Kingdoms Of Amalur: Reconing, A Game Worth Playing

As far as action role playing PC games go, Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning does not disappoint. A perfect blend of action and the freedom of open world gameplay, Reckoning is a game that needs to be played at least once, if you haven't already. The game provides a new experience to the typical open world RPG, giving it elements that blur the lines between action game and RPG.

Kingdoms of Amalur starts off in a unique way. You (as the player) are dead to begin with. However, soon after your corpse is disposed of, you awake among the bodies that fell before you. You find out that the reason you're alive again is because of an experiment of a gnome named Fomorus Hughes, using an experimental “well of souls” to bring the dead back to life, you being his first success. Called the “Fateless One” the character finds themselves fending off the forces of the Tuatha, a type of fae intent on making sure you stay dead. It is your purpose in the game to find out how and why you died, as you do not remember how you met your demise.

As for the gameplay, it takes a lot of action elements and blends them together with a leveling system and a unique skills set. The player chooses one of four races with different benefits for each, and can customize their appearance. The player can then equip armor and two weapons, a primary and a secondary, and the gamplay depends on the type of weapons chosen by the player. The gameplay is fast paced and solid, the player can attack, defend, and dodge on the battlefield, which allows them to move just as quickly as all the enemies they face. Enemies drop items as they are defeated, and these can be used in a variety of ways from forging weapons to mixing potions.

When traveling the world, the player accepts various quests from the people of the world. Completing side quests grants the player extra experience in order to help advance in the story line. There are also various landmarks that are scattered across the land that help the player in a variety of ways. Lorestones, when activated, add to the experience by adding some background to the in game history by giving a narration that the player can simply listen to while traveling the world. And of course, items can be found lying around the world in chests as well as in other natural formations like plants or piles of rocks.

The game is quite enjoyable and despite its large size, several downloadable items have already been released for the game. Extra weapons and armor add to the experience of the game, and there are specialized sets that cater to a specific style of gameplay to which you prefer. And of course when you've beaten the game and its just not enough for you several expansions are available now.

While it might not be the newest game on the block, Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning is a game full of action and role playing elements that are sure to leave fans of the genre satisfied. It tells a fresh and unique story that keeps your interest, and is a game that will find a solid place on your shelf among the classics. Great action role playing PC games are hard to find these days, but until other masterpieces find their way to your computer, Kingdoms of Amalur is sure to hold you over.