Ladies and gentlemen, I give you the Second Coming. Much like the main character of the game, Kingdoms of Amalur: Re-Reckoning is a revival of something gone to the past. As one of the best RPG’s of the last generation, Re-Reckoning is a nostalgic hit for the elders and an exciting adventure for the next generation and is now out for Nintendo Switch. Get ready to see where it all started, and be prepared to be busy for hours on end with this open-world RPG.

Kingdoms of Amalur: Re-Reckoning is an action-based RPG that has been “remastered” for today’s consoles. Ironically, the original Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning was meant to be an MMORPG, however, with the closure and mergers of its early developers, ended up being scaled down to a single-player RPG. The plan to make it an MMORPG explains the depth of the game in a time when RPGs were just getting back into the swing of popularity, and makes its eventual release almost Phoenix-like in its rise for the ashes. One could say the Re-Reckoning is almost the third life for this old-school legend.

Reimagined for the modern console by the creative geniuses at KAIKO Games, and published by THQ Nordic, Kingdoms of Amalur: Re-Reckoning is a great way for new gamers to try out one of the original games in next level RPGs. Unfortunately for Re-Reckoning, it didn’t get the hype it should have. With all the issues around the original release, the delay caused its launch to be slightly after the more notable Skyrim, and against the larger and more polished gameplay, Kingdoms of Amalur just didn’t get the recognition nor following that it probably deserved.

Playing as a revived warrior, previously slain in battle, you come back to life as “The Fateless One” to change the world and end this age-old war. Following classic RPG style, you pick your race, your traits, and fully customise your character- obviously, we all know this is what takes up the first 2-3 hours of gameplay. We then get our adventure underway to learn how we were brought back, why we were brought back, and what our mission now is.

Probably my favourite thing about this game is just the sheer size of it. Its open-world style gives you plenty to do in terms of quests and side-quests, and it’s a great game if you’re looking for something new to immerse yourself in. Prepare yourself for easily over 100+ hours of gameplay!!

Unfortunately, as exciting and broad as this game can be, it’s nothing new for Kingdoms of Amalur. If you’ve already played through the game previously, Re-Reckoning doesn’t offer much in the way of a new adventure. It’s mostly just the original game re-labelled for today’s consoles and the next generation of gamers. Great for people that are looking for something different, but sadly not worth getting if you’ve played through it all before.

Immediately when you start playing you “feel” how old the game is as you find character control far less specific than what we are used to today. You are “reborn” amidst a pile of dead and then run through a cave learning your way, and the movement just feels… loose. The combat controls are pretty RPG standard, with battles being almost too easy, and the AI clearly doesn’t have much in the way of “threat”. However, this is again just the game showing its age, and while it may not be a challenge, it’s still a lot of fun.

As mentioned the original game was released AFTER Skyrim, and unfortunately, the graphics just aren’t polished enough to compete. The release of Kingdoms of Amalur: Re-Reckoning excited many for newer graphics, but unfortunately, it was obviously more about the playability on new consoles and less about improving the game. Re-Reckonings graphics, whilst nostalgic, just weren’t up to par with what we expect of a game released in 2020.

For a game that was not overly improved from its original, I was shocked by how much I still enjoyed the nostalgic hit of the older RPG. Standing alongside games such as The Elder Scrolls and Fallout, Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning still went toe-to-toe with the best, and Re-Reckoning is a great way for the next generation of gamers to enjoy this storyline and the open-world adventures of the Kingdoms of Amalur. I would highly recommend it for those missing the simpler RPG days, or looking for a solid game to sink plenty of time into.

Written by: HadesTheHobo