Action RPG

Avowed RPG Review: Unravel the Living Lands’ Mysteries and Shape Its Fate

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The game “Avowed” is the latest role-playing title by renowned developer Obsidian Entertainment, heavily influenced by their recent projects, notably “Pillars of Eternity” and its sequel “Pillars of Eternity 2: Deadfire.” Similarities will be drawn to “The Outer Worlds,” but it also adopts some commendable qualities from the exceptional game, “Pentiment,” our 2022 Game of the Year.

In the game “Avowed”, you assume the character of an emissary from the Aedyran Empire, tasked with exploring a far-off continent called the Living Lands, plagued by a lethal and devastating spiritual illness named Dreamscourge. You were born with divine influence, touched by one of Eora’s deities, yet unlike your fellow blessed beings who have mostly departed from the physical world prior to the events in “Avowed”. The Living Lands are incredibly alive, teeming with fungi and seemingly hostile to the resilient human settlements that have struggled to survive for only a few centuries.

Avowed is meticulously and compactly crafted as a role-playing game, offering the player numerous advantages that make immersion in its world effortless. The writing and world development are standout features, enhancing the Engagement as a character with rich potential for narrative exploration. Despite some inherent challenges typical of first-person RPGs, Avowed manages to surpass these issues with its triumphs being so substantial that they overshadow any minor setbacks.

Avowed Leverages Its Setting For Incredible Roleplaying Opportunities

The Living Lands Is Home To Several Mysteries

Due to the rich background provided by “Pillars of Eternity”, the upcoming game “Avowed” is set on a fresh, unexplored continent filled with mystery. The Living Lands are shrouded in intrigue, mirroring that of the protagonist. Various enigmas weave together and overlap, delving into the origins of the Dreamscourge, an old and extinct civilization, and the Envoy’s divine patron, all of which impact more immediate concerns such as the Living Lands’ diverse settlements and their inhabitants. Initially, being an Aedyran Envoy might appear to limit roleplaying opportunities, but on the contrary, it establishes a complex relationship with locals that serves to highlight “Avowed”‘s key feature: you will be faced with numerous tough decisions early and often.

In my journey through the Living Lands as an ardent fan of ‘Avowed’, I’ve come to appreciate the intricate tapestry of stories it weaves. This tale delves deep into complex societal issues such as imperialism, race relations, religious beliefs, rebellion, environmental concerns, justice systems, and incarceration, among others. Every moral quandary is matched by equally gripping, personal struggles like grief, forgiveness, healing from past wounds, family feuds, commitment to one’s community, ambition, and personal growth.

Obsidian’s writing has always been admired, but ‘Avowed’ uniquely explores the responsibilities of society and its individuals towards history and tradition in a manner that mirrors the captivating approach Pentiment takes on similar themes.

Avowed’s Emotional Depth Comes Largely From The Envoy’s Companions

Living Landers With Their Own Stories To Uncover

The Envoy, being an outsider, is counterbalanced by four locals from the Living Lands. Regrettably, they exhibit typical characteristics; each possesses a distinct personality that makes their viewpoints and positions rather foreseeable. This issue often arises with RPG companions due to limited options for dialogue in a virtual conversation. The same critique can be applied to Avowed‘s main narrative – some of the twists or significant events turn out to be predictable before the characters uncover them. However, any initial doubts are swiftly dispelled by unexpected and authentic layers.

In “Avowed,” the narrative unfolds brilliantly across every major setting, making each locale captivating. Side missions are a vital aspect for leveling up and acquiring better equipment, but they rarely feel tedious due to their engaging or charming nature. Remarkably, many side quests are connected to the main plot, expanding the scale of significant conflicts and presenting intriguing twists that could impact future choices. As you enter the Living Lands with your powerful influence as a character, even minor stories in “Avowed” reflect this, ensuring that player decisions carry significant weight.

Smart Design Makes It Easy To Get Immersed In Avowed

A Tight Scope Means There’s Very Little Excess

In Avowed, they deliberately opted out of a completely open world design, and I believe this was an excellent decision. The game is divided into several zones that can be freely explored, which sensibly corresponds to the rarity levels of its items. For example, as you progress through the first major region, Dawnshore, you’ll encounter enemies whose strength matches the lower end of the second rarity tier weapons and armor.

The progression in Avowed is very rewarding and steady all the way through, offering a satisfying experience not just in discovering new weapons and armor, but also in enhancing your existing equipment.

In simpler terms, games such as cooking and crafting are present, but they’re designed to be straightforward, which gives the impression that the game, named “Avowed“, is well aware of its strong points. It encourages players to interact with characters or delve into ancient ruins instead. Contrasting modern open-world games that have grown bloated, “Avowed” stands as their opposite. I spent about 60 hours in the game, completing almost every side quest and bounty available, as well as exploring extensively between quest markers, and every moment felt worthwhile.

Combat Is Hampered By Common First-Person RPG Woes

Combat Isn’t Especially Deep, Despite Surprisingly Fun Character Building

The game, Avowed, can technically be played in both first-person and third-person mode, but I find the first-person perspective to be the intended experience. It’s enjoyable to switch to third-person occasionally to check out my outfit or get a broader view of the environment, but combat can become less precise from that angle. However, close-combat fighting in first-person can feel tedious, despite the game offering an array of interesting abilities in the Fighter skill tree. Just like The Elder Scrolls games, the first-person perspective in Avowed is somewhat restrictive when it comes to battlefield awareness, and it doesn’t seem that the game was primarily designed for third-person combat as extensively as a game like Elden Ring has been.

