Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning - Boxed - PS3

Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning is an action RPG set in the fantasy world of Amalur, which is divided into several kingdoms. It was once a peaceful world, until Gadflow, the new King of the Winter Court of the magical Faelands kingdom, went to war against the young races of Amalur together with his followers - the Tuatha Deohn. He believes that a new god named Tirnoch is to be born in the east. For the other races, the conflict is a hopeless affair, since the Fae are reborn after death. The player controls the protagonist known as the Fateless One from a third-person perspective. Ten years after the fighting began, he (or she - the gender can be chosen after the introduction) falls in the conflict and is dragged off to a mass grave. However, he awakens and discovers he has been revived by the gnomish scientist Fomorous Hugues through an experimental Well of Souls. He has no memory of his life, and when the facility is attacked by the Tuatha Deohn, he must flee. Back in the world, he learns from Fateweaver Agarth that he is the only one who has managed to escape Fate, the predetermination to which all individuals are subject. His first goal is to find Hugues again to learn more about the experiment, but the search soon widens into a bigger story involving Gadflow, his minions and the new god.

After the introduction, the player defines a character by choosing a gender and a race: Almain, Varani, Ljosalfar or Dokkalfar. These correspond respectively to civilised humans, nomadic humans, light elves and dark elves. Each comes with one or more racial bonuses. The next choice is one of the gods associated with the race as a patron (fire, water, war, death, misfortune, earth, love, fate, wisdom, order, justice and others, or none at all), which grants additional benefits. The name and appearance can also be set via a preset or through individual manipulation of features.

Combat is fast-paced, and various weapons can be used for both melee and ranged attacks. The character can equip a primary and a secondary weapon, and further items such as helmets, breastplates and footwear can be collected and assigned via an inventory. Alongside a health bar, there is mana for magical attacks. This consists of spells, but also various items that can be assigned in-game via a radial item menu. Combat often requires dealing with several enemies at once, and there are various attacks, including combos, blocking and dodging. During certain sequences there are quick-time events, a rage meter can be built up for a devastating attack, and it is possible to drag a single enemy into a cinematic finisher. Players can also loot items and collect gold. The main character can interact with NPCs, and alongside dialogue trees there are radial conversation options, similar to those in the Mass Effect games, offering choices and consequences.

Experience earned in combat is used for levelling up. With each new level, the player can specialise in skills such as alchemy, blacksmithing, lockpicking, mercantile, persuasion, stealth and more, to further define the character. Skill progression is divided into three tiers (novice, adept and master), each with several skill ranks. Further customisation is possible through abilities. Experience points are converted into abilities via a skill tree with three main categories: Might, Finesse and Sorcery. These correspond respectively to the RPG classes of warrior, rogue and mage. After the opening scenes, the game gradually opens up into a larger world with a main storyline and various side quests. Various towns can be visited to buy new items and pick up new quests.