Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning

 Xbox 360
User Score
7.8

Generally favorable reviews- based on 466 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 331 out of 466
  2. Mixed: 89 out of 466
  3. Negative: 46 out of 466
Buy Now
Buy on

Review this game

  1. Your Score
    0 out of 10
    Rate this:
    • 10
    • 9
    • 8
    • 7
    • 6
    • 5
    • 4
    • 3
    • 2
    • 1
    • 0
    • 0
  1. Submit
  2. Check Spelling
view
per page
  1. phishhippy
    Feb 10, 2012
    9
    KoA is almost in a genre of it's own. It is more of a single player mmorpg than a true rpg, but I love it nonetheless. It's extremely hard to describe the scale of the adventure if you really get into the sidequests and various relic-like looting the game offers. It's in my opinion easily twice as large as Skyrim and as an enormous fan of Skyrim I don't take that saying lightly. Here'sKoA is almost in a genre of it's own. It is more of a single player mmorpg than a true rpg, but I love it nonetheless. It's extremely hard to describe the scale of the adventure if you really get into the sidequests and various relic-like looting the game offers. It's in my opinion easily twice as large as Skyrim and as an enormous fan of Skyrim I don't take that saying lightly. Here's what I mean: In my playthrough so far, I've put in 40 hours, completed 3 main quest segments, completed 1 faction/guild storyline, 90 side missions, reached level 33 and I haven't even gotten to explore 1/4 of the world map yet. The combat is simple, fun and beautiful in action. The story is what you'd expect from a new fantasy rpg world with slight variations on elves, trolls, gnomes, faeries, etc. and it's great but only missing the feeling of any real change in the world through choice like you feel in mass effect or other western rpgs. The only thing worrying to me is the supposed 40 level cap. I feel like I could easily put another 100 hours in but I'm worried once I hit the cap, I'll lose interest. That is the only reason I'm not giving this amazing game a perfect 10. Graphics: 10
    Gameplay: 10
    Sound:10
    Length:10
    Story:8
    Loot:9
    Leveling:????
    Hopefully we'll get some DLC soon with a raised level cap and new abilities and some armor and weapon loot variations. Summary: I love this game and recommend every fan of fantasy/rpg/action to buy this game. It's nearly perfect and could be pushed over the edge with the much needed DLC.    … Expand
  2. RPGoldtimer
    Feb 9, 2012
    10
    It's actually what I expected first time out the with an rpg from three powerhouses. two of which aren't game designers. I have been playing rpgs since they were pen, paper and dice. I am also a Skyrim fan. You shouldn't rate this game against Skyrim. they've been at this much longer. I love the color and vibrate. has fairytale fantasy look. combat kicks ass. are there things they couldIt's actually what I expected first time out the with an rpg from three powerhouses. two of which aren't game designers. I have been playing rpgs since they were pen, paper and dice. I am also a Skyrim fan. You shouldn't rate this game against Skyrim. they've been at this much longer. I love the color and vibrate. has fairytale fantasy look. combat kicks ass. are there things they could improve yes but can't we all use a little improvement. I really hope they make more single player KoA's, I don't do mmo's I live out in country no good internet.also if the put it on pc and make it mod capable it would give any rpg a run for its money. now I have two great fantasy rpgs to play. Thank u.… Expand
