Kingdoms Of Amalur: Reckoning(Released on February 7th)

[zinfamous]

Um, ????? FF7 came out in 97. Baldur's gate 2 came out in 2000. Diablo was late 90s. What part of "that was a long friggin time ago" don't you understand? Not saying they aren't AWESOME games and definitely the pinacle of gaming, upon which (certain elements) are rightly compared to games even today. But today's technology and physics engines are designed around these exact functionality inclusions.

Your comment would be analogus to saying "I don't see why people complain that the game doesn't use more than 16 colors. Zork was an awesome game." it was. But if Zork were released today the market would be much smaller than your average game. And even the best reviewers would find fault in comparison to more contemporary games with, oh say.... Graphics.

And no. Jumping (to me) means inclusion of a Z axis in the overlay of the map. Vertical movement rather than graphical trickery.

I don't think that is the same argument. Jumping depends on the needs of the game. it has nothign to do with how old it is or technical capabilities. it's all about design and functionality.

Those games were games that worked just fine without jumping--but again, they didn't need it.

I suppose KoA is similar to other such games where jumping is often found, so maybe that is why people tend to expect it?

 

[thespyder]

I don't think that is the same argument. Jumping depends on the needs of the game. it has nothign to do with how old it is or technical capabilities. it's all about design and functionality.

Those games were games that worked just fine without jumping--but again, they didn't need it.

I suppose KoA is similar to other such games where jumping is often found, so maybe that is why people tend to expect it?

So I came on a bit strong. Not intentional.

In my book, "Jumping" covers a whole host of ills such as flying, levatation and climbing. And it's lack represents invisible walls in the form of 6 inch step that effectively prevents you from going somewhere that IRL you would simply step over. It also prevents lateral thinking in approaching certain obstacles and obstructions. Want to enter that city but not through the front gate? Wait till dark and scale the walls. Only the game doesn't allow that.

In a free roaming world such as Amalur and Skyrim, putting invisible walls is tantamount to poor game/level design in my book. "you can go ANYWHERE, except over that three foot picket fence." WTF??? And flying/levitating are staples of tactical combat wizardry that can be planned for and around but should be a tactical choice, not an exclusion. Just my opinion.

But to be fair, you are right. Not every game needs it. Diablo 3 may not, but I see it as a completely different type of game. I more or less expect the world to be flat there. In a world where 3D is the thing, keeping walking 2D just seems counter-intuitive.

 

[Aikouka]

I don't show GMG even carries the game.

Okay, it looks like I was sort of right. GMG does have it on sale, but unfortunately, they can only sell EA games on their .co.uk domain:

https://twitter.com/#!/GreenManGaming/status/166914916429737984

So, this deal is valid for the British folk here at least.

The only thing I ever get from jumping is the OCD habit of jumping everywhere I go--just something to do as you're running around.

That's what I tend to do. It also sometimes makes combat feel a little more fluid and fun... especially if you're used to DMC.

 

[heavyiron8]

The game is great so far. Played a couple of hours last night, not disappointed.

Pretty much combines my two favorite games into one. God of War + Skyrim.

 

[Anubis]

anyone else seeing this odd graphical issue? saw it in the demo as well (PC) not in demo on PS3.

those lines are not supposed to be there

 

[Anubis]

that annoying lil graphicial bug however is not stopping me from enjoying the game, and holy crap are there a lot of quests, i guess i should advance the main story as i really have not done that at all yet


this is also prob a stupid question but how the F do i do alchemy, i have herbs and crap yet i go to the bench and i cant make anything

 

[cytoSiN]

this is also prob a stupid question but how the F do i do alchemy, i have herbs and crap yet i go to the bench and i cant make anything

You have to first discover recipes by combining items in the first item in the Alchemy-bench menu. Once you discover them, back up one level in the menu, and choose to create potions based on recipes you know. It's a little clunky, but it keeps you from wasting reagents trying to learn recipes you already know.

 

[Rhezuss]

anyone else seeing this odd graphical issue? saw it in the demo as well (PC) not in demo on PS3.

those lines are not supposed to be there

I had this issue only when I had AA and AF forced in my driver (CCC for me). As soon as I disabled it everything was back to normal.

 

[thespyder]

So I just fired up the demo with my Xbox controller plugged into my computer. The controls are MUCH better and easier to get used to. I will definitely be playing that way going forward. And I highly recommend it for anyone who found the Kb&M solution to be as clunky as I did.

