15 cert, EA, PS3 (also Xbox, PC) ***

Kingdoms of Amular: Reckoningis ambitious – with the scope, budget and even unwieldy name we'd expect from a top-tier role-playing game. With comic icon Todd McFarlane ( Spawn) working

on the design and author RA Salvatore (Forgotten Realms) on story, there's no shortage of talent involved. The initial premise is exciting, Slain on the battlefield, your hero (you choose the gender) is resurrected and afforded the opportunity to avenge his or her own killing. The impressive setting is genuinely otherworldly, the combat suitably bloody. So why isn't this a masterpiece? Maybe it's the bland animation and dialogue of the characters. Perhaps it's not original enough. Reckoning is a solid, attractive game, but it's best- recommended to hardcore RPG and fantasy fans.