  3. seasley
    Feb 10, 2012
    7
    I really wanted to get into this game, unfortunately, its just not happening. It is obvious that this game started its development as an MMO and thats not a good thing. The world is completely forgettable. The NPCs keep telling my character how important he is but I never get the feeling that I've done anything at all. Its really too bad because this game has so much potential. Its soI really wanted to get into this game, unfortunately, its just not happening. It is obvious that this game started its development as an MMO and thats not a good thing. The world is completely forgettable. The NPCs keep telling my character how important he is but I never get the feeling that I've done anything at all. Its really too bad because this game has so much potential. Its so close to epic and exhilarating. The game is still fun and I would recommend it to anyone interested in a Western RPG with solid gameplay.… Expand
  4. Bluto14
    Feb 11, 2012
    10
    Great game! Love it! Goes way beyond my expectations. Combat is amazing! 20 hours into it and still going strong! KOAR has me hooked.Story is very good and holds one's interest. I can't imagine ever getting bored with it. Glad I bought the game!
  5. charlius2
    May 24, 2012
    5
    Big colourful world which turns out to be very dull.. A few good moments.. some good combat for a while then becoming monotonous. The characters and story are just not worth investing in. You will have to have the patients of a saint once those cutscenes start to roll for the voice acting and characters are atrocious.. This is a game i can imagine a 10 year old liking.. maybe...
  6. Morgannwg
    Feb 12, 2012
    9
    I play RPG's. A lot. I played Fallout 1 & 2 way too much back in the day. I played the hell out of Fallout 3. Ive played Daggerfall, Morrowind and Oblivion so much I can quote much of the dialogue. I played Skyrim non stop for the last 2 months. Ive played Dragon Age: Origins and loved it. Kingdoms of Amalur is my new favorite RPG. It has charm and most imporatntly for me it's accessible.I play RPG's. A lot. I played Fallout 1 & 2 way too much back in the day. I played the hell out of Fallout 3. Ive played Daggerfall, Morrowind and Oblivion so much I can quote much of the dialogue. I played Skyrim non stop for the last 2 months. Ive played Dragon Age: Origins and loved it. Kingdoms of Amalur is my new favorite RPG. It has charm and most imporatntly for me it's accessible. Gone are the worries of wasting countless hours only to restart because I made a bad choice in a level up. Any play style, hybrid, or jack of all character you can come up with is a viable option. This game is accessible. It's not too deep or too shallow. If you have 18 hours a day to sink into a game then KOA probably isnt for you. You'll be looking for something with more depth. But, if you're game time is limited this is the RPG you want to play. It's good. I was surprised. I watched the trailers, read the previews and guffawed. Then I tried it. I now feel like smacking myself for being so closed minded.

