Avowed Is Missing Basic Features Games Like Skyrim Had a Decade Ago

by

This week, Obsidian Entertainment and Xbox rolled out their new RPG, Avowed, on PC and Xbox systems. While the exact sales figures and impact on Xbox Game Pass subscriptions remain unknown, the game has received an impressive 80 score on Metacritic. However, some aspects of the game have raised concerns and criticism online, with fans pointing out that it lacks certain fundamental RPG features that have been popular for years. Critics have drawn comparisons to The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim, noting similarities in their fantasy RPG genres as well as highlighting where Avowed falls short. Moreover, it’s not even on par with some of Obsidian’s previous RPG creations.

In Avowed, unlike Skyrim, there’s no crime system in place. Additionally, you can attempt to attack non-hostile characters or creatures, but they won’t react, which lessens the overall immersion of the game.

A notable issue, however, lies in the fact that Non-Player Characters (NPCs) appear to be stationary with limited movement, lacking the freedom to roam or follow set routines. This static behavior contributes to a rather lifeless atmosphere within the game, an observation that hasn’t gone unnoticed by players.

In Avowed, what I found particularly fascinating is discovering that none of the Non-Player Characters move about the town at all, demonstrating a remarkable leap in 2025 gaming realism.

— Rock solid (@ShitpostRock) February 19, 2025

It’s surprising that Avowed is being hailed as a top-tier RPG of this generation, given it seems like a step back compared to RPGs from over a decade ago. This is particularly striking when you consider that the same studio (Obsidian Entertainment) created Fallout: New Vegas in 2010. It’s worth noting that not only was Obsidian creating better RPGs back then, but in some aspects, they were also making more technologically advanced RPGs fifteen years ago. One might wonder how this change occurred.

Regarding Avowed’s budget, we don’t have specific details. Obsidian Entertainment isn’t a small studio; it works on multiple projects simultaneously, making it challenging to estimate how much was invested in this particular project. However, given its partnership with Microsoft, the game wasn’t developed under a meager budget by any means.

Although it’s clear that Avowed is a good game, there’s no denying that it lacks depth in certain areas when compared to the standards of legendary RPGs. Some players have certainly pointed this out, and you can find similar opinions in various posts on X and other platforms. However, as always, we invite you to share your thoughts. Is the criticism of Avowed excessive?

Read More

2025-02-23 05:09