38 Studios is Working on a Game, Apparently, Afterall (Kingdoms of Amular)

[Margalis]

To the people who said this felt like a single player MMO - I think the original plan was that this *was* going to be an MMO, but they changed their minds at some point.  At least I'm pretty sure I read that.

38 Studios was starting work on an MMO. At the same time Big Huge Games was working on an action-adventure game. BHG was about to go out of business, 38 Studios bought Big Huge Games from THQ and turned their action-adventure game into something based on the Amalur IP. 38 Studios in Rhode Island is still working on the MMO.

The original plan for this game was always that it was going to be a single player action-adventure game.

[Lucas]

The main storyline doesn't just place your character in the position of simply badass "chosen one" like a Revan type. But more like some existential oddity..an exception to the laws of the universe type. They're not even supposed to exist - their very nature is not what the gods even chart out for people. At least one main character says that.

That isn't to say I don't think the IP can't have an MMO. Just that I would think it'd be in some different setting/storyline.

Take a look at this link:

http://www.amalur.com/history/age-of-arcana/i

The single-player game takes place during the "Age of Arcana" era ("The Crystal War Begins", chapter VI): yep, in the middle of Amalur "world history", so to say. MMOG, from what I understand, will take place at the beginning of the "Age of Heroes".

[stray]

The main storyline doesn't just place your character in the position of simply badass "chosen one" like a Revan type. But more like some existential oddity..an exception to the laws of the universe type. They're not even supposed to exist - their very nature is not what the gods even chart out for people. At least one main character says that.

That isn't to say I don't think the IP can't have an MMO. Just that I would think it'd be in some different setting/storyline.

Take a look at this link:

http://www.amalur.com/history/age-of-arcana/i

The single-player game takes place during the "Age of Arcana" era ("The Crystal War Begins", chapter VI): yep, in the middle of Amalur "world history", so to say. MMOG, from what I understand, will take place at the beginning of the "Age of Heroes".

Ah, that makes sense.

Still haven't gotten too far, but I wonder if this game ends with the player character unlocking the power of the Well of Souls for everyone. This would make sense for an age of MMO like heroes

[stray]

One other thing I'll praise about this game is that it's really huge. It's got the TES aesthetic. I think there might be more content than Skyrim, but more equal to Oblivion or something. You can veer off the path and get lost. Except it's got directed narrative like a Bioware game too, if you like that. It's a nice balance.

[Sophismata]

Not sure if the guy is playing on low details but man, this looks just comically awful. And considering the supposed 'writing talent' they had... Hahahah.
[screenshot]

That's a low blow, that particular character is supposed to have strange facial expressions and a simple mode of speech, because he's a wolf who was shapeshifted into a human.

Overall, the writing is pretty good and the character models look fine. Lipsynch is off, but it doesn't bother me as much as the rough combat (still a fun game, though, but they seem to be shooting for the GoW/Bayonetta style combat but don't have the timing quite down). For example, there's no animation blending and combat as a result does not feel as fluid as it could.

[stray]

Yeah, I just noticed people complaining about that. He's a dog who's been transformed into a human.

I still disagree with above the about character models though. They look stupid.

Obviously, you're playing a female though. They look cool. ;)

There are many things wrong with the male templates, depending on what your character concept is. Most of them are geared towards the retarded white kid space marine crowd. It's either that or replicating J Jonah Jameson. Yeah, just what I want in a fantasy setting.

Even the fucking elves have 5 o clock shadows, for godsakes. edit: And no, you can't entirely get rid of the stubble. At least not on the 360. It looks even worse if you do.. like the whole bottom of the face is shaded still. Except, no stubble. Looks like a disease or something.

