Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning

Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning opens with the hero rising from a pile of corpses as the only successful attempt at resurrection, which also grants the ability to break free from the predetermined fate everyone else in the world is bound by. That idea isn't just a backdrop, it runs through the whole game: the player can change the character's direction whenever they like, and an ability called Reckoning briefly slows time to unleash a devastating series of blows. The world of Amalur rests on an extensive mythology prepared by writer R. A. Salvatore, and on a strongly stylized visual design created by Todd McFarlane.

The gameplay is interesting for how heavily it leans on combat. Instead of the usual auto-targeted hacking, it offers fluid combos, dodging, blocking, and switching between two weapons in real time, so at times the game feels closer to an action series than a classic RPG. Character development works across three branches focused on might, finesse, and sorcery, with a fate card system granting bonuses based on how the player distributed points, and respeccing the character is available at essentially any time. Add to that a huge number of side quests, guilds, and crafts. On the Xbox 360 the game ran briskly, and its colorful, slightly comic-book visuals still hold up in terms of readability today, even if the environments occasionally feel repetitive.

Reviews praised the combat and scope, with reservations about difficulty that becomes too easy in later stages and the amount of filler content. The studio folded shortly after release, so the planned sequel and the follow-up online game never came to be, turning Reckoning into a somewhat sad monument to unfulfilled plans. Even so, it's one of the most entertaining action RPGs of its generation, showing that depth of character building and fast action don't have to be mutually exclusive. Today it's an ideal choice for players who want a sprawling game without an oppressive atmosphere and with immediately satisfying combat.