    At the very least give this game a chance. Don't play the demo. Rent it or borrow it. The demo does this game no justice.

    Pros:

    + A leisurely game
    + Beautiful game world full of interesting places and characters.
    + Tons of stuff to do. + Excellent pace.
    + Easy learning curve for RPG newbs.
    + As deep as you want it to be.
    + Interesting lore.

    Cons:

    - Graphics with deter some gamers.
    - Occasional Pop-In.
    - Framerate issues in larger battles.
    - Story falls a little flat.
    .- Dont expect this game to re-invent the genre.    … Expand
  7. Ukrutor
    Feb 26, 2012
    2
    Repetitive, boring, no epicness at all, no roleplay at all, main character is boring. The world look like a fairy tale, some locatins look amazing, but still after 20 hours of playing i found no "wow" effect. This is not the way games should be made.
  8. norse
    Apr 21, 2012
    4
    Maybe I did not give it enough time, but I simply couldn't get into the game - I didn't get what I was supposed to do, the dialogues annoyed me and I felt like I ran around aimlessly, killing and looting. Graphics are ok - I think the lack of facial animation and the camera have more to do with why I didn't enjoy that aspect as much as the cartoony shading.
  9. YipManSays
    Feb 13, 2012
    8
    Fun combat mechanics. Combat can become as complex or simple as you want them to be. The feels a lot like World of Warcraft without other people. That isn't necessarily a bad thing but it does mean that this expansive world lacks a strong narrative and quests. Along that line quests lamentably are forgettable a lot of the time which is unfortunate give the writing talent behind the game.Fun combat mechanics. Combat can become as complex or simple as you want them to be. The feels a lot like World of Warcraft without other people. That isn't necessarily a bad thing but it does mean that this expansive world lacks a strong narrative and quests. Along that line quests lamentably are forgettable a lot of the time which is unfortunate give the writing talent behind the game. However the overall experience is a lot of fun and very addictive. While it does have it's flaws Kingdoms is a very good rpg buy… Expand
  10. xipher
    Feb 21, 2012
    10
    This is a review by someone who has thouroughly played the game and knows what they are talking about and what makes a fantasy rpg good. kingdoms of Amalur Reckoning is the one of the most under rated and under appreciated games to come out in a while. I think this may be because every one including critics are so loyal to skyrim that they are biased and blind when they play this game.This is a review by someone who has thouroughly played the game and knows what they are talking about and what makes a fantasy rpg good. kingdoms of Amalur Reckoning is the one of the most under rated and under appreciated games to come out in a while. I think this may be because every one including critics are so loyal to skyrim that they are biased and blind when they play this game. This game is different than skyrim in several big ways and delivers a whole different experience. The world is vibrant, colorful and enchanting. The combat is fast, visceral and fun and it is always getting better as you play because of the excellent skill trees. The story is creative, deep, and interesting. It is also longer then stories in similar games. Ths side quests are also fun and intersting. Most imporntantly the loot system is expansive and satisfying. I will get back to the loot system. One thing that should be noted is that this game does not play like an open world rpg and should not be treated as such. This game plays best when you move through the game at an even pace doing many side, story, and faction quest along the way. You wont be running all around the world like in skyrim. It plays best when you do one part of the map at a time. The main reasion for this is the slightly flawed region leveling system. If you go to a new area when you are too low level, that area will permenantly be set at the lowest possible level in its range. Ex: your level 9 and you go into an area with a 10 - 15 range that area will be at 10 for the rest of the game. So if you leave and come back higher than 10, that area will be easy and have weak loot. If played correctly this game will constanly give you challenging combat and consistanly better loot througout the game. Also the deep exstensive dialogue should not be a mark against amalur because it is there for the people that appreciate a deep interesting world. The dialogue can be easily skipped with the push of a button. Another thing I should highlight is the inovative and satisfying leveling system. In this game skills like lock pick and persuasion are seperate from combat skills so you don't have to sacrifice one for the other unlike one over rated rpg in particular(skyrim). Each skill tree gives you many fun and useful abilities that actually change the combat depending on you chartacter type be it warior, mage, rogue, or even a hybrid of these. Whats more is the character animations and voice acting are not bad for a game in this genre. There are many interesting and unique characters that are voiced quite well. Last of all, the map is large and fun to explore with several regions that look and feel very differant from each other giving the game good variety and length of around 100-120 hours depending on