Kingdoms of Amalur: Re-Reckoning
Release Date: September 8, 2020
RPG, TPP, fantasy, remasters/remakes, action RPG, EA Play, singleplayer
Steam
Kingdoms of Amalur: Re-Reckoning is a remaster of the TPP action RPG from 2012, prepared by Kaiko Games studio, known for its refreshed versions of the Darksiders series. The game takes place in the fantasy world created by R.A. Salvatore.
Kingdoms of Amalur: Re-Reckoning is a re-master of an action RPG in the TPP convention, set in a fantasy world created by the writer R.A. Salvatore (the creator of the dark elf Drizzet Do'Urden, known to fans of the Forgotten Realms world). The 2012 original was developed under the aegis of the Electronic Arts concern by two non-existent development teams: 38 Studios and Big Huge Games. Among the co-founders were such names as Ken Rolston (chief designer, known from The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind and The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion) and Todd McFarlane (responsible for the artistic layer, associated mainly as the creator of the comic book character Spawn). After THQ Nordic took over the brand's rights in September 2018, a refreshed version of Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning was commissioned to a small studio, Kaiko Games, which collaborated in porting productions such as Darksiders: Warmastered Edition, Darksiders II: Deathinitive Edition and Legend of Kay: Anniversary Edition.
Plot
The action of the game takes place in a fantasy land - Amalur, divided into several regions. The story begins with the death of the main character, then resurrected with the Well of Souls. In Kingdoms of Amalur: Re-Reckoning we are dealing with a classic story "from zero to hero" and saving the world from evil. Despite the possibility of making decisions in dialogues based on the Mass Effect series, the story presented in the game is mainly linear.
Mechanics
We start the adventure by creating the hero in a fairly extensive creator that allows you to choose one of four available races (Almain, Dokkalfar, Ljosalfar and Varani) and modify individual body parts. At the beginning of the game we don't choose a class, but as the game progresses you can develop your character in three skill trees corresponding to the classic archetypes: warrior, rogue and mage. Among the available abilities, over 60 in total, there are both combat (melee combat, finesse and witchcraft) and craft and social skills (e.g. alchemy, blacksmithing or persuasion).
Kingdoms of Amalur: Re-Reckoning puts players in the arms of a quite open and large world, filled with various stories created in the head of R.A. Salvatore. In addition to the main storyline, the game offers numerous side tasks, including for guilds scattered across various Amalur regions, as in the series The Elder Scrolls. We receive experience points for completing the missions and gain a reputation among the various factions.
The main focus in Kingdoms of Amalur: Re-Reckoning, however, has been put on a combat that is dynamic and quite arcade, with the Quick Time Events, which makes the game often closer to the hack'n'slash/slasher genre than an RPG. Winning in battles is therefore determined not only by the skills acquired with the development of the character, but also by the player's ability and appropriate use of items (e.g. (bombs) or spells.
In terms of gameplay mechanics, the remaster also brought some improvements to the game.
Game modes
Kingdoms of Amalur: Re-Reckoning is a single player game. It also contains all DLCs, including two feature expansions: The Legend of Dead Kel and Teeth of Naros.
Technical aspects
As befits a remaster, Kingdoms of Amalur: Re-Reckoning improves the graphic design of the original, whose style is somewhat reminiscent of the Fable series, Divinity II: Ego Draconis and games from the Forgotten Realms universe. Resolution and texture quality has been improved, and the eighth generation consoles provide greater fluidity than PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360.
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Videos and Screens
[1:09] Kingdoms of Amalur: Re-Reckoning Switch trailer
[1:13] Kingdoms of Amalur: Re-Reckoning trailer #1
The main pros of the game
- Engaging Combat: Many users praised the combat system, describing it as enjoyable and customizable, with various build options that allow players to experiment with different playstyles.
- Rich World and Lore: The game features a vast, beautifully designed world filled with diverse environments and a deep lore that players found immersive. The quests are often described as interesting and well-crafted.
- Voice Acting and Presentation: The game has a fully voice-acted narrative, with notable performances that enhance the storytelling experience. The graphics, while not groundbreaking, are considered a nice upgrade from the original.
- Content Volume: The game offers a lot of content, including a lengthy main quest and numerous side quests, leading to potentially hundreds of hours of gameplay.
- Nostalgic Feel: Players noted that it captures the essence of classic RPGs, likening it to beloved titles like Skyrim and Fable.
The main cons of the game
- Length: Some users felt the game was excessively long, with a significant portion of the content feeling repetitive after a certain point, leading to a sense of tedium.
- Bugs and Technical Issues: Several reviews highlighted persistent bugs, including an animation glitch that affects movement and other technical problems that have not been fully resolved in the remaster.
- Combat and Inventory Issues: There were complaints about the combat feeling dated or janky at times, and some users found the inventory system lacking.
- Limited Improvements in Remaster: Some players expressed disappointment that the remaster did not significantly change or improve upon the original game, leading to questions about its value for those who had already played the original.
The features or elements that are missing from the game according to users
- Enhanced Graphics and Mechanics: Many users expected more substantial graphical improvements and gameplay mechanics updates in the remaster, which they felt were lacking.
- Better Bug Fixes: Players hoped for a more thorough resolution of bugs that existed in the original game, but many noted that some issues persisted.
- Quality of Life Improvements: Suggestions for improvements included better fast travel options and more robust inventory management, which would enhance the overall gameplay experience.
- More Engaging Side Quests: Some reviews mentioned that many side quests felt generic and repetitive, indicating a desire for more unique and engaging side content.
Summary
- Overall, Kingdoms of Amalur: Re-Reckoning has been well-received for its engaging combat, rich world, and nostalgic value, but it also faces criticism for its length, technical issues, and lack of significant improvements over the original game.
Summary generated on:
GAMERS Score
Average score from 60 votes. 78 players anticipated the game.
Kingdoms of Amalur: Re-Reckoning Summary
Game Series: Kingdoms of Amalur
Platforms:
PC / Windows September 8, 2020
Switch March 16, 2021
PlayStation 4 September 8, 2020
Xbox One September 8, 2020
Developer: Kaiko
Publisher: THQ Nordic / Nordic Games
Kingdoms of Amalur: Re-Reckoning System Requirements
PC / Windows
Minimum: Dual Core 2.5 GHz, 4 GB RAM, graphic card 1 GB GeForce GTX 460 or better, 40 GB HDD, Windows 7/8/10 64-bit
Recommended: Quad Core 3.0 GHz, 8 GB RAM, graphic card 2 GB GeForce GTX 660 or better, 40 GB HDD, Windows 7/8/10 64-bit
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