February 7, 2012 - Good - Reckoning stands as a triumph; it's a first-time RPG from a studio known for RTS games, and a new property from a new company. It's a bold and audacious game that impresses me enough to wonder what its follow-up will be like. And, to circle back, it reminds me of the first time I heard The College Dropout: I can trace its roots and identify what he's sampling from, but overall, it's a damn good first effort.

February 13, 2012 - Good - The brightly colored world of the Faelands is full of dangers and people who need your help, and there's an enormous amount of content taking you through quest hubs around the map. There's nothing groundbreaking about Reckoning, but fans of The Elder Scrolls will still find a lot to love.

February 7, 2012 - Good - This one's worth your time if you've got sixty bucks and several dozen hours to spare, but if you've still got an itch to play another action-RPG released in the last year or so, scratch that itch before you make the jump into Amalur.

February 15, 2012 - Good - Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning is a predominantly generic western RPG that doesn't take enough risks to fulfill its potential, despite excellent combat. A decent debut with plenty of promise for the future, however.

February 7, 2012 - Good - Question is, do you need another life-consuming world? Isn't Amalur's flighty fantasy fun enough to mark it out from the competition? We might question the need for a dip-in/dip-out epic, but we can't deny its effectiveness in hitting that goal. Reckoning is an epic for the man-on-the-go or, for those currently Skyrimmed, a gateway drug to real life.

February 7, 2012 - Good - For anyone who needs little more than a sword, a shield, and some monsters to annihilate, there are few games more committed to delivery. For those addicted to looting dungeons and crafting increasingly arcane magic gloves, there are few games more willing to serve the goods. For those who want an RPG free of pretense and utterly devoted to indulgence, Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning is your game.

February 7, 2012 - Good - This well-oiled machine keeps you motoring through all the sludgy fantasy cliche and through a sluggish first act. Then - just as the world opens out and the story picks up traction - that motor really starts to sing. That's when a solid, workmanlike game becomes one that's virtually impossible to put down.

February 7, 2012 - Good - Despite its problems, Reckoning is a good game with a lot of stuff worth checking out. But even with all of the talent backing it, it's just on the edge of being something much greater than it is. For a game that's all about breaking out of the confines of fate, it's a shame that so much of the content feels stuck within such narrow conventions.

February 9, 2012 - Good - Those growing weary of Skyrim can certainly look to Reckoning to provide another world in which to become wholly absorbed, and although not professing quite the sophistication or polish of Bethesda's juggernaut, there's plenty here to cause Hallmark to run out of "I'm Sorry, Please Forgive Me" Valentines cards this year.

February 7, 2012 - Good - You might want wonderful battles against cool creatures, terrific looting and leveling, and lots of ways to customize your skills and equipment. If so, then this is the world you should inhabit. The context is hardly inspired, but you'll be having so much fun that you may not care.

February 7, 2012 - Good - Amalur does a lot of things better than some of the best out there. The combat is stronger than Skyrim's by a long shot, and the world feels more alive than games like Fable. It tells a good story well, and lays the foundation for a series we hope to see more of in the future, fate be damned.

February 7, 2012 - Good - Reckoning is a big, meaty game that will thoroughly satisfy both RPG and action fans, and if you are a Skyrim player, then you should definitely make room for this too. You'll love it.

February 7, 2012 - Good - There's been no shortage lately of all-consuming RPGs that span dozens upon dozens of hours. If you've got room on your plate for one more, Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning is definitely worth a look.

February 7, 2012 - Good - There are plenty of really great things to see and do in Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning, and that stuff--the main quest line, the faction quests, and the interesting combat--makes the game fairly easy to recommend. But it's hard not to be at least a little disappointed when you start seeing the various spots where the game doesn't live up to the high bar set by its best content.

February 6, 2012 - Good - [Reckoning is] one of the best-designed but least original games we've ever played. If only the quests were more varied, this could have been a classic.

February 7, 2012 - Good - It's a great RPG - one that gives you an almost Bethesda level of freedom - and it has so much content that you could be playing the game for a couple of months. It's a fantastic first effort from 38 Studios, and it'd be a shame if we didn't get a return trip to Amalur.

February 7, 2012 - Good - Amalur could use a new set of clothes - its finer qualities are somewhat lost beneath the forgettable trappings, which is bad news for a game that hinges on exploration. It rivals Skyrim's scope, but as a genre piece, it lacks the other game's mystery - there's no craggy elusiveness, no glacial hinting at secrets beyond comprehension, to help you overlook the more familiar elements.

February 21, 2012 - Good - Reckoning as presented is a game that's drowning in its influences, but there's an enjoyable 20-25 hour action-RPG floating in there somewhere if you're only willing to fish for it. The trick is in ignoring the excesses crowding out the worthwhile adventure and, in doing so, exert the restraint that seemed to elude its creator.

February 17, 2012 - Good - Anyone who ventures in to the Kingdoms of Amalur will find a gigantic and compelling RPG experience. It's not quite ready to topple the big guns of the genre, but despite feeling "inspired" by every RPG or fantasy ever made it manages to offer a unique and entertaining alternative.

February 7, 2012 - Good - Reckoning surprised me with its energetic combat, rich story, and dazzling visual style. The weight of all its parts threatens to pull it down, but the rigid skeleton holds strong. Don't pass on Amalur just because it's a new IP from a new company. Fans of RPGs with a focus on action won't be disappointed.

February 7, 2012 - Good - As a first attempt at the RPG, 38 Studios has crafted a satisfactory adventure. Battle mechanics are entertaining and honing characters feels rewarding. It's too bad Reckoning doesn't dig deeper into other elements to make this a truly engrossing epic.

February 7, 2012 - Good - It's a workmanlike interpretation of what makes an RPG tick, placing a spotlight on all the right mechanics and features that most titles struggle to perfect. Regardless of the game's bland exterior, Reckoning is considerably well crafted.