how much you do. The things that most critics have marked against this game have been exaggerated and harsh. If you took the standards most of the big critics held this game to and put skyrim to those standars, it would've gotten a 6 or 7 from all of them. Bad voice acting and character animtions. boring side quests and story. horrble and unrewarding loot system. horrible combat. boring skill trees that make you sacrifice combat for lockpick and similar skiils. Can't make good hybrids. unimpressive town. no real incentive for exploration. hundreds of boring, ugly, repetitive dungeons filled with nothing but drauger and bandits only to ge usless loot that waighs too much. These are the things critics let skyrim slip by with just because it has a big pretty open world and dragons. Tell me that isn't bias. amalur beats skyrim on all these elements which are the most important elements in an rpg. Story, exploration, loot, combat, leveling. Give it a chance. ( please keep in mind that I have played both these games exstensively and im not trolling. Im just fed up with the complete bias towards skyrim that is hurting the scores this game recieves.)… Expand
  11. Skawt
    Feb 28, 2012
    2
    Calling Amalur an RPG is kind of an oxymoron, because there is so little depth to the story, the characters, the quests, or the world for that matter. And comparing it to God of War doesnt seem right either, since GOW actually had an entertaining story. I guess it all comes down to whether or not you can forgive KoA's lack of story for its combat and leveling, which are quite good. I couldn't.
  12. David_wayne
    Mar 19, 2012
    9
    Kingdoms of Amular was originally planned as an mmo,but was later changed to a single player game for unknown reasons.however I must say I really like this game allot.the game play and story are great and you still get that feeling you're playing an mmo.I have to say that I enjoy a good story about elves,dwarves,ect since I like sci-fi this was a great investment to feed my RPG needs.KOAKingdoms of Amular was originally planned as an mmo,but was later changed to a single player game for unknown reasons.however I must say I really like this game allot.the game play and story are great and you still get that feeling you're playing an mmo.I have to say that I enjoy a good story about elves,dwarves,ect since I like sci-fi this was a great investment to feed my RPG needs.KOA is a must play.… Expand
  13. haydensterling
    Mar 25, 2012
    8
    I'm having tons of fun playing this game. I love the colorful, pretty graphics and the crafting is awesome too--naming my gear is rocking. I don't really care that my protagonist is silent--hint to devs, not everyone wants or likes voiced player characters in an RPG--but the writing feels a bit rushed in that I'm not sure if I'm getting all the info I need so I usually just scrollI'm having tons of fun playing this game. I love the colorful, pretty graphics and the crafting is awesome too--naming my gear is rocking. I don't really care that my protagonist is silent--hint to devs, not everyone wants or likes voiced player characters in an RPG--but the writing feels a bit rushed in that I'm not sure if I'm getting all the info I need so I usually just scroll through all the selections anyhow. Lots of fun and I won't be putting this one down for a while.… Expand
  14. Watermelon789
    Apr 1, 2012
    7
    I was expecting a lot more, KOAR didn't drowned like many forgettable games out there but it's not a impressive game . With visuals like the Fable series, combat similar to Fable and and an interesting world may convince RPG fans. I'm not that person, but I'm fine that I played KOAR. The begining has its hits and miss and the conversations are hilarious , the facial animations of the mainI was expecting a lot more, KOAR didn't drowned like many forgettable games out there but it's not a impressive game . With visuals like the Fable series, combat similar to Fable and and an interesting world may convince RPG fans. I'm not that person, but I'm fine that I played KOAR. The begining has its hits and miss and the conversations are hilarious , the facial animations of the main characters is lifeless and the same description it's the same for the person talking to your avatar. Cartoonish violence filled with gory scenes it's a little bit out of contrast by the reason that everything is cute and out of place. However , if you're eager to try KoA and you want to play something fresh , the game delivers , while not the " perfect " recommendable game, you wont feel "stolen" or disappointed .… Expand
  15. QuiterRaga
    Mar 8, 2012
    7
    A game that has potential to do a lot more, seems like they just took every big name producer and hoped for a smash hit.I look forward for the sequels in the series and hopefully better leveling mechanics.
  16. Sasquatch
    Mar 18, 2012
    7
    This game is awesome. Has a fantastic combat system and an interesting world. But the game gets a bit boring after you beat it. There's so much loot in the game that you can't use because you didn't level it correctly. So it leaves me only caring if it's a certain type of loot with better stats. If not I sell it and move on. It feels like it's missing something, but is well worth buyingThis game is awesome. Has a fantastic combat system and an interesting world. But the game gets a bit boring after you beat it. There's so much loot in the game that you can't use because you didn't level it correctly. So it leaves me only caring if it's a certain type of loot with better stats. If not I sell it and move on. It feels like it's missing something, but is well worth buying it. I see myself returning to it some day soon, but not too soon.… Expand
