February 13th 2025.
Avowed has quite a lot to offer, if you ask me. This game comes from the creators of Fallout: New Vegas and takes on a Skyrim-esque style, set in the same fantasy world as Pillars Of Eternity. Obsidian Entertainment is known for their impressive line-up of role-playing game sequels, such as Fallout: New Vegas, Star Wars: Knights Of The Old Republic 2, and Neverwinter Nights 2. With such a strong track record, it's no surprise that Avowed is already generating a lot of buzz. While it's not a direct sequel, it does take place in the same universe as Obsidian's two-part series, Pillars Of Eternity.
The first Pillars game was released in 2015, after a highly successful Kickstarter campaign. It was a classic party-based dungeon crawler, viewed from a bird's-eye isometric perspective. Its 2018 follow-up followed a similar recipe, which pleased many of its backers. Both games are set in the world of Eora, and Avowed is no exception. However, this time, players will experience it up close and personal. The game can be played in first or third person, and it takes place in the Living Lands - a wild and lawless island where nature and people run rampant. Unfortunately, things have taken a turn for the worse as a sickness known as the Dreamscourge has begun to plague the land. And while this may seem like a generic fantasy setup, it's not the only thing in the game that lacks excitement.
In Avowed, you play as an envoy sent by the Aedyran Empire to investigate the Dreamscourge and put an end to it. But that's not all - you also happen to be a godlike, which means you have been claimed by one of the realm's deities. This results in some rather peculiar cranial growths that can be customized during character creation. Some options may even remind players of the Clickers from The Last Of Us.
As you arrive in the largest city on the island, Paradis, you quickly realize that it's not the safe haven you hoped for. And if there's one thing you'll notice about Avowed, it's that it's quite wordy. Every conversation, whether it's with a merchant, a quest giver, or a central character, offers numerous dialogue options. These can range from simple questions to varying responses that lead players down different paths. While the voice acting is decent, it follows a similar pattern of delivering average dialogue.
But the real issue lies in the overwhelming amount of dialogue players will have to sift through. From books and notes to shopkeepers and animancers, the game is filled with a never-ending stream of mediocre plot and lore exposition. While Obsidian may find it fascinating, players may find themselves feeling overwhelmed by the made-up names and callbacks to Pillars of Eternity.
Luckily, the action in Avowed is more thrilling. As players explore, they can gather a party of up to four members, choosing two to accompany them on each quest. There's Kai, the blue-scaled Ruataian bodyguard; Marius, the brash dwarf with a secret; Yatzli, the feisty furry mage; and Giatta, the passionate and opinionated animancer. Each character has their own unique abilities and backstory, which players can learn more about through side quests that offer deeper insight into their personalities. However, there isn't much interaction or combo abilities between party members, so players may not feel the need to switch them out frequently.
As players level up, they can upgrade weapons and armor using the crafting materials they collect. They can also unlock and improve skills from a wide range of character classes. It's important to specialize, but players are free to experiment and reset their abilities at any time.
In addition to the combat, players will also encounter situations that can be resolved peacefully, with their choice to spare lives having a significant impact on the rest of the game. However, it can be challenging to determine which enemies will attack and which won't, leading some players to err on the side of caution and simply eliminate anyone with a red health bar. But for those who choose to spare lives, their actions will not go unnoticed and may be remembered later on.
One aspect of Avowed that is worth noting is its relatively bug-free gameplay, with the exception of the monsters. The envoy's destiny is tied to an unknown god, and players can interpret the god's actions and enigmatic messages as they see fit. They can also choose to help, hinder, or even annihilate any of the warring factions on the Living Lands. It can be quite satisfying to put arrogant characters in their place, and there are some entertaining moments in the dialogue as well. For example, players can choose to respond to cryptic advice with, "Just tell me what to do, you cryptic b!" - a sentiment that many players may have felt at one point or another while playing this game or others.
There is no denying that Avowed has a lot to offer. As the latest creation from the talented developers of Fallout: New Vegas, Obsidian Entertainment, it promises to be a Skyrim-esque action role-playing game set in the same fantastical world as Pillars Of Eternity. This is certainly exciting news for fans of their previous titles, which include Star Wars: Knights Of The Old Republic 2 and Neverwinter Nights 2.
For those unfamiliar with the Pillars Of Eternity series, the first game was released in 2015 after a highly successful Kickstarter campaign. It was a classic party-based dungeon crawler, with an isometric perspective that perfectly emulated the experience of a tabletop adventure game. The 2018 sequel followed a similar recipe and both games are set in the world of Eora. Avowed follows suit, but with one major difference - this time, you will experience the world much closer up, through the eyes of your character in first or third person.
The game takes place in the Living Lands, a wild and lawless island where nature and people coexist in a chaotic manner. However, this once idyllic place has been overtaken by a disturbing sickness known as the Dreamscourge. While this may sound like a typical setup for a fantasy RPG, it is just one of the many unoriginal aspects of the game.
In Avowed, you play as an envoy sent by the Aedyran Empire to investigate and put an end to the Dreamscourge. What sets you apart from other characters is that you are also a godlike, chosen by one of the deities in the realm. This grants you unique abilities, but also causes strange fungus-like growths on your head. During character creation, you have the option to customize the appearance of these growths, but some may find them reminiscent of the Clickers from The Last Of Us.
As you arrive in the largest city of the Living Lands, Paradis, it becomes clear that it is still a haven for criminals and outlaws. But what is even more apparent is the sheer amount of dialogue in the game. Every conversation, whether it's with a merchant, a quest giver, or a central character, offers at least six options to choose from. While this may seem like a good thing for a role-playing game, it can become overwhelming and tiresome, especially since the voice acting and dialogue are nothing out of the ordinary.
The real excitement in Avowed lies in its combat. As you explore the world, you can recruit up to four party members, with whom you can take on quests. Each member has their own unique abilities and backstory, which you can delve into through their personal side quests. However, the lack of interaction between their abilities means there is little incentive to switch up your party for different missions, unless their personal interests align with the quest at hand.
You also have the option to play from a first or third person perspective and switch between two weapon loadouts on the fly. This allows for a variety of combat styles, whether you prefer dual-wielding, ranged combat, or magic. Upgrading weapons and armor can be done at camp, using the materials you collect along the way. As you level up, you can also unlock and improve skills from a wide range of character classes.
One interesting feature is the ability to resolve encounters peacefully, sparing lives and having lasting consequences on the game. However, it can be difficult to determine which enemies are hostile, and this can lead to unnecessary bloodshed. In terms of bugs, the game is mostly glitch-free, except for the occasional issue with the game's monsters.
A major aspect of Avowed is the envoy's connection to an unknown god, which becomes clearer as you progress through the game. The beauty of this is that you are free to interpret and act upon the god's cryptic messages in whichever way you see fit. This extends to the game's factions, where you have the freedom to ally with, oppose, or even destroy them.
Despite its flaws, Avowed has its moments of excitement and intrigue. Whether it's taking down an arrogant enemy or being faced with a particularly challenging puzzle, there are moments where the game shines. And while the dialogue may be excessively long-winded and the plot lacking in originality, there are still glimpses of enjoyable gameplay to be found. After all, who hasn't wanted to tell a cryptic character to just "tell me what to do" in this game or others?
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