Kingdoms of Amalur: Re-Reckoning

One of the best RPGs of the previous console generation, Kingdoms of Amalur, is back and as good as ever. Don't let its previous commercial failure fool you, this is a very solid RPG with a ton of story and it has the best combat system in the genre.

Kingdoms of Amalur: Re-Reckoning changes little from its original release because it doesn't need to. This is immediately one of the best RPGs you can play this entire generation.

Rather than struggle with its limitations, however, Kingdoms of Amalur embraces them and is quite confident about being that "single-player MMO" experience, without pretense. It is a joyfully lengthy, grindy quest that gets away with it because it's also quite beautiful, snappy, and coherent about it. This "Re-Reckoning" doesn't do anything more than test the waters for a potential future for the franchise, but I do think it deserves one. It has been a real pleasure to have the opportunity to re-experience this game.

The technical improvements are well done also, the extra details of each environment adding a little more color to Amalur’s world while keeping the framerate manageable. There’s still a few warts along the way, mostly involving things and people popping into view when passing or speaking to them, but none of them break the game to the point of starting over. Kingdoms of Amalur: Re-Reckoning accomplishes everything a remaster should accomplish, and stepping back into Amalur should be a top priority for everyone.

A great remaster of the best “single-player MMORPG” ever. The original seemed to have everything it needed to shine, but some external factors (poor marketing, the closure of 38 Studios) robbed it of success. I’m happy to inform that the remastering was done expertly and this charming, fun, unpretentious game resembling Fable is still worth both its price and all the hours needed to complete it. I’m really happy I got this chance to revisit Amalur, and I want to believe that Re-Reckoning foreshadows the revival of the franchise that died prematurely years ago. [11/2020, p.48]

As a remastered title, you would expect a huge overhaul in almost every department, but in Kingdoms of Amalur case, there is not much change other than better visuals and increased resolution. But the fact that a game released 8 years ago is still perfectly enjoyable in 2020 suggests just how good the original game was.

One of my favorite RPGs in recent memory just got easier to replay. That's a win.

Looks like Warcraft, plays like Fable, Amalur brings nothing new to the table. An RPG-lite, if you will, there’s enough for casual players to have fun with, as well as hardcore players to sink time into.

Ultimately, what I keep thinking of is Katamari Re-Roll, which was similarly a very fun game because it was an unambitious remake of an already very fun game. If you already have the original, it’s a harder sell, because the remake doesn’t change all that much from the original… but it’s also an improvement and a chance for those who missed out on the original (or the DLC) to try the whole package, with the promise of more still to come. There are, in other words, some reasons that not everyone will be delighted by Kingdoms of Amalur: Re-Reckoning. But even if there’s not much new to it… well, there’s also nothing wrong with it at all, and the original was great.

The game itself continues to be as good as it was when it came out the first time, and to anyone looking for a deep RPG world to get lost in, you could do a lot worse. Kingdoms of Amalur is a game that shows its age, mainly through system design, and while this re-release does little more then slap a new coat of paint on an already good game, giving a new generation a chance to enjoy the sole product of a studio they otherwise would have only heard about in the annals of “bad stuff that happens to poorly led studios.”

A fairly easy and light RPG experience. Kingdoms of Amalur is a game that rewards the player with new gadgets and powers and tries to be a nice, laid back experience.

A notable remastered work, especially when you take into account the original game's limitations, Kingdoms of Amalur: Re-Reckoning is a great way to discover this universe and a well earned second chance for a game that was unfairly forgotten.

Kingdoms of Amalur: Re-Reckoning is not terribly challenging or filled with complex plot, but offers you a straightforward, lengthy, and empowering journey to save the world from evil.

Kingdoms of Amalur: Re-Reckoning’s world holds so much promise that it was heart-wrenching when the franchise went dormant, but with this new lease on life, I am keeping my fingers crossed that it won’t be long before we get a full-blown sequel. Until then, I shall continue exploring the world of Amalur as Barnaby, the dashing rogue.

Kingdoms of Amalur: Re-Reckoning is just as fun as it was eight years ago. Though the game didn't get any updates to its inventory management system or the criminally long load times, the combat is still great and the vast world is a blast to explore.

Kingdoms of Amalur: Re-Reckoning is every RPG lovers dream and if you don’t mind its somewhat dated appearance, this classic absolutely deserves your undivided attention. I’ve been having a blast saving the people of Amalur and I can’t wait to see what the all-new DLC content will bring to the table.

Kingdoms of Amalur: Re-Reckoning is a revitalization of a game that remains vivid, addictive, and comfortably familiar. While it lacks the immersive touch of something like Skyrim, The Witcher, or Fable, the split-up areas of the Faelands are still fun to explore. However, the main draw remains the irresistible combat, which has now been refined to its full glory. As such, this remaster is the definitive way to experience one of the very few action-RPGs that realizes the “action” part so phenomenally.

Kingdoms of Amalur Re-Reckoning is one of those rare cases which a remastered has got its sense out of commercial reasons. A fine tuned narrative background plays well with a stylish system and shining environments, with some good ideas both on scenography and characters. If you will have the will to overcome a game structure that directly comes from 2012, you can rediscover a very underrated game. Let’s just hope they will fix its technical issues.

Whether you played this back in 2012 or missed it the first time around, this is definitely an action-RPG worth experiencing. The fluid combat, gripping story, and detailed lore makes this a thoroughly enjoyable experience. There’s not a lot of new stuff been added but the tweaks to the area level system and new difficulty are very welcome additions. Now is the perfect time to refresh your memory of this delightful adventure and get ready for the expansion next year.

