Avowed Review: Skyrim’s Spiritual Successor

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I’ve found solace in a game named “Avowed” that has been exceptionally satisfying my craving for an immersive role-playing experience, something that not many modern RPGs have managed recently. Now, I’m not implying that I didn’t savor the fantastic “Baldur’s Gate 3,” but there are times when you seek something incredibly niche. For years now, I’ve been longing for a game reminiscent of “The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim,” yet no other studio has crafted RPGs quite like Bethesda does. However, Obsidian has stepped into the spotlight with “Avowed,” a fresh fantasy RPG set in the Pillars of Eternity universe, which seems to draw substantial inspiration from the revered Elder Scrolls series.

To clarify, Avowed isn’t like waiting for Skyrim 2, but it’s a satisfying prelude as we eagerly anticipate The Elder Scrolls VI. Honestly, I didn’t have high hopes for Avowed, given my past disappointments with Xbox’s first-party releases this generation and the game’s long development period. But surprisingly, my expectations were exceeded rather than left lukewarm.

In the game Avowed, players take on the role of an emissary dispatched by the Aedyr Empire to convey a message and investigate a disease ravaging a territory called the Living Lands. Yet, nothing is straightforward from the get-go. In the initial stages of Avowed, your vessel collides with a hostile fortress, assassination attempts against you are orchestrated, and you encounter numerous peaceful individuals who wish you’d return from where you came. The narrative grips you right away and reels you in further as each new secret unfolds.

As a devoted follower immersed in the world of Avowed, my character is blessed with Godlike abilities, a mark of divine intervention before birth that bestows unique powers upon me. This adds an enchanting layer of spirituality to the game, as I delve deeper into the cosmic mysteries of this universe. The real intrigue unfolds when I establish a connection with a higher, almost celestial force known as “The Voice.” Akin to a genie in a bottle or a mythical entity, The Voice is a trapped being confined within some ethereal realm. It often poses me with challenging decisions, presenting tempting offers that are hard to resist. However, once I accept these enticing proposals, I become indebted to The Voice and am compelled to fulfill its commands.

In many instances, you find yourself questioning whether The Voice is truly beneficial or malicious, which results in gripping scenarios as you carefully consider the possible outcomes before making your choices. This uncertainty makes each decision feel significant and thought-provoking, even if they don’t result in catastrophic events. What truly matters is that you believe your decisions carry weight and influence everything you do. Naturally, your options extend beyond interactions with The Voice, but it is here where you will find the most profound choices to make.

Absolutely, similar to other RPGs, in the game ‘Avowed’, you encounter an array of intriguing characters. Each member of your party offers unique combat advantages, but I usually select them primarily for their distinct personalities. For me, it’s more engaging to have a character who will keep me amused rather than just watching out for me. Kai, for instance, is a character with a reputation throughout the Living Lands, often not for positive reasons. His petty squabbles with others are entertaining, and during downtime at camp, he’s an intriguing character to learn about.

One issue with Avowed is that it shares a common problem found in many RPGs: prolonged dialogues where characters seem frozen, which can be monotonous after extended gaming sessions. Sitting through lengthy conversations with minimal movement or emotion from the characters can be tiresome. It might not just be an issue with Avowed, but it’s one of those aspects that can become tiresome after hours of play. Animation for every dialogue scene to make it feel more dynamic would likely be impractical, but it sometimes feels quicker to simply read the dialogue and move on to the next line to expedite the process. Despite my interest in learning about characters like Kai, I often skip dialogue options due to becoming disengaged by the static and formal conversations.

In “Avowed”, there’s one aspect of its dialogues that deserves recognition despite initial confusion due to the abundant specialized terminology. Unlike many games, it provides a glossary within the dialogue menu to help navigate through the dense lore. This feature only highlights significant terms used in the current conversation, preventing you from having to sift through mountains of information. I’ve never encountered such a tool in gaming before, but it proves to be an effective aid in following the game’s storyline and comprehending the conversations.

