Info about Kingdoms of Amalur: Re-Reckoning:

Official game description:
FATE Edition
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The FATE Edition contains the Re-Reckoning Main-Game, the Official Soundtrack and the content Addon Fatesworn that extends the game of 5+ hours. The Official Soundtrack features 35 high quality tracks for a total of 70 minutes of music.
About the Game
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The hit RPG returns! From the minds of the bestselling author R.A. Salvatore, Spawn creator Todd McFarlane, and Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion lead designer Ken Rolston, comes Kingdoms of Amalur: Re-Reckoning. Remastered with stunning visuals and refined gameplay Re-Reckoning delivers intense, customizable RPG combat inside a sprawling game world.  
Uncover the secrets of Amalur, from the vibrant city of Rathir to the vast region of Dalentarth to the grim dungeons of the Brigand Hall Caverns. Rescue a world torn apart by a vicious war and control the keys to immortality as the first warrior ever to be resurrected from the grips of death.  
*   Build the ideal character for the most intense combat, choosing from a countless combinations of skills, abilities, weapons and pieces of armor.  
*   The revolutionary Destiny system allows you to continuously evolve your character class to your style of play.  
*   Seamlessly integrate magical and melee attacks as you take on scores of enemies in grand fight sequences and finish them off with brutal Fateshift kills.  
*   Extend your experience in Amalur with all DLC from the original release, from Teeth of Naros to Legend of Dead Kel and more!  
*   Hundreds of hours of RPG play await! Travel from the vibrant city of Rathir, to the vast region of Dalentarth, and the grim dungeons of the Brigand Hall Caverns as you uncover the secrets of Amalur!  
*   Explore deep levels of lore in a universe steeped in 10,000 years of fiction created by New York Times bestselling author R.A. Salvatore.  
*   Rescue a world torn apart by a vicious war and control the keys to immortality as the first warrior ever to be resurrected from the grips of death.  
*   Explore a sprawling game world hailed as having "more content than any single-player game deserves!"  
*   Enjoy countless side quests rich in political intrigue, romance, sinister magic, and even whimsy - all central to the primary mission.  
*   Improved graphical fidelity in Re-Reckoning.

Release date: Sep 8, 2020

Categories: Action RPG, Open-World Exploration, Character Progression, Character Customization, Loot-Driven Combat System, Crafting, Non-linear Narrative, Fantasy-themed Shooter


- Hardware Profile: No data
Feature extractions:
- Community Price: No data
- Playtime Metrics: No data
- Time-to-fun: No data
- Player Archetypes: No data


Below are summaries of things people say about the game per category.
Each point is assigned a weight that represents how often it is mentioned across all reviews.
What players like:
- Exceptional combat system with depth (weight 1): The game features a highly praised combat system that is fast-paced, fluid, and responsive. It offers a wide variety of weapons, spells, and combat styles, allowing for deep customization and tactical flexibility. Players highlight the satisfying feedback, combos, and balance between melee, magic, and ranged options.
- Vast open-world with abundant content (weight 0.67): The game offers a massive open world filled with side quests, secrets, and collectibles. Players praise the variety and quality of side quests, which encourage exploration and replayability. The world is designed to keep players engaged for dozens of hours with diverse activities.
- Rich and immersive world lore (weight 0.52): The game is lauded for its deep and engaging lore, world-building, and storytelling. The main storyline and side quests are well-written, with meaningful narratives and a richly detailed world. Players appreciate the immersive atmosphere and the abundance of lore-driven content.
- Overall enjoyable and polished experience (weight 0.35): Despite minor shortcomings, the game is widely regarded as a polished and enjoyable experience. Players highlight its replayability, engaging gameplay, and value for money, making it a recommended title for both casual and dedicated RPG fans.
- Engaging and humorous storytelling (weight 0.34): The game’s narrative is noted for its humor, charm, and engaging characters. Dialogue and quests often include witty writing and moral dilemmas, making even fetch quests enjoyable. The storytelling is a key factor in the game’s replayability and appeal.
- Nostalgic yet modern gameplay appeal (weight 0.31): The game successfully blends nostalgic elements from classic RPGs (e.g., Xbox 360 era, Fable) with modern touches. Players appreciate the old-school feel while noting that the gameplay holds up well compared to contemporary titles, offering a unique and enjoyable experience.
- Charming and timeless art style (weight 0.29): The game’s art style is described as vibrant, cartoonish, and visually appealing. Players appreciate the contrast between the colorful aesthetics and the game’s tone, as well as the timeless design that holds up well over time. The art direction is often compared favorably to classics like Fable.
- High-quality voice acting and soundtrack (weight 0.19): The game features impressive voice acting with a large amount of voiced dialogue, enhancing immersion. The soundtrack is praised for its emotional depth and adaptability to the game’s universe, with many players enjoying it as a standalone experience.

