 studios will have managed to make my game of the year. Beautiful world, Fantastic combat system.
  55. Feb 15, 2012
    8
    Although we do not bring any novelty to the world of RPGs, Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning is an experience that can entertain for hours. This is due mainly to the combat system and the way the controlled hero evolves â
  56. Mar 1, 2012
    8
    Kingdoms of Amalur is a good game. It's not exceptional, but it is indeed a good game that unfortunately suffers from being released so soon after Skyrim. While it isn't really fair to compare the two games, it is hard not to do just that. I'll try not to make comparisons here, both have their strengths and flaws. KoA has an interesting story, factions and side quests. There is much to doKingdoms of Amalur is a good game. It's not exceptional, but it is indeed a good game that unfortunately suffers from being released so soon after Skyrim. While it isn't really fair to compare the two games, it is hard not to do just that. I'll try not to make comparisons here, both have their strengths and flaws. KoA has an interesting story, factions and side quests. There is much to do here and most of it is fun. The combat is fun, and even after 30 hours plus game time, hasn't become boring. Some have complained about the 'cartoonish / outdated' graphics, but after playing for a while, I found that the art style seems to fit in the grand scheme of the game. Voice acting is quite well done, but nothing really special. What seems to be missing in the game world is the thrill of exploration. As you travel to an undiscovered location marked on your map by a quest giver, there is no feeling of adventure, and you just want to get to your destination as quickly as possible to 'get on with it'. It's more of a mechanical process as you run towards your quest, pause to fight the enemies that pop in, and then move along. The game, in my opinion is best enjoyed, by doing a bit of the main story quests, some side quests to help you level up, and some faction quest lines, rinse repeat. The tasks are for those that just really need to complete everything, but are nothing more than fetch quests and they really feel boring. The things that I feel 38 Studios / Big Huge Games got right are the loot system and the fact that you won't have to travel to 20 different vendors to sell it all. Weapons also degrade to the point of breaking if you don't keep them maintained. The final game is far better than the demo, and it deserves a look if you are a fan of the genre. The game is good enough to make me want to continue until I complete the main quest line as well as the factions. I'll take some side quests along the way as well. As for the task type of quests that I've taken from various NPCs; those will most likely go unfinished. Expand
  57. Oct 16, 2012
    8
    This is a QUALITY game. I'll be honest, at first glance I thought I'd bought a stinker. The first hour I played it was a mess. The controls (mouse and keyboard) and FOV were awful. After the 'widescreen fixer' add on and key binding to my Razer Naga, it became a legend. Seriously, those who say the FOV is ok should try the widescreen fix. I can't stress the difference it made and kudos toThis is a QUALITY game. I'll be honest, at first glance I thought I'd bought a stinker. The first hour I played it was a mess. The controls (mouse and keyboard) and FOV were awful. After the 'widescreen fixer' add on and key binding to my Razer Naga, it became a legend. Seriously, those who say the FOV is ok should try the widescreen fix. I can't stress the difference it made and kudos to whoever programmed that patch. As for the game, story is nothing special and kinda forgettable. I followed it to a point and then it lost me. Too complex for it's own good. The graphics/gameplay/combat/gear/enemies/musical score are right up there with the best. The combat alone makes this game stand out. I love Skyrim (and no I'm not comparing the two games) but I had a ton more fun playing K of A. I just don't see how/why people are knocking this title? I can only assume they didn't give it a chance. It just gets better and better the more I play it. I'm playing The Old Republic also at the moment and it (TOR) feels like a chore to play in comparison to K of A. There will always be ways to improve any game and it does have a crappy menu system which is a shame. I would give the game a solid 8 out of 10 but will give it 10 out of 10 to equal out the unfair negative reviews. There is no way in this world it deserves anything lower than a 5. Grab the demo and see for yourself. FYI the demo is mainly in a mini dungeon. The bulk of the game takes place in the outside world. Expand
  58. Feb 9, 2012
    8
    I wont attempt to lure you in with a wild premise. Is this RPG good? Yes it is. Is it a 3rd person Hack n' Slash? Yes it is. Is there something wrong with that? No there's not. With Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning. You'll get what you bought or expect, whichever perspective you fancy. When approaching computer games, you really need to ask yourself three or four questions. 1) Is it worthI wont attempt to lure you in with a wild premise. Is this RPG good? Yes it is. Is it a 3rd person Hack n' Slash? Yes it is. Is there something wrong with that? No there's not. With Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning. You'll get what you bought or expect, whichever perspective you fancy. When approaching computer games, you really need to ask yourself three or four questions. 1) Is it worth sixty dollars? 2) Will it function optimally on my configuration? 3) Am I going to enjoy it? These are typically what a customer will process. Now I give a lot of credit to EA, Big Huge Games and 38 studios. They delivered a rather solid demo three weeks in advance. The demo was short but gave you a excellent idea of the games core. Demo's are incredibly risky, for obvious reasons. Why many companies shy away from them. Down to the elements of Reckoning, which at it's very heart are the game mechanics. They're solid, you're locked into a 3rd person view point. The camera is only controlled by swivels of your mouse. It will automatically zoom out during multiple enemy flanks. Interface is simple and easy to understand. You wont be getting any no-ui like Fable 3. Combat is very simplistic, for me personally overly-so. Divinity II has similar combat, that title was very well done also. My only real issue with combat is ranged attacks lock-on to your target. You'll find yourself either blocking a lot or barrel rolling to victory. Graphics are stylized, they aren't exactly ground breaking. Like I explained earlier, it's all about what you want out of a video game. Performance rather than graphics are a major factor for me. The game runs smoothly on a EVGA Geforce GTS 450 Fermi, it also runs smoothly on a ATI 4670HD both 1gig memory. You'll get anywhere between 40-60 FPS on those cards. I noticed some bugs, first off subtitles are getting stuck, music becomes choppy during developer/publisher intro. NPC's will just stop during combat. It definitely has issues. Patches can be wonderful remedies. Giving it a 8/10 Only because for what it is, not what it can become. Expand
  59. Feb 9, 2012
    8
    First off the graphics: Although they may feel a little dated, the most important factor here is that they run very well, with no dipping below 60fps with vysnc turned on and maxxed out. All this on a 4 year old CPU, 4gb RAM and a 6870 GPU. Some people have compared the graphics with WOW - these people must be blinkered or blind, as they are nowhere near as dated as WOW.......... Next,First off the graphics: Although they may feel a little dated, the most important factor here is that they run very well, with no dipping below 60fps with vysnc turned on and maxxed out. All this on a 4 year old CPU, 4gb RAM and a 6870 GPU. Some people have compared the graphics with WOW - these people must be blinkered or blind, as they are nowhere near as dated as WOW.......... Next, the gameplay: The combat is fun, nothing extraordinary but it has enough variety and advancement to make it a well done component of the game. One thing that is evident is the "MMO" style of quest hubs and the way you progress through them, which is actually quite good from what I've seen so far........ Story: Your usual fantasy fare but the underlying main storyline is well executed........ SUMMARY: In a genre filled with some stunning games over the past 12 months or so, KoAR should find its very own core of fans. It is different enough to claim that it has differences which establish itself as a new IP and providing it is given the right support by its developers, it ought to result in success and a sequel. 8/10.......................PRO: Good performance on average PC........ CON: Its biggest fault is it's field of vision - the character, which is 3rd person is too big on the screen and it is often difficult to see the horizon point - this needs fixing quickly as it feels very claustraphobic. (PS: The "pro's" who have given this game 100% must have been locked away in dark cupobards and haven't been playing games for the last 2 years. The game is good, but 100%? No way). Expand
  60. Feb 9, 2012
    8
    The first thing I have to mention is that of the, currently, 57 negative reviews only 6 actually bothered to write anything. From my standpoint that means that there are a couple of people using multiple accounts to spam-review this game negatively but they couldn't even bother to copy/paste any form of text for the review itself. As to the game itself you can definitely tell that R. A.The first thing I have to mention is that of the, currently, 57 negative reviews only 6 actually bothered to write anything. From my standpoint that means that there are a couple of people using multiple accounts to spam-review this game negatively but they couldn't even bother to copy/paste any form of text for the review itself. As to the game itself you can definitely tell that R. A. Salvatore had a hand in the creation of the lore and world. The story and voice acting are top-tier. The amount of content is staggering at over 120 hours of side quests alone. I do have two complaints though. The first one is that, while not dated in a technical sense, the graphics appear a bit on the low end due to lower resolution textures, though still better than vanilla Skyrim in a lot of cases, and the cartoony style. My other complaint lies int he fact that the protagonist is silent. I'm of the opinion that this gaming paradigm has run it's course and needs to be done away with. They have all this amazing voice acting and huge amounts of dialog recorded for the NPCs but they couldn't bother to get voice actors for the main character. I understand that this can be a challenge given the fact that there are 4 playable races with 8 possible voices, one for each sex of each race, but I'd have been happy with a single voice actor for each sex applied regardless of the race chosen. Expand
  61. Mar 10, 2012
    8
    An excellent action RPG that subtly provides superior crafting, inventory management, character customization. While they may not have reinvented the wheel, there is plenty of story depth and tons to do while exploring. Games like the Witcher 2 could learn a lot here in how to manage a crafting/inventory system. It is clear these guys took the best elements from AD&D and managed toAn excellent action RPG that subtly provides superior crafting, inventory management, character customization. While they may not have reinvented the wheel, there is plenty of story depth and tons to do while exploring. Games like the Witcher 2 could learn a lot here in how to manage a crafting/inventory system. It is clear these guys took the best elements from AD&D and managed to streamline it into a very enjoyable game. Expand
  62. Mar 12, 2014
    8
    The game is very, very good. I for one found most of the side quests a lot of fun and a good main quest. I give it a 8 out of 10 because this is the best combat in an RPG I've ever seen. And everything else is fine as well. Yes, It doesn't give the best on all fronts, but it gives enough of everything and a ton of awesome combat to earn around a 7/10. It is very, very unique with all it'sThe game is very, very good. I for one found most of the side quests a lot of fun and a good main quest. I give it a 8 out of 10 because this is the best combat in an RPG I've ever seen. And everything else is fine as well. Yes, It doesn't give the best on all fronts, but it gives enough of everything and a ton of awesome combat to earn around a 7/10. It is very, very unique with all it's creatures. No Dragons, no orcs, no regular trolls. It is with mostly completely original enemies and it is the first game made by 38 Studios, so I'll be positive and give it a 8/10 Expand
  63. WMD
    Feb 12, 2012
    8
    My first thought after seeing all the people that appear to be posting bad reviews of this game like they have some vendetta against it was to right a glowing review, give it a ten, and call it a day. Then I decided that would make me no better than the people posting ridiculously low review numbers for a game that is obviously better than something like a three. So here it is, my score isMy first thought after seeing all the people that appear to be posting bad reviews of this game like they have some vendetta against it was to right a glowing review, give it a ten, and call it a day. Then I decided that would make me no better than the people posting ridiculously low review numbers for a game that is obviously better than something like a three. So here it is, my score is an 8. Sound: Music is good, sound effects have punch to go along with the combat system. The ambient sound track is well done, in that you don't notice it is there unless you specifically listen for it. Having said that, there were some bugs with soundtrack cutting in and out. It gets a 7.

