It is the year 2010. THQ is thriving, it’s games are selling well and the future looks bright. Basically:
It is now 2013, and THQ is buggered. Thanks in part to that accursed uDraw tablet which knocked the company coffers around to the tune of over $100 million in losses. The wolves were at the door, THQ was gutted and a publisher of many a classic video game was hit with the stark reality of their legacy ending in failure. What a sad ending.
Five years later, and THQ is back in business. Well kind of, as Nordic Games wisely rebranded themselves to THQ Nordic after they grabbed a few prime video game properties from the defunct publisher, rising from the ashes of that company and adopting the mantle of the industry legend like a proverbial phoenix of old.
THQ Nordic has been on a tear lately, not only grabbing licenses but actually doing something with the properties and reviving them for new generations of gamers. The next game on the THQ Nordic list? None other than 38 Studios’ Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning. Originally published by EA Games a couple of years ago, Kingdoms of Amalur had a story that went on too bloody long, forgettable characters and visuals that stuttered worse than the King’s Speech.
But sweet Sally, did it have one of the best combat systems of all time, something which was a rarity in RPG games at the time. So what happened to Kingdoms of Amalur? Did it not sell well enough? Well…yeah, pretty much that. After it launched, Kingdoms of Amalur never really managed to rack up enough sales to pay back the $75 million that 38 Studios was granted by the Rhode Island economic development agency, with 38 Studios eventually following the THQ route and having its assets liquidated.
Strange thing is, nobody wanted the Kingdoms of Amalur license, until THQ Nordic came along. Long story short: Looks like we’re getting a new Kingdoms of Amalur game. Or a remaster of the original, at the very least.
Last Updated: September 7, 2018
Alien Emperor Trevor
September 7, 2018 at 10:01
KoA was an 80-hour game that was 40 hours too long. It was cool, but that back half was a slog.
miaau
September 10, 2018 at 09:26
I felt is was never properly finished, lots of editing faults and bad dialogue AND HUGE balance issues, in the last part of the game.
Fun combat still got me to finish it though.
Craig Lotter
September 7, 2018 at 10:08
I loved that game. Wouldn’t mind a remaster for a current generation console to be honest.
Pariah
September 7, 2018 at 10:36
I reckon it’s about time for a sequel. Those dual chakrams were <3
schitsophrenic-toothbrush
September 7, 2018 at 10:47
Those were boss dude
miaau
September 10, 2018 at 09:26
The feeling of your mage throwing these things around…….. Holy crap, those were amazing
Ghost In The Rift
September 7, 2018 at 10:40
I’m down with this, either would be great, remaster and ill actually finish the story cause yeah it dragged quite a bit
schitsophrenic-toothbrush
September 7, 2018 at 10:47
I am so happy!!! I loved the game!!
Original Heretic
September 7, 2018 at 11:34
Ah, really cool game this.
Though by the end, your character was so overpowered, it lost some of the fun.
miaau
September 10, 2018 at 09:24
You are understating the overpowered a little bit……
I started making my own goals, like Mr Washington in The Equaliser, timing myself to clear an entire screen of enemies. And, of course, not fighting at all, dragging as many baddies as possible, THEN fighting.
Original Heretic
September 10, 2018 at 09:27
It was rather bad at the end.
Plus, the fact that you could switch between classes at any time and still be high level, it allowed you to play with any of the classes at that level.
Took away any notion of replaying with another character.
miaau
September 10, 2018 at 09:28
Ah yes, but honestly, Mage with Chakrams seemed to be the most awesome fun around! Tried to play as other… but… not good enough
Original Heretic
September 10, 2018 at 09:31
I always play mages in just about any game I play, so I tried out the other classes, just to see what they were like. Quickly went back to mage again.
G8crasha
September 7, 2018 at 15:51
Dear THQ Nordic… Please acquire the rights to some other IPs that have been sadly abandoned by the development world. They all deserve a good home! Heartfelt thanks. Yours sincerely, G8crasha
Captain JJ
September 10, 2018 at 08:25
Great game, it deserves a reboot or continuation
Craig "CrAiGiSh" Dodd
September 10, 2018 at 09:22
Game wasn’t bad, enjoyed it.