Blugger posted on February 16, 2012 12:25
Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning
Genre: RPG.
Developed by: 38 Studios and Big Huge Games.
Published by: Electronic Arts.
Platform: PS3, Xbox 360 & Windows.
Release Date: 10th February 2012.
I have been looking forward to the release of this game now for some time, and I need to delve back in time to explain why. When I was in the Army, enjoying the delights of Canada on Exercise Med Man 7, I was given a book to read. When I started to read this book, it opened a new chapter in my life and brought a character to life that has been with me ever since 1988. That book was The Crystal Shard by R. A. Salvatore, and the character who grabbed my attention was Drizzt Do’Urden. The reason why I have started my review this way is that R. A. Salvatore always puts a lot of time and effort into his storylines and out of that the characters, creatures and places feel very real and alive.
When I heard that R.A Salvatore was creating the game universe I was immediately intrigued, then I heard that it was being brought to life visually by Todd McFarlane (Spawn creator) and being developed under the guide of Ken Rolston (Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind and Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion).
Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning is a single-player RPG that sets you off on a heroic journey to unlock the mysteries of Amalur. Along the way you find out that Amalur is a magical world, filled with strange landscapes, exotic cities, colourful characters and terrifying creatures. The game starts with a cut scene where you start to create your hero, there are four character types to base your hero on these are:
Ljosalfar.
They are a proud and insular people, the Ljosalfar strive to preserve nature and shape it to their will. The light elves resist change, flash-freezing their ancient homeland to keep it in an idealized, timeless state. The Ljosalfar revere the principle of Justice, fighting time and again to defend Amalur against chaos and darkness.
Varani.
The human clans known as the Varani can be found throughout Amalur, as much at home on the high seas as in the villages and outposts they inhabit. Though not as culturally refined as the Almain, the Varani have brought commerce and a degree of civilization to the wilds of the Faelands.
Dokkalfar.
The Dokkalfar are respected as sophisticated students of magic and diplomacy, yet it is their alluring presence that makes them so compelling. The dark elves are the ultimate manipulators, controlling the actions of others from the shadows. While their reputation for subtlety is well earned, many find the Dokkalfar so charismatic that they willingly parlay with them—regardless of the consequences.
Almain.
The Almain are valorous humans who embody the ideal of Order in all things. They abhor Chaos, imposing structure and ritual in everything they do. One of the most imperialistic kingdoms in Amalur, the Almain are proud of their long and illustrious military tradition. Their patron deity is Mitharu, god of Order, a belief that guides every aspect of their lives.
After you have created your Hero, you can then mould them into the class type that you are happy playing, as you level up you get to allocate ‘destiny’ points into three areas, Finesse, Might and Sorcery. Depending where you spread these points, destiny cards open up and you get to choose which class you want to be and reap the benefits from that class.
Amalur is a big place, and each region is broken down into smaller gaming areas with a myriad pf places to discover, hidden chests to find. This game is straight out of the Dungeons and Dragons book, with gives a refreshing change to another RPG that is currently in the charts. But instead of tediously clearing dungeon after dungeon and fighting creatures the same way, Amalur brings each location to life and gives it feeling of being real. Combat is very evolved and fast (that also depends on your characters Destiny) and the weapon selection and diversity is wide spread, you could spend hours finding the right type of armour and accessories for your character, then there is the weapon types on top of that. Each creature has its vulnerabilities and you need to find the right weapon type to exploit their weakness.
The in game music suits the game very well, quiet while exploring and then load and fast paced during combat. But there are a couple of pieces of music that sound very familiar, very Star Trek and Star Wars! Play the game and you will hear what I mean! On the graphic side, Amalur is a very vibrant place, the graphics are bright and colourful, and they can be dark and demeaning in caves and wooded areas.
Positives
Fast Paced
Enthralling & Compelling
Negatives
Camera Angles
Inventory Space
Gamerdads Score: 9/10