We recently sat down with the fine folks behind Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning to discuss the upcoming singleplayer RPG. Read on for all the juicy details!

EA recently invited us to take part in a roundtable discussion of sorts with some of the key players behind the development of Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning. If you’re unfamiliar with the game, Reckoning is a singleplayer RPG developed by Big Huge Games and there are a number of huge names attached to the IP and project, including Ken Rolston (of Elder Scrolls fame), R.A. Salvatore, and Todd McFarlane.

Why are we covering the game here at MMORPG.com? Well, for one, Curt Schilling’s 38 Studios is looking to create an MMO based on the Amalur setting and Reckoning will serve as many gamers’ first taste of what the IP is all about.

Read more of Michael Bitton's Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning: Roundtable Discussion.

Anyone else think the game looks way better in these screenshots than it does in the demo?

I just don't get it. Is the MMORPG coming out on consoles or something? The game just plays very awkward on the pc. In my opinion, if they want to gather a playerbase for their MMORPG with KoA, make it feel the game is developed for the pc. The game is not bad at all, it just feels.. clunky. On the other hand, IF the MMORPG is set for consoles, then I understand the port. 

Originally posted by Vhaln

Anyone else think the game looks way better in these screenshots than it does in the demo?

 

ME.

It does not look even close to those screens in reality.

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Besdes why single player RPG get coverage on mmrpg.com ?

I will definetely get this game for PC. sounds like it has a lot of value as it may span up to 200+ hours. 

Already pre-ordered... I get the feeling we were missing the higher res textures with the demo... also it was a 3-4 month old build which was broke off from the original code and finished by another company at EA's request (to tie in with ME3 i suppose)

It's not justification enough that something based on this will evolve into an mmo at some point.  Your coverage should have been related to THAT MMO.  If they don't want to divulge anything then they shouldn't get coverage.  You probably could have yanked some exclusive details from them with the right tact. 

Originally posted by Vhaln

Anyone else think the game looks way better in these screenshots than it does in the demo?

 

Looks the same to me!

Originally posted by adam_nox

It's not justification enough that something based on this will evolve into an mmo at some point.  Your coverage should have been related to THAT MMO.  If they don't want to divulge anything then they shouldn't get coverage.  You probably could have yanked some exclusive details from them with the right tact. 

 

No. I could not. Believe me, I tried! :)

The ridiculously oversized weapons in those screenshots really puts me off.  I know---it's fantasy so they don't have to make things look realistic, etc., etc.   But that doesn't change the fact that it looks ridiculous. 

Imagine if the guy's head were ten times too large for his body.  You could explain that away as well by saying it's a fantasy world but it would still look ridiculous.

Why do people complain about non-mmo articles on here? It isn't like this article made it so we missed out on another article. It is just something else to read. Get off your high-horse.

Originally posted by Neanderthal

The ridiculously oversized weapons in those screenshots really puts me off.  I know---it's fantasy so they don't have to make things look realistic, etc., etc.   But that doesn't change the fact that it looks ridiculous. 

Imagine if the guy's head were ten times too large for his body.  You could explain that away as well by saying it's a fantasy world but it would still look ridiculous.

I hate that too, along with anime-style cartoon graphics and silly things like high heels and oversized boobs etc.

But that's what sells, sad but true.

I'm in two minds about this one.

Based on the demo zone (not the tutorial bit) the game seems very 'on rails' and even the 'open' clearings feel boxed in. Sure it has the odd railway siding, maybe later zones open out but nothing I have seen on youtube suggests that, you get a good idea from the mini map on the later level demos.

It reminds me of Dungeon Siege III (which I actually quite enjoyed). People also seem to make Fable comparisons too which is reasonable.

Second issue is the UI, the PC one is really not good stuff you do many times is cumbersome with 2 or 3 more clicks and key presses than you need. It was frustrating. For example manipulating inventory (which has an 8 items a page list even at highres). It's nothing that could not be tweaked tbh, however the devs make a big thing about how it has been and seperately designed and not a port. That's not what I am seeing and makes me wonder whether the devs enthusiasm is ahead of the game.

Apparently the demo was from an earlier fork in the code but that actually makes me more sceptical that there are already excuses being made. As it stands I don't think it has the production quality of say Fable II but I guess that might be forgiven as its not a final cut. I guess I'll probablly pick it up as a filler game and see how it goes.

I played the demo on 360...

Thought it looked dated, played like a worse version of the Fable series (even had the bad pseudo-british voice acting) and was completely unoriginal.

Is this Skyrim with Fable combat? Doubtful.

All seems far too generic.

But then again, it was only about an hour with a demo - will wait and see what the reviews say after release.

the game isn't anything special, felt very like fable to me. I'm sure mmorpg.com will give it a 9.0 though  ;)

Ya know, I don't really care if the Single Player game lore fits into the MMO's if the MMO isn't what I want to play, in which case this doesn't matter.

And until they give solid info on the MMORPG, I just can't garner any interest. Hell, I'm even tired of the levels and directed game play in Skyrim. I mean, I don't want to kill that guy to unlock the damn quest items from my inventory, heh.

And jump? If you have to ask, well don't bother. On the other hand, if you were locked into that by the code you bought, just say so instead of looking like you make bad choices.

Game developers. Can we get a "respec" for them? For a nominal fee, of course.

This game is extremly fun, feels like a great mix of Fable of God of War( which is supposed to be like ), lots of RPG elements and of course dialoge options. The demos graphics and stuff wernt as good as some of the pictures, but that can be just the demo itself or peoples systems.

The camera takes a bit to get used to on the PC because its extremly sensitive, but you really shouldnt let that get to you, or just invest in a 360 controller for the PC if you feel its worth it. Honoestly I just spent a few hours playing through the demo a couple times and you get adjusted to it. Its like buying a newer higher dpi Mouse.