  17. XerSMMack
    Feb 25, 2012
    7
    My ps3 died with Skyrim in it! In the interim, my wife thought that Valentine's Day would be a good time to cheer me up with a different RPG. I love Schilling and wanted this game to be great, but alas it was not. The combat is the selling point for this game. It is better than most RPG's but a far cry from the likes of GoW and other combat oriented action games. The "open world" is theMy ps3 died with Skyrim in it! In the interim, my wife thought that Valentine's Day would be a good time to cheer me up with a different RPG. I love Schilling and wanted this game to be great, but alas it was not. The combat is the selling point for this game. It is better than most RPG's but a far cry from the likes of GoW and other combat oriented action games. The "open world" is the most frustrating part of this game. You cannot jump and cannot move through many invisible barriers. You must also travel to each new area through a corridor (seriously?) I found the crafting skills to be very pointless as you can do so much more without wasting time on them. This game LACKS HEART and that is the most upsetting. You feel absolutely nothing for your character and even less for any of the NPCs. I have played near 50 hours and have gotten so bored I feel like I need to force myself to pick it up and finish just to get it done. This had a lot of potential and the 'world' of Amalur should survive this first venture, but it had better come back strong next time.… Expand
  18. ConsoleKingz
    Feb 23, 2012
    10
    After 75hours of playing this game so far, I can safely say that this is one of the most addictive games ever. It is absolutely fantastic anyway you look at it, a bit or Darksiders a bit of Fable a bit of God of war, a bit of everything great and you end up with this true Gem of a game. Not playing this is a sin. Wonderful story, visual, superb music, worth every penny. Especially for anAfter 75hours of playing this game so far, I can safely say that this is one of the most addictive games ever. It is absolutely fantastic anyway you look at it, a bit or Darksiders a bit of Fable a bit of God of war, a bit of everything great and you end up with this true Gem of a game. Not playing this is a sin. Wonderful story, visual, superb music, worth every penny. Especially for an RPG fan. Sure it has a few minor issues, with camera and occasionally an NPC texture, but for such a humongous epic game it is virtually bug free and flawless. Skyrim, Fable and Fallout 3 are among my favorite games of all time, and they are all infinitely more buggy which is understandable for such big games. All in all, it is the most fun you can have and I see very few games being worth your money coming out this year. A game of the year contender. Don't miss it!… Expand
  19. Spinger
    Feb 26, 2012
    8
    I am pleasantly surprised at how much I am enjoying this game! More than anything I was intrigued at the idea of getting some Mass Effect 3 swag just by playing a demo, but after trying it out decided I would give it a go. I definitely do not regret my choice, I'm 20 hours in and loving it! Unlike a lot of people, I enjoy the more 'cartoony' style with the bright colours, a nice changeI am pleasantly surprised at how much I am enjoying this game! More than anything I was intrigued at the idea of getting some Mass Effect 3 swag just by playing a demo, but after trying it out decided I would give it a go. I definitely do not regret my choice, I'm 20 hours in and loving it! Unlike a lot of people, I enjoy the more 'cartoony' style with the bright colours, a nice change of pace from most current gen games. The combat looks and feels good and is easy to pick up, though certainly not the most complex compared to a lot of action games. The fast travel system is handy, and contrary to some other commenters, I actually find the world map very helpful and easy to navigate. The camera is a bit annoying at times, but far from game-breaking, you do have control of it, after all. The story hasn't pulled me in the way some other games have, but I'm still interested to see where it goes. I'm not really into RPG's that much, a lot of commenters are comparing it to Skyrim (which I haven't tried) and Fallout (which I'm sorry to say bored me to tears), so I maybe don't have the same perspective, but I think KoA is just plain fun. Really glad I took a chance on this one, and I hope it does well, congrats to 38 and Big Huge!… Expand
  20. Nexus8
    Mar 2, 2012
    9