In the end, I mainly specialized in the Wizard’s skill path, but added a bit of variety using some Ranger abilities and a flintlock rifle, or arquebus. Magic proved to be the most effective and engaging for combat, and I found great amusement in dual-wielding wands, although I mostly played with a wand in one hand and a grimoire in the other throughout the game. Grimoires allowed me to effectively assign four spells that I would normally acquire by investing a skill point in the Wizard tree as hotkeys. This setup enabled me to fire off basic attacks with my wand, while quickly casting more impressive spells.

Even though there are issues with the combat system, it’s worth noting that Avowed boasts an impressive array of weapon choices. For instance, grimoires offer a diverse range of options, such as those specialized in spells of specific elements, those designed for support roles to protect you and your teammates, and others that provide magical replicas of traditional melee and ranged weapons – a mace that restores Essence with each strike, a spear that detonates when used against an enemy. It seems that grimoires offer the most variety, but unique melee weapons appear to be more prevalent, offering a greater number of unique attributes.

In addition to the diverse array of weapons, there’s a certain monotony in the actual combat experience found within the game, much like many other RPGs. Enemies labeled as tough ‘bullet sponges’ are common, and strategic thinking isn’t always required when facing an encounter. There may be some timing involved with dodging, but even magic use often simplifies to casting powerful spells as soon as they’re available again, and using Essence potions whenever necessary. In every boss fight, my strategy was essentially the same: use a companion ability to immobilize them briefly while I spammed all remaining party skills, then repeat this process.

In a different setup, it’s worth noting that while Avowed offers a wider range of adversaries compared to The Outer Worlds, it’s still somewhat disheartening that the Living Lands present diverse terrains yet are predominantly inhabited by similar hostile beings. Admittedly, each type of enemy possesses numerous variations – for instance, Xaurips encompass priests, warchiefs, and skirmishers among others. However, once you progress deep into the game, there aren’t many unexpected encounters to be found.

In the beginning of the game Avowed, figuring out the combat mechanics and enemy tactics can lead to a more challenging experience than expected. It’s not overly punishing, but the developers have included a second wind feature for a reason – it’s simple to feel overwhelmed if you’re not careful with your positioning, and getting trapped in a difficult situation will rapidly deplete your health. Fortunately, for those who might find themselves in such a predicament, frequent use of the command wheel allows you to pause combat and evaluate your situation. Although I have some reservations about skill spamming, it is gratifying to immobilize several enemies with one companion before instructing my other team member to cast an area-of-effect spell simultaneously.

The Living Lands Are Gorgeous & Exploring Is A Treat

Take Some Time To Stop & Smell The Fungi

Exploring the Vital Terrains offers a sense of purpose and frequently yields satisfying outcomes. Every aspect of this game is meticulously crafted, ensuring no two dungeons are identical, complete with concealed treasures and environmental brainteasers around every corner. Quick travel options are useful, yet I never found myself rushing aimlessly across the map just to tick off a list. Beyond financial and resourceful benefits, you might also receive significant recognition for a touch of inquisitiveness. At one instance, I chose to delve into a cave that caught my eye, encountered some trouble within, but was delighted when my actions there were acknowledged later on. What’s more, I discovered they had a substantial impact on the main plot and the destinies of numerous characters.

In many instances throughout the game, you’ll find interactions that may not be immediately obvious but can lead to hidden side quests. I discovered this as I conversed with characters I encountered along the way, just to see where the conversation might take me. What makes the experience even more enjoyable is that Avowed boasts a visually stunning world, making it a pleasure to explore with a mix of encounters, puzzles, and even some platforming and climbing elements.

Final Thoughts & Review Score

Ebaster Gives Avowed A 9/10

The weaknesses of Avowed are relatively insignificant next to its strong points. Although the fighting isn’t particularly captivating, it’s simple to ignore this when the writing is so engaging and the game world is so meticulously crafted. Much of the allure of Avowed comes from the foundation laid by Pillars of Eternity in creating the world of Eora, but the unique aspects it brings to the setting also give it a peculiar and captivating quality. Your character is an anomaly with fungal growths covering their face and hair, and you’re looking into a plague that infects souls. You’re accompanied by a large reptilian man, a dwarf too afraid to return home, a tinkerer who uses souls to power her machines, and a bright pink, flirtatious archaeologist.

The standout feature is that Avowed delivers everything authentically and sincerely. The primary narrative carries high-stakes tension, but the central enigma is so intricate and convoluted that it allows for numerous secondary characters to be encountered during your journey. You’re not a passing character resolving petty disputes as a sideline; the Envoy finds themselves deeply immersed in the societal and ecological problems plaguing the Living Lands, issues that significantly impact the island continent’s destiny. Avowed‘s superb narrative doesn’t provide clear-cut “good” or “bad” choices, but instead often challenges you to thoughtfully evaluate the possibilities put forth. Aiding a companion in their growth may necessitate harsh truths, and many crucial decisions fall within morally ambiguous territory.

Obsidian Entertainment is renowned for its expertise in role-playing games, and _Avowed_ is another testament to that talent. While it may not impress with its combat (though some of the visual effects are quite dazzling), it’s a game that encourages deep thought. It presents challenging questions to the player as they assume the role of an emissary for a colonial power, and it’s largely up to you to decide how your influence is wielded. It’s a demanding and unexpected adventure through the Living Lands, but _Avowed_ keeps you hooked with its intrigue at every step.

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2025-02-13 19:59

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