While I did finish Skyrim (I've got 110+ hours in it), I found KoA to be a heck of a lot of fun and just a pleasure to finish. The graphics are fine (not great, not bad) and the sound is forgettable. The RPG elements though work real well. Like most modern RPGs you aren't exactly locked into a class and you can even reset all your character decisions during the game. While game play is pretty much divided between stealth (finesse), fighting (might) and magic (sorcery), you can create many different combinations of these to fit your particular style. (I chose might/sorcery.)
One thing the game does very well is providing you with a sense of continuous improvement. I'm not talking about just advancing levels but an overall sense of growth into a kick-ass adventurer. Even though I've finished the main game, I'm planning on getting the DLC just as an excuse so I can see how far my character can progress.
Anyway - if you are looking for a fun RPG and are a bit worried about a Skyrim-level commitment, consider picking up KoA.
p.s. It has been a while since I posted a review. Sorry - going to try to get back into the habit.
Archived Comments
Question: Did you chose Might/Sorcery over Finesse because the gameplay was more fitting with that style? I've found in Skyrim that playing a near-silent Bow Weilding Super Assassin is the way to go. Avoiding all direct fighting etc.
Thoughts?
I think I chose that style because it worked so well in Skyrim. I use magic to soften them up and for small heals, and then just swing like crazy.
One thing I didn't like is that you could only have 4 abilities mapped at once. At the level I'm at now I've got a few abilities I can't use just because you are limited to 4 slots.
I'm with you Ray, Kingdoms of Amalur is one of my new favorite things. The Legend of Dead Kel, downloadable content, was probably the most fun I've had in an RPG in the last decade.
The developers didn't stop developing at the end of the story arch either. They have a ton of post-victory quests that kept me coming back for more.
As for play style, I really like the dodge aspect of combat. I started off with martial and ended up going all finesse. The sneak attack/back-stab slow-motion movies are so much fun.
David - good point on the combat. I didn't talk that up enough. I like how - even though I'm an incredible bad ass - I can still be overwhelmed. It's both frustrating and cool at the same time. I'll have some creature quickly attack, knock me back, and make me mad as hell. :)