    Graphics: Obviously a ridiculously subjective area, but I *loved* the graphics. The use of soft lighting and soft textures made me feel like I was in a dream-world rather than just earth, with dragons *cough* Skyrim *cough*. The brighter color pallet pulled me into the fantasy world more so than the drab pallets of some of this games competitors. The combat animations are fluid and very, very well animated. The FoV is *very* low which may be an issue for some (headaches etc) but I found it allowed me to better admire the work that was put into the character models and armor. Solid 9.

    Story line: Generic. It does a good job of keeping you interested enough to continue playing but it doesn't do much more. If I was basing this score on the main story line alone I would give it a 6. However, this game is more than just the main story line. The secondary quest lines (especially the faction quest lines) have some GREAT stories to them. The House of Ballads story arch is one of my favorite story archs in any games I have played. The secondary story lines pull this score up to a 7.

    Character Development: Poor. There are a limited number of main characters (I would peg the number at three) and I only cared *at all* about one of them. 38 Studios and BHG along with R.A. Salvatore and the games writers really, really missed the mark on this one in my opinion. I understand that story development is second to gameplay in this game but c'mon, at least make me feel something towards the other characters. As far as the antagonist goes, Gadflow makes a good one, but once again, they don't really give you a *reason* to hate the guy. This is a big miss for me. 4.

    Combat: Combat gets a 10. I am just gonna throw that out at the beginning. This in my opinion is one of the hardest parts of a game to review without getting too technical, I'll do my best not to put you to sleep. Anyways, this is some of the most fun I have ever had in a video game. The game gives you plenty of choices as to how you want to play your character (straight forward rogue, mage, warrior, or *any* mix of the three) and allows you to utilize pretty much any weapon you wish. The active blocking encourages you to pay attention to enemy attackers while juggling your own abilities. The the longer combo chains open you up to combo breakers from the enemies so they need to be planned, the risk versus reward is built in. At the same time careful planning will allow you to break enemy combos. The TLDR version: The combat feels visceral, impactful and responsive. (PS. Play with a controller that has force feedback, it adds a lot to the combat!) As I said above, this is a 10.

    Character Customizeability: Avatar customization is pretty weak by today's standards, especially in comparison to something like Skyrim. Having said that it did not detract from the experience for me at all. I was able to easily find a character look that I enjoyed. There is enough diversity in armor sets that you are pretty much guaranteed to find a look you like. 7.