[Xilren's Twin]

My boys and I have been playing and despite my misgivings from the demo, it's fun, and there is a lot in here both content wise and game system wise.
Im about level 7 and in my last session had 2 quest that visually raised the bar.  One had neat architecture and ambiance with an undead summoning mage, the other full of traps with mages summoning demonic/chaotic enemies including a large sized boss.  They looked more like what i was expecting from a fantasy rpg, but they just start you off with the much less impressive stuff.  The action combat is fun with some of the higher level skills (my current favorite is the rune explosion in the sorc line; my son's is Quake in might). Plus, its a lootapalooza.  I've got socketed, blue, purple and set stuff coming out my ears.  My biggest gripe is running low on inventory space constantly and having to junk crap in the wild.  I know you can get housing and a stash, i just need that stat.  Some nice little touches in here like the one time lockpicks that auto open anything, the dectect hidden skill not only revealing hidden chest (which are freaking everywhere) but giving you bonus gold and revealing traps/disarm, and the potion to improve your influence with the opposite sex. :)

Inventory UI is still crap, and some of the resolutions dont seem to work quite right, and I hate all the elves, but so far i definately feel like im getting my money's worth.
It kinda feels like Titan Quest/Diablo combined with a more actiony combat with the blocks, dodges and combo moves in an Oblivion sized world.
Oh yeah, and im finding myself missing a fully voiced protagonist.  ME/DA/SWOTOR have spoiled that for me.

[stray]

I think I agree with everything written in the IGN review (please, don't shoot). The combat is better than most games, the world is cool... but the characters are badly designed. Fortunately for 38 Studios, a lot of people don't care about the latter. At least it seems like I'm in the minority. I'm practically OCD compared to many gamers when it comes to design. Speaking of which, here's another thing. Who designed the haircuts? Where's the fucking Aragorn look? The humans here look like they belong in an episode of Mad Men. I bet they hired Todd Mcfarlane with the original intent of making a Marvel MMO, and just recycled his work into a fantasy setting. "Hey Todd, can we use that stuff you did a couple of months back for that project we scratched? Cool?"

[Tannhauser]

I've got six hours in and I'm having fun.  I don't play fighting games, but I'm enjoying the combat here a lot.  It feels satisfying to pull off a sweet combo, or get my shield up just in time and then slice below it.  Crafting doesn't seem too involved, but it's fun to combine reagents to discover new potions. 

Complaints-wise there is a fair amount of replication in magic item drops, the UI and camera need work and graphical glitches occasionally.

It's a Diablo/Fable hybrid and I'm still in the honeymoon phase, but so far it has a really good gameplay feel.  I wonder how I'll feel after 100 hours though.

[jakonovski]

I took the plunge because I'm a dumbass. 15 gig download, holy poop!

[Typhon]

Another in the "am having fun" camp, but that isn't surprising because I place combat above story.  That said, after you get past the first couple of levels, their are some interesting quest lines.  It's a good game.

[Venkman]

Dammit. You're all supposed to hate it until after ME3 runs its course and we hit the summer bargain bins! I don't have time to give this another shot yet!

 

[Pennilenko]

I picked this. Up for the ps3 and I am enjoying it a bunch. 17 hours in and I've done like only three main story quests. Everything else has been discovery roaming around with side quests. There is a ton of content.

[jakonovski]

Oh boy, nine hours in and I'm hooked. Everybody said the game is too easy so I started on hard, and I need to be on my toes all the time or I get squashed. In fact I just got my skull caved in by an angry Ettin Shaman. Why are you resisting my lightning!?

Can't say much about the story yet, but it's refreshing to see that they don't immediately hit you on the head with "HURRY SAVE THE WORLD THERE IS NO TIME TO LOSE". Probably later, but not yet.

[Hawkbit]

Lots more spell resists on Hard than Normal.  It actually makes it kinda unfun playing on Hard, because it seems like 50% of the time I'm wasting mana. 

Add me to the 'having fun' list.  It isn't GOTY, but it is a lot of fun if not taken too seriously. 

[Sophismata]

Obviously, you're playing a female though. They look cool. ;)

Caught me :D. But in general I worry about animation more than the models themselves. Thus the lip-synch bothers me more than the actual face.

[Job601]

Bought this on the strength of the glowing review in the New York Times and I'm really enjoying it. It kind of reminds me of Divinity II in tone and gameplay style, except better in every single possible way.

[schild]

The New York Times?

What?

[stray]

The New York Times?

What?

Well, to offset that, I ran across a scathing review in "Entertainment Weekly".

[schild]

[stray]

Games are popular now.

I read that in US magazine.

[Job601]

Seth Schiesel is a great writer and I usually nod my head at his opinions, although he usually only reviews games he likes.