    Fantastic game. A lot of fun to play. I am only about twenty hours in and I can't wait till I have a free day to get back to it. There are so many things the game does right like the faction storylines, item management, combat, great looking world to explore, dungeon sizes, two world style re-skilling, etc. It does feel like they took the best western fantasy rpg ideas and put themFantastic game. A lot of fun to play. I am only about twenty hours in and I can't wait till I have a free day to get back to it. There are so many things the game does right like the faction storylines, item management, combat, great looking world to explore, dungeon sizes, two world style re-skilling, etc. It does feel like they took the best western fantasy rpg ideas and put them together in one beast. The only better fantasy rpg out there is skyrim. in fact I can't think of anything I really don't like about the game. I guess the most important thing to me is that it is actually fun to play, something that many fantasy rpgs for the 360 never manage to do. I have played almost all of them. I even trudged all the way through the ugly turd that was the xbox risen port where you get killed by seagulls for the first ten minutes until you figure combat out. i would give it a ten but i am leaving room at the top for improvement.… Expand
  21. DreadNoise
    Mar 13, 2012
    6
    (BTW my score means NOTHING. Score is in no way more informative than the Review. Read. Now.)
    Kingdoms of Amalur, where o where do i begin. Well let's start with the positive then move onto the worst parts shall we? Alrighty then.
    Ahem, Kingdoms of Amalur has combat that carves our it's own little niche. It IS just that distinct, if you've seen the trailer for the game then you've seen    (BTW my score means NOTHING. Score is in no way more informative than the Review. Read. Now.)
    Kingdoms of Amalur, where o where do i begin. Well let's start with the positive then move onto the worst parts shall we? Alrighty then.
    Ahem, Kingdoms of Amalur has combat that carves our it's own little niche. It IS just that distinct, if you've seen the trailer for the game then you've seen that combat works like a cross between a fighting game and a regular RPG. For instance, ever wanted to use a Greatsword and then immediately switch to Daggers to get a Air combo? You can. And, it's customisible. Oh, what do i mean you ask? Well, what i mean is that the trailer shows NEXT TO NOTHING about just how many different combos you can get, Greatsword airlaunch into Dagger combo is not even scratching the surface, you could spend hours, if not DAYS doing the different combos, so combat will never, ever, get old. Not to mention just how Flexible your character can be, ever wanted to use magic will Pimp slappin' **** with a Hammer? You can! Ever wanted to Shanky-ity Shank people but still able to attack enemies in direct combat without having to run like a **** You can! Ever wanted to be all three types of fighter? (Warrior Rogue Mage) You can!
    One of the other things that makes this game different is the Art style, see, i still to this day play Oblivion. Why? Simple. I like Manga, so playing a game that looks SO MUCH like a cartoon just comes like breathing, and as such my opinion on the Art style is tainted, really, as it's a personal fav that makes me like cartoon art styles. So just watch the Trailer and decide for yourself if you like looking at the game, anyways now i have to, unfortunetly, get on to the WORST this game has to offer.
    Ahem, the environments, they are so god damn unoriginal it HURTS, i played Oblivion and was mesmerised by the sheer beauty of the game because of its sheer simplicity; It doesn't create memorable environments, it creates FAMILIAR environments, because, the way the game was made was that it was a Textbook Fantasy game, and as such, everything you did in the game ment you could be the Hero (Or the Villian) Of a story. Amalur however tries and falls flat on its face when trying to replicate such an iconic theme, what i mean is, Amalur is sooo distant from Textbook fantasy you can't relate to it, but it doesn't go so far as say, Morrwind, in where being in a unfamiliar place with strange people made it GOOD, Amalur does it in such a way that makes it BAD, and as such, the environments (Despite being wonderfully colourful) scuk major ass. Nothing is memorable, and nothing feels like you could relate to it, but not so strongly it was interesting. Now the soundtrack, is decent, now don't get me wrong, i don't hate the music, but i don't like it either. The music fits, but out of context, it would be terrible, and as such, that's my opinion of it; Good in game bad outside of it. And one thing i'd like to mention is that the Title screen theme for the game sounds like Spiderman. Seriously. SPIDERMAN.
    Oh, yes, lets talk about the Characters. Now, again, don't get me wrong, there are interesting Characters at every turn, BUT THAT'S JUST THE PROBLEM. They try TOO hard to make interesting Characters. For instance, in the very first town in the game, you meet this woman that is waiting for her Husband to come home from the war that's going on. But while out exploring you find; gasp; a Death Notice that says that her Husband died. And when you tell her, she says, and i kid you not, "Oh my hubby has returned to me! Thank you!". Yep, as it turns out, she was waiting for his Death Notice; Not him. While yes, this seems at first like all the side quests are good, no, there not. For instance, one can get tired of the Royal treatment very, very quickly in this game, you could get emotionally invested in this character, only for you to have to say Goodbye 10 minutes later. It's frustrating when every GOOD character, every character that you can actually feel emotions towards, just gets benched 5 minutes afterwards. Why couldn't they have, i don't know, maybe, HAVE THESE CHARACTERS CONTRIBUTE TO THE PLOT AFTER YOU DO A SIDE QUEST FOR THEM! Geez, what a missed opportunity 38.