    Replayability: You can change your spec at *any* time if you have the gold to pay for it. I finished the game as a Warrior / Mage hybrid and am ready to play through it a completely different way. It took my 32 hours to finish the main quest line having hit up probably 40-50% of the random quests I saw on the way to the finish line. There is just so much in this game, it is freaking huge, and after you finish the main story line you can take your character and finish off all the quests you missed. There is just so freaking much to do it is almost overwhelming. I know I can squeeze another 60 to 80 hours of enjoyment ouf of this game. Going with a 9. Last Words: Don't be fooled, this game is not a 10, not by a long shot. But neither is it a 0, or even a 3. Definitely an 8. The game does a great job of keeping the player engaged and learning, and rewarding him with a plethora of drops and new gear. If you go into this game expecting to be drawn in by the story line and story line alone you may be disappointed, but as is obvious from the outset, it is the combat system that is the star of the show here, and it does not disappoint. This game is an amazing freshman effort from the folks at 38 Studios and BHG. Onwards to Copernicus!
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  64. Feb 13, 2012
    8
    I'm 20 hours into the game, and I am having a blast. It is a classic RPG with an updated (and awesome!) combat system, and what makes it so enjoyable is that it knows what it is and doesn't try to be something else. There are even some wonderful moments of self-effacing humor when the game pokes fun at itself and the genre as a whole. I only give it an 8 (which is actually a very goodI'm 20 hours into the game, and I am having a blast. It is a classic RPG with an updated (and awesome!) combat system, and what makes it so enjoyable is that it knows what it is and doesn't try to be something else. There are even some wonderful moments of self-effacing humor when the game pokes fun at itself and the genre as a whole. I only give it an 8 (which is actually a very good score coming from me) because of two issues: 1) I wish I could zoom the camera out. This is a common complaint, and probably the biggest problem with the game. Most of the time, when I'm just running around, it isn't an issue (except that I can't properly appreciate all the attention to detail that went into the backgrounds!). But in combat, it can actually become detrimental. I'd really like to be able to pull back and get a more tactical view of the situation. 2) I really, really wish there were hotkeys to access the inventory and quest screens immediately from any other screen. And on a related note (issue 2.5, I suppose), the inventory setup is clunky and a bit annoying. Perhaps it works better for console users, but I'd prefer being able to see a list of all my items immediately upon entering the inventory screen instead of having to navigate through a menu system. But I'd put up with the inventory clunkiness if I just had a hotkey! Also, the voice acting isn't the best. It isn't terrible, but it isn't great either. There are times when the reading of a particular line (the way the person says it) is just plain wrong, and as an actor/director in RL, that drives me nuts. But unlike, say, Mass Effect or DA:Origins, this is not a character-driven story, so I can forgive the lack of attention in that area. The real treat, story-wise, is in reading every little thing you come across. This is a lore-driven game, so if you don't have the patience for that, you will end up feeling like you're just running around killing stuff for no reason. As for those who have complained that this is just a "single-player MMO," that's not an entirely inaccurate description. But I don't think there's anything wrong with that. That's what RPGs have always been, in a way. All in all, this game is just good old-fashioned RPG fun with fantastic combat mechanics. To the developers, I say, "Job well done." Expand
  65. Feb 10, 2012
    8
    I am tired of people constantly saying the media are corrupt as a whole. It's a reductive statement that is immature. It's become a unfortunate trend.
    Anyway --- The actual game in question. This does not have the weight or depth of the elder scrolls (as well as no modding/pc graphical features) - however it gets a lot right. What it takes from fable/world of warcraft/skyrim/oblivion - are
    I am tired of people constantly saying the media are corrupt as a whole. It's a reductive statement that is immature. It's become a unfortunate trend.
    Anyway --- The actual game in question. This does not have the weight or depth of the elder scrolls (as well as no modding/pc graphical features) - however it gets a lot right. What it takes from fable/world of warcraft/skyrim/oblivion - are solid elements. It puts them together in it's own way - and gives you a semi open world with random rewarding loot, and a exceptional combat system. My major issue is the side quests, which resemble a mmo. Fetch x, Kill x, Collect x, Goto x and Repeat. And while this is a problem, you can actually happily grind away in this game for a while doing these quests, because of the loot and combat being so rewarding. As for the faction quests/Main quest. They are of a far higher standard, and should be what you do when you get tired of the side stuff. Switch it up and you will have a fun time. Solid game. And serves as a great "break from skyrim" game. If open world rpg's are your genre of choice.
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  66. Apr 5, 2013
    8
    There is quite a lot I love about this game. I love the world itself, its high fantasy beautiful and I am enjoying running around and being stunned by pretty vistas everywhere I go. I dont mind the cartoon type graphics, its a high fantasty game after all I love the funny personalities and the cool magic weapons, at last a magic weapon that really kicks butt! THE CHAKRAS! In some otherThere is quite a lot I love about this game. I love the world itself, its high fantasy beautiful and I am enjoying running around and being stunned by pretty vistas everywhere I go. I dont mind the cartoon type graphics, its a high fantasty game after all I love the funny personalities and the cool magic weapons, at last a magic weapon that really kicks butt! THE CHAKRAS! In some other games being a commited magic user was impossible, but in thIs game my character can really have fun just being a mage and im loving that. I am also looking forward to trying out the other builds in future replays. Im on my first playthrough and am managing most missions without problems and very few bugs, well none so far which is excellent imo. The story is ok but I do get side tracked easily by people I meet who need help and I really want to help them, their storues are interesting and fun. Would love some flirting or romance options but glad its not done badly as in skyrim, better no romance than what skyrim had to offer.
    One thing that has really annoyed me about this game and many others too I might add is that although many mage armours have different names they all look the same, the only thing that cahnges is the stats. I am up to level 18 with about a weeks worth of playing, MANY many hours and I have only found about four different armour designs. Its a bit disappointing as I love the way I can see my character whenever I want too and I am able to change her hairstyle and colour and accessories etc. Love that, yaay! But I would love a much better range of armour styles. One of the best ever games for this was Neverwinter Nights 2. They had hundreds of different armours and styles, man what a game that was!!
    Oh and another thing, Anders from Dragon Age, the mage? His voice is everywhere in this game and I am really tired of meeting people and hearing his voice, he must have done about a third of the voice acting jobs, he was even in the latest star wars game too, just becoming too familiar to me. I dont like that.
    I think the crafting system is nice, I am enjoying using it. I love the skills system, easy and straightforward for me and I think the maps and map travel is lovely. I wish I had a unicorn to ride on though, hehe. I am still in honeymoon phase with this game as in enjoying it very very much and am hoping I continue to do so. Just edited my score as I think this game is more and 8 than a 9.
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  67. Feb 12, 2012
    8
    This is a good game in my opinion. Graphics are nice (Not amazing graphics, but the art style was obviously deliberate to those who say the graphics are bad), No bugs runs smooth as a whistle. Decent enough story to go upon (Again i don't get the complaints about the story, its if not the same in decency as a few other RPG's). I got skyrim and only played a few hours and haven't touched itThis is a good game in my opinion. Graphics are nice (Not amazing graphics, but the art style was obviously deliberate to those who say the graphics are bad), No bugs runs smooth as a whistle. Decent enough story to go upon (Again i don't get the complaints about the story, its if not the same in decency as a few other RPG's). I got skyrim and only played a few hours and haven't touched it since, i've already played this more and enjoy it more. The combat is extremely well done, which comes out looking impressive.
    As others have stated, you can tell this was to be an MMO at some point, and it would fit in well as an MMO. It sorta does feel lacking without any online play.But overall is an enjoyable game.
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  68. Feb 10, 2012
    8
    The dev team for Amalur get a decent amount of kudos from me for this title. There is a lot of work put into this game and most of it really does come off quite well. It's not god's gift to RPG's, so I do think anyone giving this game a 10 is a bit crazy (or maybe this is their first game played in their life). No, it's not a life changing experience (at least when you play it while notThe dev team for Amalur get a decent amount of kudos from me for this title. There is a lot of work put into this game and most of it really does come off quite well. It's not god's gift to RPG's, so I do think anyone giving this game a 10 is a bit crazy (or maybe this is their first game played in their life). No, it's not a life changing experience (at least when you play it while not tripping on mushrooms). But it is definitely worthy of a buy if you like games like God of War and Fable or action-RPG's in general. Trust me the game has some meat to it, though to be honest it's probably NOT worth $60 whopping USD they are charging for the PC version. I don't understand why it's $15 more on the PC when as far as I can tell there is nothing specific to the PC version that would warrant it. I will do this review in a different way than most and list pros and cons an final thoughts

