If you’ve not seen this walkthrough video of 38 Studios and Big Huge Games’ Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning, you might have the impression that this is a generic action RPG. Once you see the video you’ll definitely have that impression.
I want to believe that the combination of author R.A. Salvatore’s words, Spawn creator Todd McFarlane’s art, and design by The Elder Scroll’s Ken Rolston will result in some magical new role-playing experience. That’s not what I am seeing here. What I am seeing in this video, originally shown at GDC 2011 and on stage at PAX East in March, isn’t necessarily bad. It looks like a highly polished version of games that have come before it, and ultimately I’d rather have that than forced innovation that falls flat, crippling the game in the process.
Due out for the Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 and PC early next year, Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning still has the better part of a year to set itself apart. If it doesn’t, I’ll probably play it anyway.
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