Was farting around on Metacritic. So far, the lowest score I've seen given for Reckoning has been G4's own Adam Sessler giving it a 2.5/5, which he considers "bad". I don't usually give two shits about reviews for games I love, but there are a few points Sessler makes that I'd like to respond to, if only to get them off my chest. (
Original review)
Has Sessler
played an RPG since 2004? Last I checked, this current era of RPGs is mostly dark blue-mottled grey or brown. I love Skyrim to bits, but saying that Reckoning is lacking in "vibrancy" by comparison is ludicrous, considering Skyrim's muted color pallet and rock 'em sock 'em robots combat.
Agreed. Would like to see more moral choices. That said, Skyrim didn't present any meaningful choice, either...
Anything like Mass Effect?
Facial animation
is a bit wooden, and in the PC's case, nonexistent. Voice acting is stellar, however.
Why can we never have both?!
Sessler's comparisons to AAA titles abounds. In Amalur, I know that I can step into
any dungeon and come out with at least one piece of gear that I can use - usually more. I get the gear, the combat, and the exploration. In AAA titles like Skyrim or Mass Effect, the reward for exploration is just that - exploration. I love dungeon crawling in Skyrim, but I never went into a dungeon with the illusion that I'd come out a changed character. This is an unfair comparison.
This is how you turn a positive into a negative, people. "The combat's great! But that greatness reminds me of how dull the rest of the game is". Eh.
Hah, how does combat become pedantic? As a self-styled pedant, I'd expect Adam to know what the word means.
Hah, yeah, games like Dragon Age and Skyrim just drip polish.
...
Unnecessarily long post, I know. Point is: Sessler gives Reckoning flak for things that AAA titles get a total pass for. I know, I know - "reviewers being reviewers". I'm just glad Sessler's attitude is in the minority.