    PROS:

    -Nice art direction care of artist Todd McFarlane
    -Large game world
    -Huge amounts of lore. The game was written to some extent by world renowned fantasy author R.A Salvatore, and the lore comes from his novels as far as I know. Every PC you can talk to has a few dialog options to speak about to fill you in a bit deeper on the lore if you care about it.
    -Fun "God ofWar" like combat
    -Bajillion sidequests -Fully voiced NPC's
    -Armor/weaponcrafting, alchemy, gemcrafting
    -Just a good solid RPG. CONS:

    -Your character has no voice - Some people don't mind this, but I prefer my protagonist to have a voice of his own. It is just one more thing that adds character and charm. -NPC's are too stiff during dialog- In games like Mass Effect 2, the characters really feel like they are "there". Here, everything is very wooden, and I'd like to see the next game in the series do more with the "acting". -Graphical texture pop in is very annoying and no way to fix it on the PC since it is hard coded into he game cross platform. This was done to make developing for the PS3 easier and so they could launch all platforms at the same time. To me it's very annoying and my eyes are constantly being drawn to these graphical anomalies because they just pop in so close to the character and they are therefore distracting to my game experience. -No worthwhile camera control - The camera is in my and many other players' opinions way to close to the character and there is no way to move it back. They give you an over the shoulder option (think Dead Space) but it's pointless and I don't know why anyone would use it to be honest. In a game like this you need to be able to see all sides of you. -Some claim the game is "too easy" even on Hard mode. -Some of the skills in the skill-trees can be rather "meh", but to get the highest tier abilities, you are forced to take them making some levels seem like a waste.
    -No autorun key (Trust me you will wish for one, though on the official forums someone linked a tool that you can run while playing the game where you can set an autorun key)
    -No real easy way to scroll through abilities making it hard to use them in the heat of battle (PC version, I don't know how it is on the consoles) though the program mentioned above allows you to also scroll through them with the mousewheel if you choose. -No real use for gold. I have currently $500,000 and I barely buy anything. There's definitely items that I could buy that will be an upgrade to my equipment, but since I maxed out smithing, I keep waiting to find the "Master" parts to craft top grade items. So in essence I'm running through the game with a slight handicap, but I've invested in alchemy so I pop potions galore to keep me alive. I would like to feel like i NEED to buy these items and do something with this gold though. THOUGHTS:

    I don't understand how some people are hating on this game. In my opinion these people are very jaded gamers that have seen it all by now and expect games being released now to change their life or something. None of the cons written above even when all combined are enough to stop me from playing and enjoying this game. I like the combat, I want to see what is next in the story, I like the loot hunting, the world looks nice, the story is very competent, and I really don't know what else in this era of gaming an RPG can offer besides that sort of gameplay. I highly suggest you purchase it at some point and show EA that giving a new game franchise a shot is a lucrative investment, or else all we may see is the same old same old. I really want to see what these guys do in a second installment because I think it will be what the Witcher 2 was to its predecessor.
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  69. Apr 27, 2012
    8
    Great: the artistic style, the combat mechanics, it's fun!

    Good: Quests variety, crafting, the character builds are different and fun to play

    Not good: the voice acting, the dialogue writing, the open world factor and exploration
  70. Feb 11, 2012
    8
    Reckoning is a good action RPG, with solid combat, great animation and spell effects, a unique game world, and colorful art palette. The class, skill and ability system is deep and rewarding. Quests are engaging, and there is plenty of content to get lost in. In no way does it deserve a score less than 7 by any objective reviewer. These reviews in the 0-3 range are pure troll bait. Don'tReckoning is a good action RPG, with solid combat, great animation and spell effects, a unique game world, and colorful art palette. The class, skill and ability system is deep and rewarding. Quests are engaging, and there is plenty of content to get lost in. In no way does it deserve a score less than 7 by any objective reviewer. These reviews in the 0-3 range are pure troll bait. Don't let the haters put you off the vibrant world of Amalur. Expand
  71. Feb 15, 2012
    8
    8 out 10

    The Good: An odd mix of Oblivion (world), WoW (combat and graphics) and Batman Arkham Asylum (combat). The combat smacks of Batman Arkham Asylum - fast paced but always in control. At to that the fun spells and attacks and you have a fun game on your hand. Especially the ability to mix and match the three talent builds (Might, Finesses and Magic) adds a lot of versatility to this
    8 out 10

    The Good: An odd mix of Oblivion (world), WoW (combat and graphics) and Batman Arkham Asylum (combat). The combat smacks of Batman Arkham Asylum - fast paced but always in control. At to that the fun spells and attacks and you have a fun game on your hand. Especially the ability to mix and match the three talent builds (Might, Finesses and Magic) adds a lot of versatility to this game. Graphic style is beautiful and lots of great looking weapons.

    The Bad: Suffers heavily of consilitis and poor graphics. The RPG elements in the open world are not fleshed out and feel gimmicky. Cliche high fantasy story.