Reasons for playing, then? Nostalgia. Appeasing all those ‘best RPGs you’ve never played’ listicles. And as a reminder of why character– new ideas and memorable places – is so important to a grand adventure. [Issue#181, p.86]

If you’ve never played this game before, or if you want to dive back into it but don’t have access to an older copy, Re-Reckoning is easy to recommend- but only because the game itself is as good as it is. If you were hoping for an impressive visual upgrade, this isn’t it, and those who already have access to a copy of the original game should probably save their money.

Kingdoms of Amalur: Re-Reckoning on the PS4 is a fun and well-written game that, unfortunately, is nearly ruined by the remastered version’s ridiculously long load times. If load times don’t concern you, then you may enjoy this underrated action-RPG that was originally developed by a fantasy “dream-team” that included author R.A. Salvatore, comic artist Todd McFarlane, and game designer Ken Rolston.

Ultimately, Kingdoms of Amalur: Re-Reckoning is a bare-bones port of a solid, if unexceptional, game. Amalur is the kind of game that got overshadowed when it was released, and it seems just as likely to get overshadowed now. If you're a fan looking to revisit the title, this is a good experience, but it's not meaningfully different from what you might have played almost a decade ago.

Kingdoms of Amalur: Re-Reckoning is the best way to experience the journey of the Fateless One. Paradoxically, this version also feels like a relic of the past and does suffer from it. For the most part this remaster feels like playing a previous gen game on a backwards compatible console using texture smoothing, which probably isn’t too far removed from what it is. It’s still a great time and a highly-recommended game, but it does suffer from the caveat of “this is a great game for 2012.” Still, anyone willing to look past the dated menus and RPG tropes can have a blast with this action RPG.

Kingdoms of Amalur: Re-Reckoning remains a solid RPG, but one that did not age well. Developed initially as an MMO turned into a single-player experience, the game is fun, but it is not an RPG for the ages. Some minor tweaks have been added gameplay-wise, but Kingdoms of Amalur: Re-Reckoning remains a repetitive game, with inventory management that is a pain in the butt. For all these reasons, if you have already played the game, Kingdoms of Amalur: Re-Reckoning will offer nothing new, and will prove to be only a minor improvement over the original. However, if you missed the original and you are looking for an action RPG with fun combat, you might want to give it a chance.

Hopefully, this is just THQ Nordic's first step with the new IP, and that could perhaps be the biggest selling point for the game. Back in the day, there were big plans for an MMO set in Kingdoms of Amalur's world, while potential sequels were brought up in fan discussions from time to time. While it may not be perfect, Re-Reckoning would be a great way to finally lead that charge and realize the grand vision that 38 Studios once held.

Let it be said, Kingdoms of Amalur remains an excellent action RPG, sometimes endless, even in 2020, but the work of remastering the title should have gone beyond the detail stage to really do justice to one of the excellent universes of the early 2010s.

Kingdoms of Amalur: Re-Reckoning is a good game with a strong storyline, fluid combat system, and advanced character customization. While it's not a perfect remaster, it's a good option for players who haven't played before and for those looking to experience it on next-generation consoles.

Kingdoms of Amalur returns with a barebones remaster that gives a second chance to those who missed it when it was released, even if it fails to provide a reason to rediscover it.

Kingdoms of Amalur Re-Reckoning is a good solid remaster, just don't expect much to have changed compared to the original. The world is as magical fantasy as you could get, and it really does draw you in, but some technical issues and a number of repetitive quests can dull the otherwise colourful experience.

At its core this is still an extremely good action roleplaying game. But it would have deserved a better and more intricate remaster treatment instead of this effort.

Re-Reckoning isn't a great remaster, but there's no denying that Kingdoms of Amalur is still a lot of fun to play. Its action-based combat has stood the test of time, and exploring its often whimsical world is enjoyable. If you can look past the clunky presentation and fairly frequent bugs, you'll find an ample high fantasy adventure.

Kingdoms of Amalur is still a solid game even to this day. It’s just too bad that as a remaster, the game is quite frankly disappointing.

The best parts of Amalur are still intact, but with the caveats of the visual bugs, outdated look, and endless sprinting, you’ll need to keep those rose-colored glasses on for the entire playthrough.

Kingdoms of Amalur: Re-Reckoning is still a good game, and fans of the original will be tempted by that 50% off deal. However, it's hard to see what it will gain from this remaster, as much as it would be interesting to see the property live up to its promise. At the very least, Kingdoms of Amalur: Re-Reckoning stands as a testament to how far games have come in one generation that this underrated gem cannot quite recreate its old impact.

Re-Reckoning is a reminder of what made the original great in 2012, but mostly a testament to how far we've come since.

The troubled development of the original game did not gave space for a commercial success back in 2012 and it surely is not helping this remaster. It is a decent RPG with lots of stuff to do and an interesting battle system, but time was not kind on Kingdoms of Amalur.

Kingdoms of Amalur: Re-Reckoning’s story is fascinating and still holds up eight years later. The combat is basic yet enjoyable, providing several opportunities to be a deadly assassin, unstoppable warrior, or powerful mage. However, the near-constant technical issues derail this game almost entirely. Kaiko has since provided a significant quality-of-life patch after the game’s release, so fans may not run into the same issues. The early impressions show improved performance and fewer framerate issues.