When you’re not just standing around chatting with someone, getting engrossed in the world of Avowed becomes effortless. The world appears meticulously crafted, featuring vast green meadows and forests, frozen tundras, and bustling cities filled with a variety of activities. There are deserted homes to loot, caves to delve into, and waterfalls concealing hidden treasures within them. It’s a game that encourages exploration, rewarding you for it frequently. You might chance upon crime scenes, check the cargo of civilians for contraband (and decide whether or not to inform on them), and naturally, encounter characters offering intriguing side quests.

In the beginning of the game Avowed, one of your early side missions involves clearing monsters from a resident’s home. Upon arrival, it becomes clear that things aren’t as sinister as they initially appear. Instead, you find that the person has an unusual bond with these creatures. Your task then shifts to conversing with them and deciding whether it’s necessary to eliminate these creatures or if the resident should attempt to use her unique relationship for a different purpose. This kind of thought-provoking RPG script highlights the importance of choice, prompting you to explore additional side quests in search of more intriguing, offbeat tales hidden within this world.

One notable advantage of the game Avowed lies in its intricate combat system. I was genuinely taken aback by the depth and careful planning evident in creating the fighting mechanics. For instance, you can wield multiple weapons concurrently, except for two-handed ones such as large axes. This means you could equip a sword in one hand and a pistol in the other, or even dual-wield a wand and a gun.

In addition to this, the game allows you to have two loadouts, enabling swift transitions between different sets of weapons. Thus, you could set up one loadout for close-quarter combat, another for long-range battles, or perhaps one for stealth and another for an all-out attack. The decision is yours to make.

Avowed emphasizes the integration of various combat elements. You can utilize magic to freeze an enemy, followed by firing a gun to shatter them into fragments. The pleasure derived from stringing multiple diverse attacks together and employing all your abilities to defeat adversaries is immense.

I thoroughly appreciated the degree of liberty this game offers, yet it also taught me the importance of being mindful about it. Initially, I thought I’d wipe out every opponent with a sword and a firearm, but lack of a shield left me vulnerable to defeat. In games like Skyrim, I rarely employed shields, but in Avowed, they’re an essential part of my regular loadout.

As a dedicated fan, I can’t help but appreciate the strategic depth that “Avowed” brings to its combat system, drawing inspiration from other genres to enhance player engagement. Similar to games like Batman: Arkham and Marvel’s Spider-Man series, “Avowed” employs a clever mechanic where enemies display a warning symbol above their heads before launching an attack, allowing players to anticipate and counter effectively. This feature, reminiscent of the rhythm established in the Batman Arkham games, adds an extra layer of immersion and satisfaction to each blow, ensuring that every encounter feels fair and engaging. With heightened awareness and a reduced chance of unexpected attacks, “Avowed” truly delivers an exhilarating combat experience.

It’s important to note that while Avowed has many strong points, its combat system could use some refinement in certain aspects. For instance, the stealth mechanic seems a bit lacking. I assumed using a bow early on would allow me to quietly take out enemies, but even a well-aimed headshot from the shadows didn’t finish off an enemy and alerted nearby foes. Upgrading the bow might make it more effective, but the initial performance was so underwhelming that I decided not to invest in it. The takedown moves are there, but they quickly become repetitive, leading me to prefer rushing into battles instead.

Firearms and bows don’t have any type of ammunition gauge. You can seemingly shoot your gun indefinitely, with the only drawback being that reloading takes a few seconds. It’s desirable to incorporate more strategic considerations when using guns, making them feel like they’re not an endless resource but something valuable and scarce. This would enhance their impact as weapons, as currently, they don’t carry the same weight due to their seemingly unlimited use. Despite being enjoyable, a greater trade-off for employing them would undoubtedly add more intrigue to the gameplay experience.

Although it might not be the most complex RPG out there and there may exist games with extraordinary depth, that doesn’t mean Obisidan’s latest fantasy game isn’t fantastic. It boasts a richly detailed world brimming with stunning visuals, captivating characters, significant decisions, and intense battles that reward creativity. It’s one of my favorite RPGs in recent memory and I anticipate continued enjoyment from it for quite some time. If you have Xbox Game Pass or are looking to invest in a new PC game, I highly recommend giving Avowed a chance.

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2025-02-18 21:11