I've been playing this game for the past few weeks & I have to say it is really good. Although there are 1 or two bugs in the game for the most part this game is very well put together. About my only complaint that I have is in regards to the blacksmithing skill. It allows you to make some really nice weapons & armour but dose'nt give you the option to make accessorys. Other than that though I have to say it is very addictive (at least for me) I would reconmend it to anyone who likes DKS/Oblivion/Skyrim hack & slash type RPG's.

Yeah, this game is very good & addictive !
My current 3 favorite rpg's at this moment are :
1) still DKS is my number one top of fun and enjoyment !
2) Amalur is very nice looking and addictive too and very funny combat, quests and dialogs !
3) Skyrim, but in some way the combat is 'boring' after a few playrounds ...

My only complain in Amalur is the lockpicking mini-game ... but I can invest in this skill so I can try "auto lockpick" with more % change of luck ...

I love how colorful this game is. I agree with your ranking for those 3 games, Joram.

I think I'll maybe pick this up in a future Steam sale.

well if EA's stock prices keep dropping those sales might end up happening soon.

Kingdoms of Amalur has a wonderful, four-colour feel to it, and the different fighting styles and flowing, fast-paced combat are very well done. I also like the freedom of choice, in that you can change your powers, skills and appearance anytime you like. (Whereas in Skyrim, on the 360, your physical appearance is locked, and can never be altered once chosen at character creation. This is a strange way of thinking for the game creators, in a game that puts such emphasis on roleplaying.)

Salvatore and the other writers have done a great job when gathering inspiration for the Amalur world from Celtic and Nordic mythology. It is interesting to notice the dfference between the immortal Fae - who seem to be based on the 'Sidhe', the Tuatha de Danann of Irish myth - and the mortal Alfar, who are more akin to "normal" fantasy elves. Now, if only I could learn to spot the difference between Ljosalfar and Dokkalfar when I meet them in the game...!

About the only thing that seriously bugs me in Amalur is that you can't jump. You are firmly locked to the ground, and can't cross even the smallest fence, or jump down even the slightest slope. The only places where you can jump are where there are specially designated "jump points", represented by cute little wooden platforms scattered around the wilderness. This feature, which Amalur has in common whith the extremely annoying Fable 2, is just plain silly. I would assume that the reasons for this is conveniency when programming the game, but it does damage the sense of freedom when exploring the world.

A marked contrast to DKS, where you can jump over buildings and city walls!

Yes, that you can't jumped made me groan meanwhile playing the demo as well. I just couldn't believe there was no jumping in it ! In such an action game !

38 Studios took taxpayer money, failed to provide their first payment to the state of Rhode Island, handed them a check at a later date, though the funds weren't there, thus the check would've bounced, so the government gave it back to 38 Studios, and now 38 Studios has failed to make payroll, in addition to Curt Schilling being taken off of the 'Visionaries' section of 38 Studio's website.

So they're f**cked?

Curt Schilling is still in the "visionaries" section of the website. I just checked.

TBH I haven't even tried Amalur and from what I've seen of it, it looks like a rather casual RPG with a rather generic and lackluster story. It appears to be rather dumbed down too and the emphasis is more on questing and loot.

http://www.joystiq.com/2012/05/17/38-studios-doesnt-make-payroll/

"Update 3: Curt Schilling has been removed from the "visionaries" page of the 38 Studios website. Text still recognizes him above, picture and bio removed. CEO Jennifer MacLean, who is reported to be on "maternity leave," has also been removed from the site.

Update 4: Schilling is back on "visionaries" page. As for other listed executives: now you see them, now you don't."

As a fan of RPGs, Amalur was excellent. Great look, great combat, etc. It wasn't hard, but I didn't need hard since I just got done finishing up Dark Souls.

yes I love Amalur as well I think it is a really great game, it has just the right combination of humour & action. I really like the story to it, though it would have been nice to have the ability to jump it didn't stop me from getting addicted to the game.