[shiznitz]

Here is the review link:

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/02/11/arts/video-games/kingdoms-of-amalur-reckoning-from-38-studios.html?_r=1&ref=sethschiesel

Clearly written by an enthusiast who is not the usual gaming journalist.  Or maybe he is but just doesn't write like one.

[Ginaz]

This sounds promising so far, and I'll probably pick it up at some point after I'm "finished" with Skyrim.  Hopefully by then it might go on sale (Steam summer sale maybe).  Everyone seems to agree that the combat is its strong point, which is good since the combat is by far the weakest part of Skyrim.  I get my rpg, open world fix with Skyrim and my kill shit good fix with Amular.

[Pennilenko]

After playing this game on the console. I am super glad I chose to buy it for a console, I cant see how it would be even remotely friendly with a KB and mouse.

[stray]

This sounds promising so far, and I'll probably pick it up at some point after I'm "finished" with Skyrim.  Hopefully by then it might go on sale (Steam summer sale maybe).  Everyone seems to agree that the combat is its strong point, which is good since the combat is by far the weakest part of Skyrim.  I get my rpg, open world fix with Skyrim and my kill shit good fix with Amular.

Actually, I would say this is almost as much an open world as Skyrim. The lead developer was the lead for Oblivion. It's more directed though. Not sure what to compare it to. Not quite as restrictive as Fable, but not TES either. It also doesn't have the emergent sort of quirks of a true open world. A lot more is scripted.

Anything "game-y" though is better than Skyrim. Not just combat, but some of the minor activities, like lockpicking breaking magic wards. Like they've kept some elements in that Skyrim dumbed down.

[koro]

Actually, I would say this is almost as much an open world as Skyrim. The lead developer was the lead for Oblivion. It's more directed though. Not sure what to compare it to. Not quite as restrictive as Fable, but not TES either. It also doesn't have the emergent sort of quirks of a true open world. A lot more is scripted.

Gothic?

[ffc]

Too much praise, too many comparisons to good games, not enough hate, Origin here I come.

If the story sucks I'm punching this thread.

[Ingmar]

There's a demo. Try it. I thought it was execrable as far as I played it (which was admittedly not far.)

The "is it more like Fable, Gothic, or Oblivion?" conversation is leading me to believe I am making the right choice in not giving the retail version a chance though, since I hated Fable, I was tremendously bored by Risen (which Sky tells me is like a good Gothic), and at best I tolerated Oblivion.

[Tannhauser]

You're fully entitled to avoid it, but it does a good job of taking good elements of other games and combining them.

"Borrowed" from other games...

Dragon Age-the dialogue system, though not as in depth.
Fable-the general feel of the starting land and the bloom.
Oblivion-a large, fairly coherent world with tons of side quests, exploration and collectibles.
Diablo-the loot system, armor sets and gem/socket system.
WoW-the fast combat and quests, some of which are quite decent.
some fighting game-the over the top, visceral combat combos.

etc.

[Venkman]

For "some fighting game", I'd put Witcher, though this game felt a bit more fluid/snappy.

However, and maybe I just didn't get far enough, I never got the Oblivion-esque large/exploration world feel. That too felt more like Witcher, or maybe DA:O, some freedom of movement through zones designed to funnel you. Mot the Skyrim/Oblivion/Morrowind sweeping huge world where you're as likely to run into content as not.

[stray]

Just try to wander a bit.. Don't pay attention to quests or anything. It's not Skyrim, but I don't see how you could mistake for DAO.

[Rokal]

After playing this game on the console. I am super glad I chose to buy it for a console, I cant see how it would be even remotely friendly with a KB and mouse.

The PC version, like most PC games that also appear on consoles these days, fully supports gamepads though. A wireless USB dongle that lets me use a regular wireless 360 controller for PC games has been one of my best gaming investments over the last 4-5 years.

[ezrast]

Too much praise, too many comparisons to good games, not enough hate, Origin here I come.

If the story sucks I'm punching this thread.

I don't think any of the praise in this thread regards the story.

[Rendakor]

I've done almost none of the main quest so far because it isn't really interesting. But I've joined a handful of guilds and killed a ton of shit.