Kingdom of Amalur: The Reckoning
The End Is Niegh! But for you it’s just the begining…
Though I currently work for a company where my soul occupasion is to read into, learn about, play and eventually sell, videogames I have somehow allowed this gem of a game to nearly pass me by without a second glance. What game am I refering to? None other than Kingdom of Amalur: The Reckoning, and how sorry I would have been had I let it. What exactly- I hear you beg of me- is this wonderous game of which I refer? Well the answer I want to give is an indepth synopsis of the game’s many intricate and detailed characters, enviroments, gameplay mechanics and plots… ‘The works’. However, Shaun has done less than his homework and therefore, all I am able to tell you is that it looks to be a cracker!
However, to make it look like I still have valid reason to call myself a reviewer- even after the aforementioned lack of research- I can tell you this about it, it’s a third person fantasty adventure, described best as a scarier version of the fantasty gameplay, graphics engines, choice systems and combat of the, ‘Fable’ series . However, one would be totally within their right- as I was after watching the trailers- to believe that this is simply a clone of the said series of games, even going as far as to say a complete ripp off! HOWEVER, before the torches come out and the witch hunt begins, there are some very interesting facts surrounding the creation of this game and, if I might be so bold to say, the lack of interest and information available about this game, specifically the minimal televised advertisement surrounding it.
Weirdly enough, however, the most intriguing aspect of Amalur are the development team themselves; allow me to explain. Years ago I would simply pick up a game, to rent it or buy it, not read reviews about it, simply buy a game and once played, keep it or sell it, and obviously become more and more frustrated that I had bought a game that 9/10 was rubbish, but why? Well the answer lay simply with the people that made it, obviously… I just did not care for the team behind it, I would only care about that individual game and the time I wasted playing it, oh how niaeve I was; the team behind a game is far more important sometimes than the trailer, the gameplay shots or even the blurb on a game’s, covers especially a team such as this, because it leads to a better game!
Therefore, with lead designers from the, ‘Elder Scrolls’ series, Ken Rolston and writer R.A Salvatore, renowned in the gaming world and fantasty genre for his work on the, ‘Forgotten Realms’ epics- within which he created the well known Dark Elf Drowe character Drizzt Do’Urden (if you played ‘Baulder’s Gate’ you’d kno who he is)- not to mention the fact his Star Wars novel, ‘The New Jedi Order’ has sold more than 15 million copies in the US alone! With these guys individually, the game is shaping up to be an exciting creation, modelled by not only a great game designer but a great narrative, dialogue and general fantasty writer. To top it off though, ‘Amular’ has a design team headed by the art director from the ‘Spawn’ series, which will subsequently bring a real stylistic quality to the game; the combination of dark fantasty meets ruthless combat best described at the, ‘Penny Arcade Expo 2011′ as, ‘God of War meets Oblivion.’ So buckle up guys because, just as the childhood version of myself wouldn’t have to be disappointed, niether will you; this one not only has those awe-inspiring trailers, gameplay shots and blurbs but it looks like it’s got the team to deliver it and deliver it they shall! Out for Xbox 360, Ps3 and Pc from February 10th in Europe and the 7th in the USA (not long to wait).
(Note that I haven’t told you a lot about the game’s plot because honestly you should go watch the trailers for yourself or read about the plot, stop being lazy!)
(Okay, here’s a trailer anyway)