Common complaints:
- Repetitive and generic quest design (weight 0.57): The majority of quests are criticized for being repetitive, uninspired, and mechanically boring, often involving fetch or kill tasks. Players note that side quests lack depth, emotional engagement, and meaningful rewards, leading to a forgettable experience. The structure forces faction quests for leveling, disrupting main story progression and reducing replay value.
- Frequent crashes and technical instability (weight 0.44): The game suffers from frequent crashes, particularly during save reloads, DLC regions, or after extended play sessions. Save corruption, soft-locks, and quest-breaking bugs are common, with some issues preventing progression entirely. The instability is exacerbated by unreliable auto-saves and unpatched bugs persisting across versions.
- Outdated and underwhelming graphics (weight 0.41): The game’s visuals are described as dated, even for a remaster, with minimal upgrades to textures, models, and interface. Players highlight that the graphics fail to meet modern standards, feeling bland or clunky, and that the remaster did not address core visual shortcomings. Minor visual bugs are also noted but are secondary to the overall dated presentation.
- Excessive length and filler content (weight 0.38): The game is criticized for being overly long, with 5 hours of content stretched to 100+ hours through repetitive side quests and backtracking. Players describe the experience as a time sink with little reward, leading to lassitude and frustration. The low maximum character level (40) further exacerbates the grind.
- Repetitive and monotonous gameplay (weight 0.33): The game’s formula becomes repetitive quickly, with players citing monotonous exploration, slow movement speed, and a lack of variety in objectives. The map and quests follow a predictable pattern, leading to burnout, especially for completionists. The repetitive nature extends to combat, music, and world design, reducing long-term engagement.
- Unengaging and generic story (weight 0.22): The story is described as banal, predictable, and lacking originality, with unmemorable characters and a standard 'chosen one' trope. Players find the narrative unengaging, poorly presented, and emotionally shallow, failing to stand out in the modern RPG landscape. The main quest is sparse, and side content further dilutes the experience.
- Underwhelming and buggy DLC content (weight 0.21): DLCs, particularly Fatesworn, are criticized for retconning main story elements, introducing repetitive dungeons, and feeling like fan-made mods. Players note bugs, incomplete content, and a lack of meaningful additions, such as new abilities or dialogue. The DLCs are seen as cash grabs, with some even delisting the original game’s content.

Gameplay feedback:
- Diverse combat systems and mechanics (weight 0.61): The game features a wide range of combat styles, including real-time action, turn-based elements, hack-and-slash, dodging, parrying, and hybrid mechanics. Players can engage in fast-paced or methodical combat with varied weapons, magic, and abilities, though some describe it as button-mashing or repetitive.
- Action RPG with open-world design (weight 0.46): The game is categorized as an action RPG with open-world exploration, blending ARPG mechanics with hack-and-slash combat. It includes MMO-like elements, medieval fantasy themes, and a mix of linear and non-linear storytelling across large maps with faction quests.
- Deep character progression and customization (weight 0.38): Character progression is classless, allowing for hybrid builds, flexible skill trees, and gear-based advancement. Players can experiment with three main archetypes (mage, warrior, ranger) and mix playstyles, with respec options and unique mechanics like the Fate system.
- Comprehensive crafting and loot systems (weight 0.31): Crafting includes blacksmithing, alchemy, enchantment, and gear modification, with systems resembling Skyrim. The loot system features inventory management, rare drops, dismantling, and set quests, alongside a salvaging mechanic for gear progression.
- Lore-heavy worldbuilding and storytelling (weight 0.27): The game emphasizes lore through dialogue, books, and deep backstory, creating a narrative-driven experience. Worldbuilding is immersive, with region-specific atmospheres and faction storylines contributing to the open-world design.
- Adjustable difficulty and strategic depth (weight 0.18): Difficulty settings range from normal to very hard, with scaling mechanics that affect combat and hit recovery. Harder modes require strategic positioning, build planning, and mastery of dodging/blocking, though some players note imbalance in overpowered builds.
- Movement and stealth mechanics (weight 0.1): Movement includes jogging, dashing, and stealth, with combat emphasizing dodging, parrying, and blocking. Mechanics cater to both beginners and skilled players, though balance issues in hit detection and animation canceling are noted.

