EA has announced Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning, a single player fantasy RPG from developer 38 Studios. According to the press release, the combat focused epic is the work of several “visionary” creators. The story and setting were conceived by Forgotten Realms novelist R.A. Salvatore, while the art design was overseen by comic and toy tsar Todd McFarlane.

Perhaps of more interest to gamers is the involvement of Ken Rolston, lead designer on The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion. It’s an impressive line up of talent, but I can’t help but notice that the end result is somewhat unimaginative, at least on the evidence presented thus far. A stock assortment of knights, skeleton warriors and trolls is not what I expect from my visionaries.  Perhaps the game will offer a different perspective on some of these archetypes.

We can be certain of one thing. With a spin-off MMO already in development, 38 Studios clearly has a great deal of faith in the property. Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning is due for release on Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 and PC in spring 2011.