    Now onto the story, the Main story falls flat on it's face as it is generic, with no real reason to do it beside just to get those Achievement points and "Advance the plot". HA! Like it was that good.
    Overall i have to say that if you want a game to play, get this game. It's pure fun spoiled just by the stupid plot and bland environments. BUT, if you want another Mass Effect, then look elsewhere.    … Expand
  22. Captiosus
    Feb 7, 2012
    6
    Are the "professional reviewers" playing the same game I am? Because giving this game marks as high as Skyrim is ridiculous. The menu and dialog system is clunky and obtrusive, graphically the game's backgrounds look great but the character models look like they were made back in 2007. The music is decent, but nowhere near the same level as work by other composers for RPGs or MMOs (such asAre the "professional reviewers" playing the same game I am? Because giving this game marks as high as Skyrim is ridiculous. The menu and dialog system is clunky and obtrusive, graphically the game's backgrounds look great but the character models look like they were made back in 2007. The music is decent, but nowhere near the same level as work by other composers for RPGs or MMOs (such as Blizzard's Russell Brower or Jeremy Soule) , and the sound effects range from so-so to ear grating. Texture pop in and texture glitches abound, the draw distance is absolutely horrid, the plot has been terribly disjointed, and the God of War-meets-Fable style of arcade-y combat gameplay rewards melee combat heavily over ranged and magic. The world isn't an "open world" format, it's an open area where players are limited to exploring specific areas with copious amounts of load time transitions between designated areas. ||| There is enough here for me to rate it slightly above average and keep me interested in the future of 38Studios and Big Huge Games, but compared to other games in the genre it's not worthy of an 8, 9 or 10 score. Ultimately, this is a game people might play for a month to tide them over and then trade it in so they can pick up Mass Effect 3. Aside: Now watch as all the fanboys come out to rate down this review because truth hurts. 12 hours in and I'm already deathly bored of the "great combat system". Oh, sure, I can make another class or build my class a different way - only to play essentially the same way. The game is mediocre and will NEVER be remembered in the same league as Bioware's or Bethesda's WRPGs. It's "Too Human", all over again: Lots of hype, lots of chest pounding, and ultimately forgettable.… Expand
  23. L0ves2Spl00ge
    Feb 8, 2012
    9
    This game is downright amazing. People that think this game is a 'rip off' of other games of a similar genre are absolute **** The art style that has been chosen for this game was really made big by (IMO) Fable (Oh and WoW), but many games are adapting this art style (DOTA 2, Diablo 3) because of how well it fits the RPG game play, it's an immersive art style that instills a sense ofThis game is downright amazing. People that think this game is a 'rip off' of other games of a similar genre are absolute **** The art style that has been chosen for this game was really made big by (IMO) Fable (Oh and WoW), but many games are adapting this art style (DOTA 2, Diablo 3) because of how well it fits the RPG game play, it's an immersive art style that instills a sense of wonder and awe. The story in this game is made a little dull at times in how the voice acting is delivered in game, don't get me wrong, the voice acting is great, but the sync between the lips and the sounds is sometimes really... bad. Oh and people complaining about the lack of diversity in voice actors, you hire a hundred people to voice every singe character, Skyrim had about 3 voice actors, but I didn't see anyone complain? Just saying... Potentially the best part of this game is it's amazing combat system, If there are people complaining about a lack of innovation in this game, stfu. The combat in this game is probably the funnest and most diverse I have potentially ever played in an RPG, it's slightly God of War-esque but at the same time brings a whole lot more to the table, the incorporation of all 3 skill tree in one fight really keeps things fresh as there are hundreds of combinations for you to dispatch your enemies with. Finally there's the immense content, I haven't felt this over whelmed with things to do since Skyrim, and It feels really good. The colorful art style really encourages you to explore, and the fun looting in KoA really makes exploration fun. Overall this is a highly rewarding game that stays fresh, although not without it's faults, Is still an absolutely brilliant start to what will hopefully be a successful franchise! 9/10… Expand
  24. Ps3blaze22
    Feb 28, 2012
    10
    LOL @ Skyrim fanboys giving this game low scores! This game is better than Skyrim.. Why?? Because its more "FUN" i know the cartoon-ish style puts some people off the game! But believe me.. This game is sooo much better than skyrim! And guess wha its doesnt have game-breaking bug/glitches like skyrim
  25. HarryManback
    Feb 10, 2012
    7
    The game is decent if you like loot based games. After beating the game I can say that the story is marginal at best. It lacks anything that would differentiate itself from other fantasy stories. The combat is solid but it will get monotonous after a while no matter what kind of build you make.