Performance notes:
- Performance instability and frame drops (weight 0.21): Players report inconsistent performance, including frame rate drops below 60 FPS, lag spikes, and stuttering, even on capable hardware. Performance issues are particularly noticeable during area loading and in specific in-game regions, affecting overall smoothness.
- Game-breaking bugs and soft-locks (weight 0.2): Critical bugs, including save corruption, character freezing, and screen freezes, disrupt gameplay and may lock players out of quests. These issues often require reloading saves or rebooting the game, leading to lost progress and frustration.
- Hardware compatibility issues (weight 0.16): The game exhibits inconsistent performance across different hardware configurations, with crashes and performance drops reported on both high-end and older systems. Specific issues arise on platforms like the Steam Deck, where crashes occur despite otherwise smooth performance.
- Optimized performance on modest hardware (weight 0.13): Despite widespread performance issues, some players report smooth gameplay on modest hardware, including mid-range GPUs and processors. The game is not overly demanding, running well on configurations like an i7 processor with 32GB RAM and a 1660ti GPU.
- Remaster introduces new issues (weight 0.11): While the remaster improves performance in some areas, it also introduces new bugs and crashes. Many original bugs remain unaddressed, and no significant patches or fixes have been implemented in the re-release.
- Physics and visual bugs (weight 0.1): Various physics-related bugs, such as enemy corpses flying into the sky, and visual glitches, including camera clipping and voice sync issues, detract from immersion. Some bugs render quests uncompletable, further impacting gameplay.
- Unreliable save and autosave system (weight 0.09): The autosave and save functionalities are reported as unreliable, leading to lost progress and corrupted save files. Cloud save issues further exacerbate the problem, making it difficult for players to recover their progress.
- Achievement and quest bugs (weight 0.04): Certain achievements fail to trigger due to bugs, and some quests become uncompletable, preventing players from progressing or unlocking content. These issues are particularly frustrating for completionists.

Recommendations:
- Ideal for classic RPG enthusiasts (weight 0.36): The game is frequently recommended for fans of classic RPGs, open-world exploration, and deep storytelling. Comparisons to franchises like *The Elder Scrolls*, *Dragon Age*, and *Fable* highlight its appeal to players seeking a traditional RPG experience with modern refinements.
- Best purchased during sales (weight 0.28): Players consistently advise buying the game on sale due to its value proposition at lower prices. Nostalgic appeal and post-launch improvements (e.g., bug fixes) further justify this recommendation for budget-conscious gamers.
- Appeals to lore-focused players (weight 0.17): The game’s world-building, storytelling, and lore are praised as standout features, particularly for players who prioritize narrative depth over combat or mechanical complexity. Casual players seeking a less story-heavy experience may also find it suitable.
- Harder difficulties recommended (weight 0.07): Players suggest engaging with the game on higher difficulty settings to enhance challenge and combat depth. Feedback indicates that standard difficulty may lack sufficient resistance or strategic demand.
- Replayability through playstyles (weight 0.07): The game’s support for dynamic class changes and impactful story choices is praised for encouraging multiple playthroughs. This feature appeals to players seeking variety and experimentation.
- Bugs and stability issues persist (weight 0.06): Technical problems, including crashes and saving issues, are cited as barriers to recommendation. Players advise frequent saving and caution against purchasing until stability improves.
- Main quests prioritized over side content (weight 0.05): Side quests are often dismissed as shallow or repetitive, with players recommending a focus on main and faction quests for a more rewarding experience. Calls for deeper side quest design are noted.
- Fetch/kill quests need improvement (weight 0.04): Repetitive fetch and kill quests are criticized for cluttering the experience. Players suggest reducing their volume or visually distinguishing them to improve quest variety and player engagement.
- Steam version preferred (weight 0.03): The Steam version is recommended for its stability and official support, while alternative versions with fan translations are suggested for niche audiences seeking specific experiences.

