Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning was a gem that flew under the radar for most people. Even though it was written by R.A. Salvatore and the art was done by Todd McFarlane, the game wasn’t a success largely due to the financial mismanagement of the studio boss, Curt Schilling.
However, it seems the game has another shot, as it’s getting a face-lift from THQ Nordic. Here are a few things that made the game great, and what makes us excited for the remake.
Compelling Setting
The world of Amalur was developed by R.A. Salvatore, the renowned fantasy author best known for the Legacy of Drizzt series. It was classic fantasy through and through with interesting lore, a grandiose conflict, and loads of monsters to be slain.
Fast-Paced Combat
The combat was more fast-paced than any RPG at the time. It didn’t have the awkward weightiness of the Skyrim, nor was it a Dark Souls clone. Rather, it played more like the Legend of Zelda, and it depended on players changing tactics on the fly and racking up devastating combos.
Deep Crafting System
Kingdoms of Amalur also had a surprisingly robust crafting system. Players could develop the alchemy skill to craft powerful potions that had different effects in combat, or they could use blacksmithing to improve their gear or create new powerful weapons and armor. Stagecraft allowed them to create gems that would give their weapons and armor unique effects. It all added up to a crafting system that was robust and gave players lots of control over their character build.
Switching Classes
In the lore of the game, players are Fateless, i.e. their destinies are not defined. This plays out in the game by letting the players switch classes on the fly and combine abilities for all kinds of play styles.
Majorly Improved Graphics
We haven’t seen a lot for the remaster, but the images we have seen show a noticeable facelift for the game. That’s great to hear, and obviously expected from a remaster. The graphics weren’t bad in the original, but they weren’t exactly up to par with other games of the time, particularly the facial animations. Hopefully, the remaster gives the game a fresh coat of paint.