    All in all a entertaining game with a playtime of about 70-100 hours depending on whether you do the side quests or not.
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  72. Feb 13, 2012
    8
    i understand that most of the negative score is from people that simply trolling i for one enjoy every moment of this game and despite several despite several flaws this game give an outstanding performance and worth every penny i invested in to it.
  73. Mar 2, 2012
    8
    a very well made game that is extremely enjoyable and full of content, the graphics isn't visually impressive but it is definitely above par. Combat is very well designed and fun to play yet combat eventually loses it's appeal (around 30 hours). By then you will easily notice one of the greatest flaw in the game "story" Characters, side quests and faction quests is very forgettable,a very well made game that is extremely enjoyable and full of content, the graphics isn't visually impressive but it is definitely above par. Combat is very well designed and fun to play yet combat eventually loses it's appeal (around 30 hours). By then you will easily notice one of the greatest flaw in the game "story" Characters, side quests and faction quests is very forgettable, repetitive and boring, this is the game's main problem. Overall very solid game with a lot of content and very well designed and diverse world yet boring inhabitants. Expand
  74. Feb 23, 2012
    8
    The game is very good, similar to the best (or one of the best) crpg Fable. A huge, powerful, fun world, fun colorful graphics that gives an interesting atmosphere, and generally the whole game that can be called just a very good role-playing game. But it has its drawbacks, compared to many great role-playing game is not as great and sometimes tedious and difficult, but still very good. MyThe game is very good, similar to the best (or one of the best) crpg Fable. A huge, powerful, fun world, fun colorful graphics that gives an interesting atmosphere, and generally the whole game that can be called just a very good role-playing game. But it has its drawbacks, compared to many great role-playing game is not as great and sometimes tedious and difficult, but still very good. My rating - 8/10 Expand
  75. Feb 7, 2012
    8
    Cons:
    Outdated character and environment graphics.
    Menu system is clearly console"ified" and clunky with m/k. Cartoony textures (may be a pro for some). Generic fantasy world, with all the usual players. Poor character creator. Mute main character Pros: Some of the best combat and gameplay ever in an rpg. Virtually bug free. Tons of ability to customize not only your appearance, but
    Cons:
    Outdated character and environment graphics.
    Menu system is clearly console"ified" and clunky with m/k.
    Cartoony textures (may be a pro for some).
    Generic fantasy world, with all the usual players.
    Poor character creator.
    Mute main character

    Pros:
    Some of the best combat and gameplay ever in an rpg.
    Virtually bug free.
    Tons of ability to customize not only your appearance, but skills also, 3 talent tress that are all fleshed out very well.
    Forgiving leveling system that lets you reset your points. High quality voice acting.
    TONS (150+ hours) of side quests.
    Gear drops like it's going out of style.

    Overall:
    I was very skeptical after playing to demo, but once you start raking in loot and gear plus get some points into combat this game starts to get very, very, good.
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  76. Feb 11, 2012
    8
    The thing that keeps me playing this game is the combat. I'm glad somebody finally made a game that isn't a button masher but has all the fluff of a traditional RPG. Another strength is the loot system, if you like loot this game is for you. I found that it does take awhile into the game before you start to get a grasp on the lore within Amular. This isn't really a complaint though as itThe thing that keeps me playing this game is the combat. I'm glad somebody finally made a game that isn't a button masher but has all the fluff of a traditional RPG. Another strength is the loot system, if you like loot this game is for you. I found that it does take awhile into the game before you start to get a grasp on the lore within Amular. This isn't really a complaint though as it is expected from any new IP.
    The story isn't going to grab you and make you have to "just play one more hour". it's not bad but it's not great either, which was disappointing as R.A. Salvatore had a hand in the story.
    Technically I haven't run into any major bugs. The game is quite solid with 2 exceptions. 1.) The camera needs some work on the PC version. PC users should be able to zoom the camera out a little bit. 2.) The KB&M is super awkward due to the combat system. It is much more enjoyable to play this game with a controller, if you're on PC due yourself a favor and get a USB Xbox 360 controller.
    In conclusion, this game is perfect for people who like RPG's but want some real "action" to the combat.
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  77. Feb 19, 2012
    8
    I've bought the game after 7 hours of demo-gameplay regardless of the bad user score over here at metacritics. 30 hours in the game, probably at the middle of the main story line, i do not regret it. Combat is great, especially if you mix the different talent trees AND use an xbox-style gamepad. The button mashing and interface does not fit a Keyboard/Mouse setup very well. Quests areI've bought the game after 7 hours of demo-gameplay regardless of the bad user score over here at metacritics. 30 hours in the game, probably at the middle of the main story line, i do not regret it. Combat is great, especially if you mix the different talent trees AND use an xbox-style gamepad. The button mashing and interface does not fit a Keyboard/Mouse setup very well. Quests are good, some very creative, others more like the typical kill-this/loot-that side quests. The main story and setting may not be as immersive as Skyrim or Mass Effect, but it's very good for a hack & slay game like this.

    Speaking of Skyrim, you should not make the fault to compare these two games. The only thing they share is the major flaw of both: It get's dull once you start fast-travelling a lot. From my POV, this may just be a sign that games are getting too long these days to stay entertaining from start to finish. Anyways, for me this is a solid 8 if you use a gamepad, maybe only a 6 when playing with a keyboard. Go give it a try and see for yourself - if you like the demo a lot, don't let the bad reviews keep you from buying the full game.
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  78. Feb 13, 2012
    8
    There is little I can say that hasn't already been said. If you are reading this review, then chances are you have already made your mind up about with KOA:R is going to be your cup of tea.

    Comparisons to Fable have been made; yes, it looks similar. It's full of British voice actors. It has a 'cartoony' look to it. Even the combat is similar in style. But it has a much richer loot system,
    There is little I can say that hasn't already been said. If you are reading this review, then chances are you have already made your mind up about with KOA:R is going to be your cup of tea.

    Comparisons to Fable have been made; yes, it looks similar. It's full of British voice actors. It has a 'cartoony' look to it. Even the combat is similar in style. But it has a much richer loot system, with weapon after item after potion being found; on enemies, in chests, in shops. The combat is also vastly superior and, whilst I am a Fable fan, KOA:R at times feels like the game Fable fans *wanted* it to be.

    You also hear people knock the graphics. Well, it looks pretty, and Skyward Sword certainly looks no worse for a game that has come out after 2010. Again, it has that thatched-cottage Fable feel to it, though the open-world aspect is a bit of a misnomer, with even forest locations being basically large, outdoor rooms. Again, nobody seemed to knock Zelda for this.

    Comparisons to Skyrim I don't understand. I love Skyrim, and think it was the best game of 2011. But that was gritty, brutal, fantasy, akin to 'Game of Thrones'. You could kick a wolf in the face, run a man through with a sword, chop a barmaids head off. You won't find that here. Admittedly, some of the special moves can be surprisingly violent, with your character sticking magical spikes through opponents faces, and the stealth kills leave nothing to the imagination.