 

[zinfamous]

played the demo for 18 minutes.

everything is black screen, and the inventory menu freezes on the screen once it's opened.

wtf?

 

[Chiropteran]

played the demo for 18 minutes.

everything is black screen, and the inventory menu freezes on the screen once it's opened.

wtf?

That happened to me. I thought it was part of the game, since at the start it says something like "stumbling around in the dark", I thought it was supposed to add extra challenge

Eventually found out I had to disable post processing in video options, through trial and error.

it has to just be in the demo (or the first time you die as a tutorial) because you definitely die in the normal game

i just tested this by going AFK and taking a large crap, came back i was dead

I never said you can't die, I said you are basically invulnerable because when you do die, two options pop up on the screen, one of which is "ressurect", which just brings you back to full hp right where you are without penalty and without causing mobs you were fighting to reset. Is this "ressurect" option removed from the full game and only in the demo?

Also, that was only part of the problem. Zero potion cool-down, with potions restoring you to full health? How can any fight be challenging when you can restore you health at will as long as you have a bag full of potions?

 

[zinfamous]

That happened to me. I thought it was part of the game, since at the start it says something like "stumbling around in the dark", I thought it was supposed to add extra challenge

Eventually found out I had to disable post processing in video options, through trial and error.

yeah, i read that about post processing. I also thought it was intended, in the first part, anyway. ...then when I realized I was about to loot something, then when the inventory screen froze....lol.

 

[zinfamous]

I never said you can't die, I said you are basically invulnerable because when you do die, two options pop up on the screen, one of which is "ressurect", which just brings you back to full hp right where you are without penalty and without causing mobs you were fighting to reset. Is this "ressurect" option removed from the full game and only in the demo?

Also, that was only part of the problem. Zero potion cool-down, with potions restoring you to full health? How can any fight be challenging when you can restore you health at will as long as you have a bag full of potions?

I assume someone with the full game and further along will eventually comment on this (though I've since read other reviews were people claim it is just too easy), but two things:

--it seems natural to run a tutorial, prologue or even time-limited demo that way

--I suppose one way to work around OP potions without cooldown is to make them quite limited in the game. though, it sounds like you did accumulate a serious stack of them?

 

[Glitchny]

I assume someone with the full game and further along will eventually comment on this (though I've since read other reviews were people claim it is just too easy), but two things:

--it seems natural to run a tutorial, prologue or even time-limited demo that way

--I suppose one way to work around OP potions without cooldown is to make them quite limited in the game. though, it sounds like you did accumulate a serious stack of them?

You get a decent amount of potions early on, but I don't have stacks of them currently, I had to buy a damn Greater Healing pot for a quest and i almost had to grind gold to buy it, tapped me out.

 

[Anubis]

really i have like 60k gold

 

[Glitchny]

really i have like 60k gold

well i haven't started crafting yet.

Also when you die, you reload to your last save point.

 

[Anubis]

I had this issue only when I had AA and AF forced in my driver (CCC for me). As soon as I disabled it everything was back to normal.

ahh thanks that fixed it.


also this game wins for the fact that it has a Battle Mage fate card

iv wanted to be a battle mage ever since live strath in wow.

 

[SLU Aequitas]

<snip>

I never said you can't die, I said you are basically invulnerable because when you do die, two options pop up on the screen, one of which is "ressurect", which just brings you back to full hp right where you are without penalty and without causing mobs you were fighting to reset. Is this "ressurect" option removed from the full game and only in the demo?

Also, that was only part of the problem. Zero potion cool-down, with potions restoring you to full health? How can any fight be challenging when you can restore you health at will as long as you have a bag full of potions?

Yeah, they removed that from the game, just reload from last save (at least on normal). Design choice or maybe just for the demo, dunno. Glad it was removed.

As for potions, even as a pure mage character (from stats on warrior gear that occasionally drops, they generally have more +hp) the basic potions no longer give me full health since like level 6 or so. Also, while they're definitely spammy, I can get to points where I'm taking so much dps that in order to have a chance, ya kind of need them.

