Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning

[Setsuna]

Now I don't know about you guys, but fans of Skyrim/WoW/etc. would like this game that hits stores 2/7/2012.

-The Developer is Big Huge Games. Responsible for titles such as Rise of Nations and Age of Empires III. Not very popular games but I think this one is worth looking at.

-Published by Electronic Arts, so graphics will be top notch. It is single player RPG.

-Available on XBOX360, PS3, and PC.

Trailer here:

Get More: GameTrailers.com, Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning - Exclusive Power & Mastery Trailer HD

OFFICIAL WEBSITE

---

Last edited by Setsuna; 12-16-2011 at 08:44 AM.. Reason: misinformation

[keg in kc]

I downloaded it just to get the ME3 armor. We'll see how I like it when I have some time to play it in a week or so. Although after dropping over $200 on The Old Republic, it will probably be a while before I get anything else.

[Setsuna]

Originally Posted by keg in kc

I downloaded it just to get the ME3 armor. We'll see how I like it when I have some time to play it in a week or so. Although after dropping over $200 on The Old Republic, it will probably be a while before I get anything else.

Dude how much? That makes no sense.

[keg in kc]

150 for the CE and 70 for a 6 month sub.

I actually went without any new games for the 2nd half of 2011 to save up the cash for it. Next game I plan on purchasing is ME3.

And when I say I dl'd this game, it was the demo obviously...

[htismaqe]

Originally Posted by keg in kc

I downloaded it just to get the ME3 armor. We'll see how I like it when I have some time to play it in a week or so. Although after dropping over $200 on The Old Republic, it will probably be a while before I get anything else.

And I'll be playing the ME3 demo just to get the Amalur goodies!

[htismaqe]

So after finishing the 45 minutes last night, I liked it enough that I feel the need to post some commentary. Hopefully you find it helpful and not boring.

One of the things that has always bothered me about computer roleplaying games, particularly so-called "open world" games, is that invariably role playing always ends up taking a back seat to the mechanics of the game itself. First off, most games just don't offer the freedom to create any type of character. Even when they do, more often than not, a situation, scenario, or encounter will occur in the game and the only way to get past it is to play in a manner that is not consistent with, or even counter to, how I have envisioned my character in the game. Few computer games have ever come close to the freedom and imagination that some of us grew up with playing pen-and-paper games.

A good example of this is the fact that most games seem to automatically associate "dexterity" or "agility" with ranged weapons. This one has always been a personal beef of mine. A lot of games automatically assume that a fighter is an axe-wielding monolith in plate armor while an agile hero must use bows or guns. Most games don't allow for the player to explore the idea of a graceful swordsman or a hunter that relies on melee weapons and fast-twitch reflexes. Still other games have areas or encounters that simply can't be won using any and every play style. Charging into a room of brigands with your sword drawn ends up with you dropping dead mid-sprint as they pepper you with arrows. Your only option is to draw a bow and shoot them before they shoot you.

Here I am 3 paragraphs in and haven't yet mentioned Amalur - I do apologize but there's a reason for it:

After playing the full 45-minute demo last night, I'm fairly confident the game addresses everything I've mentioned and more.

The first half of the demo is, more than anything else, a trainer to get you familiar with the controls. About 10 minutes in, the player is presented with exactly one of those scenarios I was talking about - charge in and die. It was at this point that Amalur snagged me.

The narrator suggested I pick up a pair of daggers and enter "stealth" mode. Sure, I could have picked them off 1-by-1 with a bow but the game didn't MAKE me. Instead, I snuck around the back of the area, positioned myself behind my prospective victim, and killed him in one swift, gruesome animation. It was awesome!

The other thing that was awesome was the equipment. Some games rely heavily on "drops" and others on "chests". Still others only offer the best gear through shops. By the end of the demo, I had assembled my best gear from ALL of those places. I even had a cool pair of gloves that I made from pieces at the forge.

The only major gripe I have at this point is the movement. The camera panning and movement are too fast. The camera is easily fixed by turning down the sensitivity. There doesn't appear to be a similar mechanism for the movement itself. It almost feels like the old digital d-pad in that there's only 16 absolute directions you can go and this results in unnatural movement that is "squared" instead of fluid.

I did have some texture mirroring but no other obvious graphical bugs, like the aforementioned headless NPCs. There were several little quirks with conversation - some NPCs responded and talked but in some cases, I would hit A and the game would just freeze for 20-30 seconds before the conversation interface popped up. There were still other NPCs where the interface simply never came up at all.

[Setsuna]

Originally Posted by htismaqe

So after finishing the 45 minutes last night, I liked it enough that I feel the need to post some commentary. Hopefully you find it helpful and not boring.

One of the things that has always bothered me about computer roleplaying games, particularly so-called "open world" games, is that invariably role playing always ends up taking a back seat to the mechanics of the game itself. First off, most games just don't offer the freedom to create any type of character. Even when they do, more often than not, a situation, scenario, or encounter will occur in the game and the only way to get past it is to play in a manner that is not consistent with, or even counter to, how I have envisioned my character in the game. Few computer games have ever come close to the freedom and imagination that some of us grew up with playing pen-and-paper games.