    All in all, this game is a safe pair of hands. It borrows a lot of familiar aspects from well-trodden titles; Elder Scrolls, Fable, WOW, God of War even (how about those QTE finishing moves ay?). But it's not a bad game, and certainly has some effort behind it. A lot of these reviews will give it 7's or 8's. From that you can confer that if the idea of playing Skyrim, Zelda, Fable or WOW doesn't appeal to you, then don't come here. But if you think action-oriented RPG-lites are a fun way to waste time... well, then dive on in.
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  79. Feb 15, 2012
    8
    Loved the combat, loved the art style and animations and gameplay but it gets a bit repetitive after a few hours. The story is actually not bad however the quests are generic and feel like something that has been done many times in other RPGS , the games a bit linear and the dialogue isn't so great but the voice acting is OK. Character progressions is nice and the way you can combineLoved the combat, loved the art style and animations and gameplay but it gets a bit repetitive after a few hours. The story is actually not bad however the quests are generic and feel like something that has been done many times in other RPGS , the games a bit linear and the dialogue isn't so great but the voice acting is OK. Character progressions is nice and the way you can combine skills and create combos is very fun however i wish there were more skills in the game like the mage more spells and summons, etc. My biggest complaint it that it feels like an OFFLINE MMO...however if this game was online or had online features I might have given it a 9 or 10. Expand
  80. Feb 10, 2012
    8
    Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning is a new IP from EA and with any new IP there are many risks. Like is the new world and lore rich enough? Are the game mechanics and story deep enough? Are people willing to risk buying a full priced game from the start?

    Most of these are answered with a resounding, yes! This game have sweeping visuals and a compelling story. Sure, most fantasy genre games
    Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning is a new IP from EA and with any new IP there are many risks. Like is the new world and lore rich enough? Are the game mechanics and story deep enough? Are people willing to risk buying a full priced game from the start?

    Most of these are answered with a resounding, yes! This game have sweeping visuals and a compelling story. Sure, most fantasy genre games may have some overlapping content such as elves, swords and magic, but it's how these familiar elements are portrayed that sets it apart from other games in the fantasy genre.

    First the bad. The game has mixed reviews on its visuals. The game is full of rich and vibrant areas with almost cartoonish characters. It is not Dragon Age and does not try to be. It's more along the lines of Fable, with exaggerated hands and feet, but that's ok as everything is balanced to fit that particular style. The animations are fluid, the world is rich with various flora and fauna and is beautiful. It's a different kind of beauty than can be appreciated from even the most high graphic demanding players.

    The fight mechanics are quite solid and playing a melee, ranged, magic or a mixture of them all is quite fun. I really felt powerful as a spellsword, a custom built class built around melee and magic. Launching a lightning blast only to run in and clean up with your sword is quite rewarding. Your special attacks and abilities are on timers keeping you from spamming your most powerful of attacks. The combat is fluid and makes use of a solid collision detection system. Attack animations and spells can be interrupted, so combat feels more dynamic resulting in the need to plan your attacks accordingly.

    I hear a lot of people complain about the bow mechanics in this game. I barely used the bow as my character is geared towards magic, but I can't imagine it's that complex. The combat uses an auto targeting system, so I can see the disadvantages of using a bow, but it's not much difference than using spells since they use a similar system. Rounding off combat are finishing moves which give you a boost of XP for randomly mashing a button when an animation is triggered. These moves end in a God of War style executioner such as jumping up and driving swords down through your target's head or body. The animations are canned and there are only a few for standard enemies and only one for larger enemies, but they haven't gotten old yet.

    The story is written by R. A. Salvatore, who I'm not quite familiar with and the visuals are designed by Todd McFarlane who I am familiar with. I don't know if I'm missing anything having these two names thrown around, but for me it's a big "so what"? Todd McFarlane designed the visuals you say? Great! Couldn't care less. I mean you could have told me Bill Cosby designed the visuals and I would have been just as apathetic.

    The story is standard fantasy fair. You are a resurrected soldier of one of four playable races and three skill classes and you are fated to save the world. After your resurrection the machine that brought you back was destroyed, so you are the only one of your kind and it's up to you to make what is... *falls asleep* Yeah, the story is there to take you through the world. It's there, it's written by R. A. Salvatore and it's nice.

    All in all, visuals are similar to Fable. Gameplay is similar to Fable and God of War. Story is standard. In closing, this is the game that Fable should have been.
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  81. Feb 11, 2012
    8
    Ever since I've played RPGs I've wanted one that has exciting combat, and Reckoning delivers. The character building system is fantastic, too. I love playing multi-classed characters, and this game doesn't penalize you for that. All the combinations of fighter mage and rogue are covered. I'm knocking off a couple points for issues with leveling. If you explore the world too fast or you doEver since I've played RPGs I've wanted one that has exciting combat, and Reckoning delivers. The character building system is fantastic, too. I love playing multi-classed characters, and this game doesn't penalize you for that. All the combinations of fighter mage and rogue are covered. I'm knocking off a couple points for issues with leveling. If you explore the world too fast or you do too many quests, it's possible to outlevel the main story. The game loses all challenge and balance when you're fighting nothing but gray enemies. Fortunately you can avoid that problem by not running all over the place and sticking to one area at a time, but I think they could have come up with a balance between that and the horrible level-matching nightmare of Oblivion that punishes you for leveling up.

    Presentation is outstanding, gameplay is outstanding if you love action oriented combat, and the story and world are really interesting. I'm looking forward to playing more chapters in Amalur (not in the upcoming MMO, though).
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  82. Feb 15, 2012
    8
    The game is enough atmospheric and interesting. Cons it is almost there. The only thing that really upset me - the lack of Russian language. Well, at least the text translated! What kind of disrespect for the Russian. :( The rest of the game is good, style of WOW, the gameplay Oblivion. Also in the game there is a good dinamic, which is very important. In the absence of the RussianThe game is enough atmospheric and interesting. Cons it is almost there. The only thing that really upset me - the lack of Russian language. Well, at least the text translated! What kind of disrespect for the Russian. :( The rest of the game is good, style of WOW, the gameplay Oblivion. Also in the game there is a good dinamic, which is very important. In the absence of the Russian language will not reduce the assessment. It would be unfair. Expand
  83. Feb 21, 2012
    8
    Overall a good game but lost focus in story and quest fairly quickly. Only other problem is controls are more tailored to the console and plays much better with a controller. Otherwise good game and would recommended to anyone who enjoys action RPG's or good long stories in their games.
  84. Feb 21, 2012
    8
    The game has a more simple approach to gameplay, and is a mixture between Fable and Sacred 2, with some elements of Skyrim (Stealth, blacksmith, pickpocket, etc.): although is a fun game, if you keep this in mind, and don't compare with other recent RPGs (and RPG do have various subdivision in the main style). The characters has a more simple appearance, but with good details, and theThe game has a more simple approach to gameplay, and is a mixture between Fable and Sacred 2, with some elements of Skyrim (Stealth, blacksmith, pickpocket, etc.): although is a fun game, if you keep this in mind, and don't compare with other recent RPGs (and RPG do have various subdivision in the main style). The characters has a more simple appearance, but with good details, and the scenarios are beautifully made. Every NPC has a voice (cheesy sometimes), and the soundtrack is adequate.