Also, just finished the fae guild questline and got my second "twist of fate" card...gives characters static bonuses (similar to finding all the lore stones in an area).

really i have like 60k gold

Yeah, almost at 200k, but that might be because of my "buying gear from shops is for chumps" mentality. Only thing I ever buy is lockpicks

EDIT: Also, just started investing in crafting and you can make some very powerful stuff, not even at mastercrafted level. I've already got max sagecraft so gems + gear...yeah...

ahh thanks that fixed it.


also this game wins for the fact that it has a Battle Mage fate card

iv wanted to be a battle mage ever since live strath in wow.

Definitely digging the cards...going pure mage first time around with chakrams and it's quite fun.

First bad thing though: Only 4 abilities can be mapped with the 360 controller...I just got my fifth separate spell...yeah, sucks. Not a happy camper right now since all the spells work very well...

 

[cytoSiN]

First bad thing though: Only 4 abilities can be mapped with the 360 controller...I just got my fifth separate spell...yeah, sucks. Not a happy camper right now since all the spells work very well...

This is what I was saying earlier about the kb/m being better suited to a game like this. There's no way to scroll through more than 4 abilities in fast-paced combat on a controller. You almost NEED 1-0 at your fingertips if you want to use everything you've got available to you.

 

[SLU Aequitas]

This is what I was saying earlier about the kb/m being better suited to a game like this. There's no way to scroll through more than 4 abilities in fast-paced combat. You almost NEED 1-0 at your fingertips if you want to use everything you've got available to you.

Glad I'm on my comp Just switched back to kb/m (which is what I did in the demo).

Too bad though, it could easily be mapped to have 8 ability slots, but the control scheme was limited due to 360 memory limitations...oh well.

 

[Mem]

Installing game now ,however had to contact Play.com about my pre-order bonus ie Pre-Order Bonus The Destinies Choice Pack Download "The Destinies Choice Pack includes a unique Twist of Fate card, plus the Compass of Fate and 3 armour sets: Melee, Finesse and Sorcery" ,since did not receive the bonus code.


I let you guys know what I think of the retail version (with no spoilers) later.

 

[Rhezuss]

Played more last evening and did lots of quests. So far they're all very cool and fun to do.

I love the more linear style of this game and think it's well done. Lots of territories, interconnected with passages and roads, to explore and you can explore them the way you want.

I'm having a blast with this game, it's really a little gem. I'm glad I paid 60$ to encourage this studio, they did a really good job.

 

[thespyder]

This is what I was saying earlier about the kb/m being better suited to a game like this. There's no way to scroll through more than 4 abilities in fast-paced combat on a controller. You almost NEED 1-0 at your fingertips if you want to use everything you've got available to you.

So I get what you are saying. For me, when I played Kb&M it just seemed clunky and awkward. I couldn't jump around and dodge the way I needed to. I imediately forgot how to block with a shield as it wasn't intuitive at all. running was a total chore having to push two buttons at the same time while rotating the mouse to look/change directions. And weapons switching involves pressing a button to switch weapons and then attacking. Just really REALLY clunky (to me).

Ten seconds after plugging in my Xbox controller I was totally loving the movement/control scheme. I was jumping around like a pop-star on crack and i was switching between weapons at will as it was literally using a different button (no switch and then attack). Blocking was a single button and one that made sense. And even accessing potions was easy and intuitive.

Not saying that controller is the best for everyone. Just that it seems to be the best for me.

 

[Anubis]

yea for the first game out of a new(ish) studio its a great fing start for them

Yeah, almost at 200k, but that might be because of my "buying gear from shops is for chumps" mentality. Only thing I ever buy is lockpicks

same here, im still using the gear you got from playing the demo. got new weps but thats it, i just sell everything that looks like crap (most of it at this point as that demo gear is pretty OP) buy lockpicks and repair,

 

[JamesV]

Just bought KoAR on a whim, and so far I'm loving it alot more then Skyrim.

While the combat isn't quite as good as Batman (Arkham Asylum/City), it does come close to one of those tight control scheme brawlers. I think this is what they were going for in Dragon Age 2 (but failed). Really quite refreshing to have a solid combat mechanic in a RPG.

Everything else also seems to be a notch above the competition also - crafting ease of use (and you have seperate crafting bag in your inventory - no mass deleting to make room for regular gear), skills (well set up, easy to understand trees), and so on. The best part has to be the loot though.... there is a ton of it, and you are constantly finding upgrades. Much better then the Skyrim system, where I literally passed 90% of containers, because I knew it would be gold, a lockpick, and maybe some gems or crap equipment I didn't need.