A good example of this is the fact that most games seem to automatically associate "dexterity" or "agility" with ranged weapons. This one has always been a personal beef of mine. A lot of games automatically assume that a fighter is an axe-wielding monolith in plate armor while an agile hero must use bows or guns. Most games don't allow for the player to explore the idea of a graceful swordsman or a hunter that relies on melee weapons and fast-twitch reflexes. Still other games have areas or encounters that simply can't be won using any and every play style. Charging into a room of brigands with your sword drawn ends up with you dropping dead mid-sprint as they pepper you with arrows. Your only option is to draw a bow and shoot them before they shoot you.

Here I am 3 paragraphs in and haven't yet mentioned Amalur - I do apologize but there's a reason for it:

After playing the full 45-minute demo last night, I'm fairly confident the game addresses everything I've mentioned and more.

The first half of the demo is, more than anything else, a trainer to get you familiar with the controls. About 10 minutes in, the player is presented with exactly one of those scenarios I was talking about - charge in and die. It was at this point that Amalur snagged me.

The narrator suggested I pick up a pair of daggers and enter "stealth" mode. Sure, I could have picked them off 1-by-1 with a bow but the game didn't MAKE me. Instead, I snuck around the back of the area, positioned myself behind my prospective victim, and killed him in one swift, gruesome animation. It was awesome!

The other thing that was awesome was the equipment. Some games rely heavily on "drops" and others on "chests". Still others only offer the best gear through shops. By the end of the demo, I had assembled my best gear from ALL of those places. I even had a cool pair of gloves that I made from pieces at the forge.

The only major gripe I have at this point is the movement. The camera panning and movement are too fast. The camera is easily fixed by turning down the sensitivity. There doesn't appear to be a similar mechanism for the movement itself. It almost feels like the old digital d-pad in that there's only 16 absolute directions you can go and this results in unnatural movement that is "squared" instead of fluid.

I did have some texture mirroring but no other obvious graphical bugs, like the aforementioned headless NPCs. There were several little quirks with conversation - some NPCs responded and talked but in some cases, I would hit A and the game would just freeze for 20-30 seconds before the conversation interface popped up. There were still other NPCs where the interface simply never came up at all.

This was very helpful and I agree completely with what you said about viable choices for choosing paths. I think I'm going to go might/sorcery, use sorcery to make up for what might lacks in distance and aoe damage. I should've dl the demo on my xbox because my pc maybe wasn't powerful enough to play it without it being very slow and lagged. But overall I am liking the mega variety of fates and gameplay. It may look "cartoony" but the graphics are still advanced and fluid and that's what you want.

Thanks htis!

[htismaqe]

I didn't think the graphics looked necessarily cartoonish.

In fact, up close a lot of the humanoids look like comic book characters - probably seeing some of MacFarlane's influence there.

[Bump]

this looks cool, but since I'm not even close to finishing Skyrim and I still have Dark Souls too (which I actually forgot about). I think I will just wait to buy this

[The Franchise]

Played the demo.......and I'm glad that I reserved it. I'll be putting some time into this game.

[keg in kc]

Originally Posted by htismaqe

And I'll be playing the ME3 demo just to get the Amalur goodies!

ME1 and 2 are two of my top-5 games of all time. ME3 is one of the most anticipated titles (for me) that I can ever remember.

I think I'm actually a bit burned out on fantasy, as a gaming genre. Between ME3 and the old republic I'm really excited to be able to play some games that take place in more of a science fiction (or space fantasy) environment.

Although oddly I read a lot more fantasy than science fiction. Then again, maybe that's part of it.

Anyway, I might play this eventually. I think in a general sense I'm going to at least try to stop pre-ordering and buying games at launch, and try to get myself into the habit of waiting a number of months after release for GotY editions.

[htismaqe]

Originally Posted by keg in kc

Anyway, I might play this eventually. I think in a general sense I'm going to at least try to stop pre-ordering and buying games at launch, and try to get myself into the habit of waiting a number of months after release for GotY editions.

I've been doing that lately and all I can say is that it has saved me a lot of money. For example, I ended up not getting Skyrim AT ALL.

[Bump]

Originally Posted by htismaqe

I've been doing that lately and all I can say is that it has saved me a lot of money. For example, I ended up not getting Skyrim AT ALL.

I do that too with non multiplayer games or games that I really really have looked forward to, like Skyrim.

[keg in kc]

Originally Posted by htismaqe

I've been doing that lately and all I can say is that it has saved me a lot of money. For example, I ended up not getting Skyrim AT ALL.

Yeah, I didn't get Skyrim or Arkham City. I wish I hadn't bought The Witcher 2.

I'm trying really hard to resist the urge to buy the Collector's Edition of ME3...

[Setsuna]

I dl on my xbox. I'm in love with this game, but can't preorder it because my stupid job only payed me for a week's worth of wages instead of two. So damn pissed.

[htismaqe]

Originally Posted by keg in kc

Yeah, I didn't get Skyrim or Arkham City. I wish I hadn't bought The Witcher 2.

I'm trying really hard to resist the urge to buy the Collector's Edition of ME3...

The Witcher 2 -GI magazine has been talking up the console port lately. Apparently it's every bit as good as the PC original, with new areas and content.