    Tons of Side-Quests guarantee many hours of gameplay, the Main Quest alone being about 7 hours, and has a good customization system of Weapons and Armor. The main story is interesting, but the Side Quests, are quite general (like the Sacred 2 side quest were).

    I would give the game a 7,7 score, having in mind what I said in the first line.
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  85. Mar 2, 2012
    8
    When I first played this game I extremely enjoyed the combat system but felt the world lacked immersiveness. I thought, wow this game would be great if it was a little darker and a little less fantasy (5 types of elves?). I thought I would put it down soon after starting (4-5 hours). I am usually extremely fickle with games playing some of the best that I buy for 5-10 hours before I loseWhen I first played this game I extremely enjoyed the combat system but felt the world lacked immersiveness. I thought, wow this game would be great if it was a little darker and a little less fantasy (5 types of elves?). I thought I would put it down soon after starting (4-5 hours). I am usually extremely fickle with games playing some of the best that I buy for 5-10 hours before I lose interest, however; for some reason I kept playing this game. The more I played it, the more I wanted to play. It is not Skyrim; but, it doesn't have to be. If I rated games for time I put in and interest in continuing to play Skyrim would win at 100+; however, until DLC comes out I need somthing else and Amalur is it. Expand
  86. Mar 7, 2012
    8
    For the group that loved the first Fable and wanted more there come's a game from 38 Studios called Kingdoms Of Amalur: Reckoning. It come's off as a Fable combat/story set in an Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim world. As you progress through the game you'll come across varied landscapes and monster's that relate back to the Fae and their 4 courts, aptly named after the four season. The combat isFor the group that loved the first Fable and wanted more there come's a game from 38 Studios called Kingdoms Of Amalur: Reckoning. It come's off as a Fable combat/story set in an Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim world. As you progress through the game you'll come across varied landscapes and monster's that relate back to the Fae and their 4 courts, aptly named after the four season. The combat is probably the game's strongest and for me weakest point. While fun and fluid, it suffers from a flaw that I can't get past, in the game you're able to activate an ability which essentially slows time and increase's damage output which make's hard boss fights incredibly easy, while the quick time event at the end is satisfying it just doesn't hold a challenge. Sure I could bump the difficulty however that make's the game a struggle the whole way through.

    The other issue that I had was the occasionally the camera would point either at the ground, or assume that you have a form of X-ray vision and show you a cliff face or some other solid surface that can't be seen through. I have only even encountered this as a hindrance when I was in an arena like area where you are in close quarters surrounded on all sides, I can understand how some people could consider this a game breaking occurrence. Overall, if you enjoyed Fable or Skyrim then chance's are you will thoroughly enjoy this game as long as you can get past the minor annoyances.
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  87. Mar 15, 2012
    8
    Almost as good as skyrim in my opinion,while the world is not as large as in skyrim they really nailed an awesome story to this game,also a good graphics design and a better combat system(hack n slash ftw).Now the bad sides:the camera is a bit weird at times but that really aint a problem and there aren´t too many intresting side quests.So overall a pretty epic rpg.
  88. Apr 3, 2012
    8
    I think the game is fine, is not a 10 but the scores given here lower than a 5 are ridiculous. I've seen worse games by far. Yeah, I agree with t the camera view issue and combat difficulty should be bumped up a few notches after you're well equiped ( I play on Hard), but is not a awfull game. The repetitive story lines are at par with the number one RPG "Skyrim" and I have played itI think the game is fine, is not a 10 but the scores given here lower than a 5 are ridiculous. I've seen worse games by far. Yeah, I agree with t the camera view issue and combat difficulty should be bumped up a few notches after you're well equiped ( I play on Hard), but is not a awfull game. The repetitive story lines are at par with the number one RPG "Skyrim" and I have played it Vanilla ver. and moded as well. So please spare me the storyline comments. In fact I think this game is fun. If you like descent graphics a descent story and don't like to torture yourself trying to have fun then go for it! Expand
  89. Sep 18, 2013
    8
    Very good action RPG Nice scenario, excellent graphics, pretty good gameplay along with a flex ability development and optional resetting of all characteristics, set a game full of fun. Great variety of monsters and lots of loot and weapons. Looking forward to a sequel
  90. May 11, 2012
    8
    The game lacks character facial animation. The story lacks deepness. The plot is a lot better in Dragon Age, Witcher, Gothic etc.
    On the other hand we usually presume that the plot is awful if it is not as non-linear or colorful as in Witcher and so on. But that is not quite accurate. The thing is that the story in Reckoning is good. First of all, most of the caracters are swift speakers.
    The game lacks character facial animation. The story lacks deepness. The plot is a lot better in Dragon Age, Witcher, Gothic etc.
    On the other hand we usually presume that the plot is awful if it is not as non-linear or colorful as in Witcher and so on. But that is not quite accurate. The thing is that the story in Reckoning is good. First of all, most of the caracters are swift speakers. They give you the whole topic in like 5 seconds. I do not spend much time on it! Secondly, you always have blue topic important for plot development, and you have other topics. You do not have to hear them all. Thirdly, the plot is logical, and that is what makes it quite interesting. No one complains about God of War's linearity and simple story development. Amalur is the same thing. There are other things to make you engaged.The key element is hard difficulty. For Kratos's sake, pick hard difficulty! There is no point in different strategies, crafting, alchemy, speachcraft if you do not feel difficulty of battles!
    After that the game becomes an interesting action with a story. And by the way, of all of the modern RPG's Kingdoms of Amalur contains a huge portion of fun for thiefs and assassins. A brand unique branch of skills is at your service. You do not just take daggers instead of swors and axes in your hands. You actually become a different class to control. That is what amazed me. And two marvelous DLCs also speak in favour of this game. The only thing I did not like about the game is the console control over the craracter and navigation through the menus. But that is something you can live with.
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  91. Jun 5, 2012
    8
    Well, I guess it is a one hit wonder for 38 studios. For a new IP in a world dominated by sequels, KoA had a lot of promise. It wasn't anywhere near perfect, and many of the gripes in the negative reviews are spot on. However, if you accept it for what it is and not expect it be what it isn't, you'll have a lot of fun. Everything in the game is basically copied from other games. I don'tWell, I guess it is a one hit wonder for 38 studios. For a new IP in a world dominated by sequels, KoA had a lot of promise. It wasn't anywhere near perfect, and many of the gripes in the negative reviews are spot on. However, if you accept it for what it is and not expect it be what it isn't, you'll have a lot of fun. Everything in the game is basically copied from other games. I don't consider this a terrible thing, as I easily recognized what to do. The game is somewhat easy on even highest difficulty. Once again, this is not such a terrible thing for a casual gamer. The camera is probably the biggest complaint I have. That and the UI/Inventory are clearly made for consoles. Now that the studio is closed down, if you are considering purchasing, you should Google the game breaking bugs as there will be no patch. Once again if you're a casual gamer that enjoys over the top action and rpg elements this game can be fun. If you're looking for a Skyrim/Witcher alternative, forget about it. Expand
  92. Dec 27, 2013
    8
    Great game, spent a lot of time on quests. Stable, good looking and nice voiceover. It felt a bit tedious at certain points but at the end it was a great experience.
  93. Jan 16, 2015
    8
    For me this game has all the makings of being something truly brilliant, however while having so much content is great it becomes quite repetitive and similar after a while.
    The combat is solid, good graphics and a strong story.

