Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning’s announcement today was a nice surprise for me. I haven’t been following this single-player RPG of theirs at all, aside from the fact that they sold out to EA with the project. I can’t remember whether or not they actually said this one would be a Fantasy title. I know that the project codenamed Copernicus will be Fantasy themed though and I guess I always assumed the single-player game would be as well.
Fantasy sits very well with me. I like the Fantasy theme over Sci-Fi, Post Apoc, Steampunk, — I like it over all of them. What I like the most is that they’re going with a High Fantasy and not simply a ‘lets make it medieval with swords’ style. I’m also really into the idea of this being a new property that will be known by a name. If you say “Warhammer” or “Star Wars” then you immediately know the universe and the style. If you say “Darkfall” there’s really no story or expected theme that goes along with it.
I’m expecting Amalur to have a solid story, solid characters, and overall to be a memorable IP.
With Morrowind and Oblivion’s designer Ken Rolston heading it up, I’m really hoping that based on the following quote that we’ll have the next evolution in RPGs that aren’t done in the Bioware style. Oblivion was a good game but the control and experience was a little ‘removed’ for me and hopefully this specific direction will focus the talent at work.
“In Reckoning, we started with Bob and Todd’s exceptional Kingdoms of Amalur game setting and imagery,” said Ken Rolston, Lead Designer at Big Huge Games, a subsidiary of 38 Studios. “On that foundation we built the open-world exploration, vast narrative and character customization fans expect from the best RPGs. And we’ve added something new that we’ve always wanted from the genre — a fast-paced, graphically stimulating action combat experience with fluid control and immersive, discoverable gameplay fans haven’t seen before in other fantasy RPGs.” [Source]
Am I making things up by saying that I remember reading somewhere that the RPG and MMO would be somehow related? If so, a High fantasy MMO with a new original and memorable IP with solid characters and story is exactly what we need.
There are plenty of Fantasy haters out there who will say that the market is over-saturated with Fantasy titles, but I don’t agree at all. If anything we’ve seen games being released all over the spectrum and the Sci-Fi or Modern genres have been flourishing as much or more than Fantasy. Bring on the Fantasy.
Expect my thoughts on Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning more this week when the trailer is released on the 22.
Yes the RPG and MMORPG will be related in that they are supposed to be based in the same world, like Ultima and Ultima Online were.
“…a fast-paced, graphically stimulating action combat experience…”
I wonder if this means Darkfall-esque combat or Dungeon Siege style?
from what I’ve read, and I’ve been trying to keep up on it, is that reckoning, this single player rpg, is going to be a great big open world rpg experience like oblivion, with a third person god of war-esque combat system.
and yes, the world we’ll be exploring in reckoning is definitely the same world that copernicus, the mmorpg, will be set in. However, the single player rpg is set, I believe, about 8000 years prior to the mmorpg.
God of War style combat… ooo that could be really awesome in a big open world. I’m sold on it now.
I think this is a perfect way to introduce a MMO world as well. Bioware is sorta doing it with SWTOR.
Here’s a really good interview with the Big 4 design team at 38 Studios, Curt, Ken, Todd and R.A.
http://content.usatoday.com/communities/gamehunters/post/2010/07/curt-schilling-and-38-studios-comic-con-news/1
Looking forward to seeing what these guys have come up with. Love Salvatore. Love The Elder Scrolls.
It’s not fair to say they sold out, it’s not like they did it out of greed. They had financial troubles and got help, which is what happens with overly ambitious studios. Just look at CME’s alternative.