    If you come into this game expecting a deep story that will keep you interested, you will    The game is decent if you like loot based games. After beating the game I can say that the story is marginal at best. It lacks anything that would differentiate itself from other fantasy stories. The combat is solid but it will get monotonous after a while no matter what kind of build you make.

    If you come into this game expecting a deep story that will keep you interested, you will probably be let down. But if you come into this game knowing that it is all about the loot, you are going to have some fun. This game is suited best to people that enjoy Diablo 2 and Borderlands. I was only able to really enjoy it for one play through but that is just me, your mileage may vary.    … Expand
  26. gayme3scenes
    Mar 6, 2012
    2
    I....HATE...this game. Where da dragons? I was tol'...dis game...by da commerdacial...dat it gonna be like Skrim. It ain't NOTHING like skrim. Skrim good. Amalura bad. This game ain't worth jack sqauterry! I traded dis game in, for another...My 14th...copy of Skrim. I like Skrim. Good game. Amalura bad. Long story short. Get Madden 12. I whoop yah at Madden.
  27. SwordsmanofS
    Feb 8, 2012
    10
    This is an amazing game, and an early contender for RPG of the year (which says a lot with the likes of ME3 and such around). The story is amazing; you can tell the amazing amount of depth and care has been put into the games lore. The combat is one of the best any RPG has put to date, very fluid and rewarding skill and reaction time, but not being a button masher. Voice acting is topThis is an amazing game, and an early contender for RPG of the year (which says a lot with the likes of ME3 and such around). The story is amazing; you can tell the amazing amount of depth and care has been put into the games lore. The combat is one of the best any RPG has put to date, very fluid and rewarding skill and reaction time, but not being a button masher. Voice acting is top notch, bringing to life a variety of interesting characters you'll meet over a 200 hour journey. This is the game Fable wished it could be. Skyrim wished its combat could be as great as this. This has a story Dark Souls can't even touch. An excellent RPG by a new studio, and a worthy first entry to a new IP.… Expand
  28. Microwavable
    Feb 8, 2012
    10
    Kingdom's of Amalur is a great game for beginners to the RPG genre. The world looks beautiful, it has an easy to use combat system, multiple crafts, and most of all the destinies. The weapons and armor so far looks great. The re-playability of this game will be high since the level cap is at 40. The dungeons aren't unique to each-other, but they do have differences compared to theKingdom's of Amalur is a great game for beginners to the RPG genre. The world looks beautiful, it has an easy to use combat system, multiple crafts, and most of all the destinies. The weapons and armor so far looks great. The re-playability of this game will be high since the level cap is at 40. The dungeons aren't unique to each-other, but they do have differences compared to the other. I have enjoyed playing this game so far, but then as all games this one does have its negatives. The interactive wheel is the basic Bioware wheel from SWOTOR. Although the voice acting is nice to have instead of the silent treatment, its barely above skyrim in repetitiveness. The invisible walls are quite annoying when you cant jump down from a ledge except for the designated areas. Also, the whole point of being open world is going anywhere you want. Even though you can go alot of places in the game, it feels linear at certain times. All in all, the game is definitely worth a buy even to the seasoned and beginner RPG fans. With a good story, loot system, and many mobs to kill, there is a lot to do to keep you occupied or keep you going until Mass Effect 3.… Expand
  29. Mohammad22
    Feb 28, 2012
    10
    I dont care what people say.. This game is BETTER than Skyrim, i dont care if skyrim looks more "realistic" but KOA:Reckoning is millions times better and more fun the ln skyrim! I recommend this game to every "REAL" gamer outhere
  30. blitzkreigzbob
    Feb 9, 2012
    10
    I am very happy with KOA. It has visuals like world of warcraft, combat like god of war,and crafting like elder scrolls. A lot of reviews say they feel the world doesn't center around your character. Which is true but it is more about perspective. I feel the world and its npcs function without me. But I can have an effect on eerything I do. I can't think of anything I don't like. McfarleneI am very happy with KOA. It has visuals like world of warcraft, combat like god of war,and crafting like elder scrolls. A lot of reviews say they feel the world doesn't center around your character. Which is true but it is more about perspective. I feel the world and its npcs function without me. But I can have an effect on eerything I do. I can't think of anything I don't like. Mcfarlene did a great job with design in my opinion your charecter looks very badass in heavy armor, a lethal assassin in leather, and a wise mage in cloth. This game is worth giving a chance (which many people haven't) take my word for it you won't be disappointed.… Expand
Page:

Awards & Rankings

55
#55 Best Xbox 360 Game of 2012
14
#14 Most Discussed Xbox 360 Game of 2012
22
#22 Most Shared Xbox 360 Game of 2012

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
80

Generally favorable reviews - based on 71 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 55 out of 71
  2. Mixed: 16 out of 71
  3. Negative: 0 out of 71
  1. GamesBeat
    Apr 11, 2012
    67
    Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning is not all bad, it's just very bland. For a game that was in development for roughly seven years, the different gameplay systems don't seem all that well-thought-out. And perhaps the lengthy development also explains why Amalur brings absolutely nothing fresh to the table. It simply lacks its own identity.
    Read full review
  2. Xbox World Australia
    Apr 2, 2012
    86
    In terms of laying the groundwork for future iterations, Reckoning does an incredible job of establishing the lore as well as the world of Amalur itself. On the other hand, it fails to dish up a compelling single-player narrative, as the main plotline lacks substance and culminates in an almost cliché boss encounter by today's standards.
    Read full review
  3. D+PAD Magazine
    Mar 22, 2012
    90
    Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning is a hoot to play. It feels like Fable done right, like a third person Skyrim edited to a workable size.
    Read full review
See all critic reviews »