    Any fan of RPG's and the MMORPG genre will get a kick out of this.
  94. Oct 29, 2013
    8
    Just a great game! I'm not a "high fantasy" type, but had no trouble enjoying this world. Combat is the main pleasure here as it may well be the best seen in this genre. The world is huge and enjoyable to explore. If you a lore junkie you will certainly get your fix here! Controls are tight and very few bugs, certainly no game breakers. Tons of loot to find/craft/buy. Good size skill treesJust a great game! I'm not a "high fantasy" type, but had no trouble enjoying this world. Combat is the main pleasure here as it may well be the best seen in this genre. The world is huge and enjoyable to explore. If you a lore junkie you will certainly get your fix here! Controls are tight and very few bugs, certainly no game breakers. Tons of loot to find/craft/buy. Good size skill trees to develop a unique character. Why is this not rated higher here I can't say, except for the usual complaint "generic fantasy", boring side quests, no name characters etc. which IMO most if not all huge rpg's suffer from to some extent due to their sheer size. Anyway a very solid fun game worth a look. A damn shame there will likely never be a proper sequel which this game definitely deserves! Expand
  95. Mar 17, 2013
    8
    Great game first off. Amazing Graphics and gameplay. The story is very bland and uninteresting tho. There are 2 DLCs released, that gives some better storylines than the original. There are some great boss battles in the addons than in the original game. There are lots of customizations for your character in this game that makes it interesting and somewhat addictive to play. Yet, you can'tGreat game first off. Amazing Graphics and gameplay. The story is very bland and uninteresting tho. There are 2 DLCs released, that gives some better storylines than the original. There are some great boss battles in the addons than in the original game. There are lots of customizations for your character in this game that makes it interesting and somewhat addictive to play. Yet, you can't help but put down the controller if you get bored from the storyline. The world is pretty expansive, and good thing fast travel feature is involved. There are tons of side quests as well, but nothing that keeps you interested in actually doing them. I can name a few rpgs similar, like Fable and Dark Souls but those have better interesting story. watch completed playthrough with commentary http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=heMf5vNXw7o&feature=share&list=PLgKhjQe3_Es7osRkxYaxGo3tbLUqivHGY Expand
  96. Sep 13, 2013
    8
    a really amazing and fulfilling RPG the graphics and story are okay but the gameplay is simply awesome the hack'n'slash game play is just amazing recommended to any rpg fan
  97. Sep 18, 2014
    8
    This is a pretty nice RPG with lots of content/quests and a decent size world. Graphics are ok, a little more on the colorful side and in my opinion almost cartoonish. It's definitely not as good as Skyrim when it comes to dialogs, details and atmosphere but i do like the combat and controls, lots of fun and action. If you're looking for an action RPG that can keep you busy (I got about 60This is a pretty nice RPG with lots of content/quests and a decent size world. Graphics are ok, a little more on the colorful side and in my opinion almost cartoonish. It's definitely not as good as Skyrim when it comes to dialogs, details and atmosphere but i do like the combat and controls, lots of fun and action. If you're looking for an action RPG that can keep you busy (I got about 60 hours in and probably only half way through) then give this game a try. Expand
  98. Jan 15, 2020
    8
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Ken Rolston, (Morrowind, Oblivion) was one of the designers for this game, so it comes as no surprise that KOAR (Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning) is good; very good. It plays a little like Fable and The Elder Scrolls, but also has its own flavor and flare. Here is my list of Pros and Cons...

    PROS:

    Very detailed world, and large.
    Nice graphics for 2012.
    Great musical scores. Fits very well.
    Decent character creation; Male & Female.
    Four Races: 2 Human, 2 Elf.
    3 main classes; Warrior, Mage and Rogue.
    Classes can be mixed to make unique classes.
    Fateweavers can reset your destiny at anytime.
    Can pick gods and goddesses to worship.
    Great Main Quest. Unique & intriguing.
    Tons of side quests. Not boring or repetitive.
    Thousands of characters to talk too.
    100+ hrs can be dumped into the MQ alone.
    Crafting. This is one of the best parts. GREAT!
    DLC adds new land, quests, a keep, & marriage.
    NPCS are voiced and it was done very well.
    One of the most bug free games I've ever played.

    CONS:

    Little to no weather effects. Takes away realism.
    Despite all the taverns, you can't order food or drink.
    There's no alignments. It's like TES IV: Oblivion.
    A level cap increase should have been added.
    Quest items sometimes get stuck in inventory.
    Sprinting forever? A fatigue meter was needed.
    Jumping from 10 story cliffs unhurt? Very odd.

    -----

    That's about it. KOAR is a hugely underrated game and was well put together. 8/10.
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  99. Apr 12, 2013
    8
    Really engaging and full of lore.

    A game which contains elements of Skyrim and WOW. Story is deep and fantastical as you could imagine being authored by decent fantasy writers. It looks pretty and plays well. The combat is much better than most RPG's. The game is huge with many quests that I ignored after the first zone. I just did the faction and main story quests and that took
    Really engaging and full of lore.

    A game which contains elements of Skyrim and WOW. Story is deep and fantastical as you could imagine being authored by decent fantasy writers. It looks pretty and plays well. The combat is much better than most RPG's.

    The game is huge with many quests that I ignored after the first zone. I just did the faction and main story quests and that took 36 hours, this game is huge. If you like your RPG's this is not a game you should miss.
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  100. Jul 21, 2013
    8
    Played and finished KoA twice with both DLCs. Love this game! The combat is fluent and fun, the story is woven deep into the world they created and the class and item customisation is extensive!

    The quest design is probably one of the only negatives I would say about the game, with too many fetch quests and talk to this person quests, feels too MMO-y. Otherwise, great game!
Metascore
81

Generally favorable reviews - based on 25 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 22 out of 25
  2. Negative: 0 out of 25
  1. Apr 5, 2012
    60
    Fast and flashy combat in a shallow fantasy world. For the solo MMO player only. [Apr 2012, p.62]
  2. Mar 27, 2012
    80
    For all the things that don't work well, the exciting combat and deep world make KAR a very worthy game to play. It's a shame Electronic Arts is doing such a poor job of promoting it, as there is enough here to make the foundation of a very solid franchise.
  3. Mar 21, 2012
    74
    Great combat and mountains of loot can't compensate for Amalur's generic world design and familiar story. [May 2012, p.72]