Other player notes:
- MMORPG origins influence design (weight 0.07): The game was initially planned as an MMORPG or part of an MMO series, which explains certain design choices and mechanics. This legacy may impact its structure and gameplay compared to traditional single-player RPGs.
- Strong nostalgic appeal for fans (weight 0.05): Players who experienced the original console version express strong nostalgia, citing long playtimes and satisfaction with the remaster. This emotional connection enhances its value for returning fans.
- Lengthy completion with guides needed (weight 0.05): Achieving 100% completion requires approximately 92 hours, with guides recommended to avoid bugs and streamline progress. The platinum achievement is noted as a significant milestone.
- Autosave system disrupts item consistency (weight 0.04): The autosave feature re-rolls items in chests when entering new areas, potentially resetting loot and causing frustration. Manual saves are advised to preserve progress and item states.
- Overshadowed by launch controversies (weight 0.04): The game's release was marred by financial controversies, including poor DLC handling and publisher mismanagement. These issues impacted initial reception and player trust.
- Notable lore contributions (weight 0.04): The game's lore was created by R.A. Salvatore, a renowned fantasy author, adding depth and credibility to its narrative. Original writer Andrew Auseon also contributed to its story.
- Troubled development history (weight 0.02): The game underwent a troubled development cycle, including shifts in design direction and delays. These challenges may have influenced its final quality and reception.
- Remaster of Xbox 360 era game (weight 0.02): The game is a remaster of an older title from the Xbox 360 era, modernizing its presentation while retaining core gameplay. This appeals to both new and returning players.
- Defensive developer response to criticism (weight 0.02): The development team responded defensively to player feedback, which may have exacerbated tensions. This reaction contrasts with constructive community engagement practices.
- Released near Skyrim's launch (weight 0.02): The game launched a few months after *The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim*, which may have impacted its visibility and sales. This timing contributed to its competitive challenges.
- Value-driven purchase satisfaction (weight 0.02): Players who bought the game on sale report high satisfaction with their investment. This suggests strong long-term value despite initial controversies.
- Mixed reception of original trailer (weight 0.02): The original CG trailer was poorly received, potentially setting negative expectations before launch. This highlights the importance of marketing in shaping initial impressions.

