Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning

Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning
Developer(s)Big Huge Games
Publisher(s)
Director(s)Mark Nelson
Producer(s)Sean Bean
Designer(s)
Programmer(s)Bryant Freitag
Artist(s)
Writer(s)
  • Erik J. Caponi
  • Andrew Auseon
  • Tom Murphy
Composer(s)
Platform(s)
Release
  • NA: February 7, 2012
  • AU: February 9, 2012
  • EU: February 10, 2012
Genre(s)Action role-playing
Mode(s)Single-player

Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning is a 2012 action role-playing game developed by Big Huge Games and published by 38 Studios and Electronic Arts for Windows, PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360. Reckoning follows the story of the Fateless One, a resurrected person freed from the destiny which binds all of Amalur's people to destruction. Gameplay consists of players exploring the Faelands of Amalur, completing quests and fighting a variety of enemies both in field and dungeon environments. The playstyle is customized through a combination of weapons types, skill trees, and passive enhancements earned through quests and the Destiny character class system.

Production of Reckoning began in 2009 based on the Amalur setting created by 38 Studios founder Curt Schilling and writer R. A. Salvatore for their in-development MMORPG Project Copernicus. Using a reworked game prototype created prior to 38 Studios acquiring Big Huge Games, Reckoning was intended to introduce the Amalur universe prior to Project Copernicus, but was otherwise developed as a standalone project. Several notable figures contributed to the game's design including artist Todd McFarlane, designer Ken Rolston, and composer Grant Kirkhope.

Reckoning was praised by critics for its combat design and graphics, but the story and lack of gameplay depth or original features saw criticism. While selling above expectations for a new intellectual property and contributing to Electronic Arts' fiscal profits, it commercially underperformed for 38 Studios and Big Huge Games. Two downloadable content (DLC) expansions were released, but a planned sequel was canceled with the closure of 38 Studios.

A remastered version subtitled Re-Reckoning was released in 2020 for Windows, PlayStation 4 and Xbox One. A Nintendo Switch port and a third expansion Fatesworn were released in 2021. The remaster and expansion were developed by Kaiko and published by THQ Nordic, which had acquired the Amalur intellectual property. Re-Reckoning featured adjustments to the gameplay balance and incorporated all previous DLC features. The release saw mixed reviews due to technical issues which were addressed in patches, and the ageing of mechanics considered innovative at release.


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