Everything seemed to fit together perfectly. Famous developers, big names in the credits, an intriguing plot twist, and even the “father” of Morrowind himself acting as the project’s spiritual leader. We thought we had a real role-playing gem in front of us, created by people who know how to do it for real. And it was even more offensive to face reality – once again we bought into beautiful promises.

It was especially bitter in the case of Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning. Talented artists, famous game designers, and even baseball stars took part in the development – it sounded like a recipe for a dream game. A picture was drawn in our imagination: a living, well-developed world, full of quests and secrets, and in the center – a hero we created, bringing justice left and right.

But alas – what we got at the end turned out to be far from what we had hoped for. And here is a sad story about this disappointment below.

Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning Free Steam Account

Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning was once conceived as a full-fledged MMORPG — and you can feel it from the very first minutes. As soon as you leave the first settlement, you are immediately greeted by two peaceful mobs, as if specially placed for a warm-up. The character moves along clearly marked routes, and the zones themselves evoke memories of all Korean grindels at once. And, of course, where would we be without huge, as if from the last century, exclamation and question marks above the heads of NPCs, who with undisguised enthusiasm give you quests of the “kill-bring-fetch” level. If you are already sick of everything that is somehow connected with MMOs — be it the visual style, the structure of tasks or even banners on websites — then the epic RPG by Ken Rolston with its pompous themes of destiny, resurrection and a great mission is unlikely to make a good impression. Rather, it will cause bewilderment: why did the Western press love her so much?

Long before the release, the marketing department of 38 Studios diligently warmed up the public’s interest. Their goal was simple – to attract attention to the project with the help of big names. And there really were plenty of names. At the forefront was Ken Rolston, an industry veteran who had a hand in Morrowind and Oblivion, as well as the author of board games. And it gets even more interesting. Comic book legend Todd McFarlane, the creator of Spawn, and the man who drew Batman and Spider-Man. The literary part was handled by Robert Salvatore, known for his novels on Forgotten Realms and Star Wars, as well as the author of enemy lines in Quake 3 Arena. This creative trinity was united by former baseball player Curt Schilling, the founder of 38 Studios, who, after the release of Reckoning, was planning a large-scale MMO in the Amalur universe.

As usual, in games with MMO roots, the plot often looks enticing – on paper. But as soon as it comes to staging, the magic evaporates. Humans, elves, dwarves – all the standard fantasy races are here. In this world, they are mere mortals, Children of Ash, whose fate is determined even before birth. Everyone is supposed to believe in fate, because it is real and inevitable. Their overseers are the mysterious and almost divine Fae. And of course, there is no way without a grand conflict. One of the Fae decided that mortals are too insignificant, and decided to exterminate them all. So zealously that even roasted children on shovels and raped women became part of his plan. Other Fae, once good, followed him. So there is a catastrophe ahead.

Your hero is dead at the very beginning. And this is not a figure of speech. He is revived by a gnome scientist, supposedly with the help of alchemy. But in the first hours it does not look like a resurrection, but like a mistake. The hero is thrown into a pit with other corpses. But – a miracle! – he truly comes to life. And with this an interesting detail appears: having died, the hero is freed from fate. He is the only one in this world who does not have a predetermined future. And from this moment on, he is left only to himself. The beginning looks cheerful and intriguing.

But then begins an endless running around tiny, albeit cute, locations. Dialogues are a whole other story. When the hero talks to an NPC, it feels like you accidentally turned on a mediocre German RPG: two people read out lines against the background of absolute silence, without changing the camera, without intonation. A slight echo from the speakers only intensifies the feeling of boredom. There are answer options, but there is zero soul in these conversations.

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A Devil May Cry style combat system?

Is it possible to find something really good in a game that is hard to praise, but we still gave it a pretty decent rating? Yes, it is. And this plus is so significant that it practically single-handedly pulls out the whole game. This is the combat system. If you missed the cheerful slashers in the spirit of Devil May Cry, Kingdoms of Amalur is quite capable of giving similar emotions. Of course, with certain reservations, but the impressions remain.

The fights here are a real treat for those who love a spectacular meat grinder. Beautiful blows, smooth combos, sweeping attacks with swords, axes, hammers – everything looks spectacular and responds pleasantly in the fingers. And when it comes to finishing off enemies, the camera deftly captures key moments: slowing down time, juicy sounds, rolls, juicy special effects – all this causes almost physical satisfaction. And when you turn on the Reckoning mode — the screen turns black and white, you get invulnerability and accelerated reflexes, and enemies fly apart like bowling pins… The moment when the game really comes to life.

It seems as if the whole project was created with one goal — to show how cool the combat can be even in a fairly standard RPG. Here you will find a decent arsenal: you can be a berserker with a club, or you can throw fireballs or combine both. The skill system at first seems ordinary, but later reveals its flexibility. If you made a mistake with the choice — no problem, there are characters who will help you redistribute points for a fee. Three main branches — a magician, a warrior and a rogue — become clearly defined over time, but no one prevents you from experimenting and creating your own unique hero, combining different roles.

Is Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning Worth Playing in 2025?

Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning is not the game you’d expect from the man who created Morrowind. The game’s online legacy is too obvious and has a strong impact on the overall experience. The dialogue is boring and unengaging, the quests are easy to read ahead, and the world, although beautifully designed, is essentially a series of linear corridors that cleverly disguise the lack of real freedom.

The only saving grace is the combat. It’s what lifts the game from a mediocre RPG to a lively slasher with cool special moves and juicy combos. Everything else is a dud. Without this combat system, I would have given it a “fail” and sent it to retake the game. Ken Rolston, we were hoping for something more.

What I liked:

• Excellent and exciting combat system
• Beautiful and atmospheric locations
• Intriguing beginning of the story

What I didn’t like:

• MMO spirit creeps out of every crack
• Lifeless dialogues
• Primitive plot twists and RPG cliches

Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning System Requirements

How to play Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning for free on Steam via VpeSports

What if you had the chance to start over in a world where every choice changes not only the course of events, but the very fabric of reality? Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning gives you just that chance. Here, no one will tell you who to be — you forge your own destiny: on the edge of a blade, in a whirlwind of magical spells, or stealthily, from the shadows. Magical forests, ruined kingdoms, unforgettable quests and battles with monsters that take your breath away — all this is already waiting for you.

To start your adventure, you don’t need to dig through forums or struggle with installation. We made sure that the path to Amalur was as easy as possible. Just register with us, log in to your profile — and get access to Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning via a free Steam account, along with instructions on how to launch. No extra steps: open, click “play” — and you are already fighting for the future of the world.

The game will captivate you completely, but when you find a minute, share your impressions. Your thoughts are important to us. If the review does not appear immediately, do not be alarmed, it has just been sent for moderation. Correct it a little, and everything will be fine. As soon as the comment is approved, we will send you all the necessary information by email.

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