Emotions:
- Frustration (weight 0.22): Players experience frustration primarily due to severe technical issues, including frequent crashes, performance problems, and game-breaking bugs (e.g., character freezing, save corruption). Combat mechanics are also a major pain point, with complaints about unresponsive controls, poor camera behavior, repetitive combat design, and unbalanced difficulty scaling. Additionally, repetitive fetch quests, excessive inventory management, and lack of meaningful progression (e.g., enemies leveling with the player) contribute to the negative experience.
- Disappointment (weight 0.15): Disappointment stems from the game failing to meet expectations in multiple areas, including outdated graphics, repetitive gameplay, and shallow quest design. Players criticize the remaster for introducing new bugs while retaining old ones, as well as DLCs (e.g., Fatesworn) that feel poorly designed or uninspired. The lack of depth in storytelling, worldbuilding, and player agency, along with unfulfilled potential (e.g., the game’s origins as an MMO), further amplify this emotion. Some comments also reflect review bombing due to perceived corporate greed or political/cultural complaints.
- Satisfaction (weight 0.11): Players feel satisfaction due to the game’s engaging combat system, flexible character builds, and rewarding progression mechanics. The art style, replayability, and smooth performance on platforms like Steam Deck are frequently praised. Many appreciate the familiar yet improved experience from the original, citing enjoyable exploration, loot variety, and a well-crafted story. The freedom of choice and respec system also contribute to a positive experience.
- Nostalgia (weight 0.11): Nostalgia is driven by the game’s strong ties to classic RPGs, evoking memories of titles like *Fable*, *WoW*, and *Oblivion*. Players who experienced the original on platforms like Xbox 360 or PS3 describe the remaster as a ‘blast from the past,’ appreciating its old-school charm, low-poly aesthetics, and MMO-like questing. The game’s ability to recapture the magic of early 2000s RPGs, along with personal memories (e.g., playing with family), fuels this emotion.
- Enjoyment (weight 0.08): Enjoyment arises from the game’s fun and dynamic combat, intriguing story, and flexible playstyles. Players highlight the exploration, weapon variety, and satisfying progression systems (e.g., leveling, crafting). Despite flaws, many find the game entertaining due to its engaging NPC interactions, lore, and overall RPG mechanics. The ability to experiment with builds and the game’s casual, rewarding nature also contribute to this emotion.
- Excitement (weight 0.07): Excitement is sparked by the game’s phenomenal combat, open-world exploration, and fluid gameplay mechanics. Players compare the experience to discovering classics like *Gothic* or *Skyrim* for the first time, praising the engaging narrative, improved difficulty scaling, and graphical polish. The anticipation of future DLC or a sequel, along with the game’s deep lore and world design, further amplify this emotion.
- Amusement (weight 0.03): Amusement stems from the game’s quirky, lighthearted elements, such as goofy side quests, humorous comparisons to other games (e.g., *Dead Space*, *WoW*), and playful tone in dialogue or ASCII art. Players also find entertainment in the game’s bugs (e.g., ‘tanking bugs for fun’) or its unique relationship dynamics, which add a layer of charm and unpredictability.
- Appreciation (weight 0.03): Players express appreciation for the game’s rich lore, worldbuilding, and artistic design, often calling it one of the best RPGs ever made. The voice acting, soundtrack, and remaster improvements (e.g., included DLCs) are frequently praised. Many admire the game’s ability to evoke nostalgia while delivering a polished, content-rich experience that stands out among modern RPGs.
- Admiration (weight 0.02): Admiration is directed toward the game’s deep lore, high-fantasy aesthetic, and meticulous worldbuilding. Players praise the combat system, storytelling, and character development, often calling it a masterpiece despite its age. The remaster’s quality and the care put into preserving the original’s charm while modernizing it also earn high regard.
- Boredom (weight 0.02): Boredom arises from repetitive gameplay loops, including grindy quests, monotonous dungeons, and ungratifying side content. Players criticize the lack of progression incentives (e.g., fighting the same enemies) and filler content, such as long, tedious maps. The Fatesworn DLC is frequently cited as a source of this emotion due to its repetitive design.
- Anger (weight 0.01): Anger is triggered by severe technical issues, such as game crashes requiring computer reboots, save file corruption, and unaddressed bugs in the remaster. Players also express frustration with perceived developer negligence (e.g., Skald Atlas’s behavior, lost progress) and the emotional toll of encountering game-breaking problems that disrupt immersion.
- Enthusiasm (weight 0.01): Enthusiasm is fueled by the game’s high-quality gameplay, storytelling, and open-world design. Players praise the combat system, build variety, and endless side quests, often comparing it favorably to other RPGs. The excitement about the game’s potential and its ability to deliver a rich, engaging experience drives this emotion.
- Curiosity (weight 0.01): Curiosity is sparked by the game’s origins as an MMORPG, its lore (e.g., mysterious ancients), and the potential for alternative morality paths. Players wonder about the game’s development history, the fate of its creators, and whether they can explore all areas or uncover hidden content, adding a layer of intrigue.
- Love (weight 0.01): Love is expressed by players who have a deep, personal connection to the game, often citing nostalgia or the original’s impact on them. Many describe it as their favorite RPG, praising its unchanged elements and the joy of revisiting it. The game’s ability to evoke strong positive memories and emotions drives this sentiment.
- Anticipation (weight 0.01): Anticipation stems from the desire to explore more of the game’s content, such as romance options, new playstyles, or upcoming DLC. Players express excitement about spending dozens of hours completing everything or hoping the game maintains its quality throughout their playthrough.
- Hope (weight 0.01): Hope is tied to the desire for a sequel (*Kingdoms of Amalur 2*) or expanded mechanics in future installments. Players also hope to return to unfinished content (e.g., Fatesworn DLC) after a break, reflecting their investment in the game’s world and potential.
- Approval (weight 0.01): Approval is given to the game’s personalized, atmospheric world and its comparison to beloved RPGs like *Skyrim* or *Oblivion*. Players appreciate the design choices, DLCs, and the game’s ability to deliver a satisfying experience that aligns with their preferences.
- Joy (weight 0.01): Joy is derived from the game’s fun combat, engaging design, and its ability to bring happiness during difficult times. Players describe it as perfect for their tastes, praising its ability to deliver a lighthearted, enjoyable experience that resonates emotionally.
- Indifference (weight 0.01): Indifference reflects a lukewarm reception, with players describing the game as ‘aggressively average’ or not a priority compared to other titles. Mixed feelings about side quests or main characters contribute to this neutral stance, where the game is likable but not exceptional.
- Interest (weight 0): Interest is piqued by the game’s narrative, crafting system, and development background. Players find the story engaging and the mechanics intriguing, often leading them to explore the game’s world and lore more deeply.}