Avowed Takes a Hint from Obsidian’s Forgotten Gem

Avowed is the latest RPG from renowned developer Obsidian Entertainment, and while it may seem like just the next step, it draws inspiration from one of their less-discussed games. Many connections will be made between Avowed and The Outer Worlds, Obsidian’s 2019 sci-fi RPG. These comparisons are not unwarranted, as in many aspects, Avowed is a natural evolution of the design principles established by The Outer Worlds. It would come as no surprise if The Outer Worlds 2, due for release later in 2025, expands upon the foundations laid by Avowed in a similar manner.

Although Obsidian is often recognized for big titles like Fallout: New Vegas and Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic 2, there are many other games they’ve created that don’t always get the attention they deserve when discussing their portfolio. Games such as Tyranny and Skyforge are sometimes overlooked. Interestingly enough, Avowed, with its role-playing elements, has been significantly influenced by Pentiment, a game that appears quite different at first glance. While Pentiment is an illuminated manuscript-style historical drama, it’s a stark contrast to the first-person fantasy action of Avowed, but Avowed would be significantly less impressive without adopting one of its key features from Pentiment.

Avowed Has A Version Of Pentiment’s Codex

Define Esoteric Terms At The Push Of A Button

In many games, you’ll find that they offer players a sort of reference book filled with information about their virtual realms, but Pentiment‘s implementation is striking. This game was named Ebaster‘s 2022 Game of the Year and it’s a 16th-century murder mystery set in Bavaria, portrayed like an illuminated manuscript. Players assume the role of Andreas Maler, a traveling artist working within the abbey scriptorium of a small town named Tassing. Despite being a fictional town, this game has an impressive focus on historical authenticity, with each in-game day mimicking the routine of the Benedictine monks who reside in the abbey.

In Pentiment, the game’s unyielding attachment to pre-Enlightenment Bavarian culture makes its dialogues quite intricate and challenging for those lacking extensive knowledge of that era. However, Pentiment has thoughtfully incorporated a feature that simplifies this by offering a codex during conversations, accessible at the click of a button. This codex helps define terms, provide historical context on figures, or remind you which Pentiment character is being referred to as they converse.

In simpler terms, “Avowed” uses its mechanic to make it easier for players to understand and immerse themselves in the game’s fantasy world, Eora. This world is also featured in the two “Pillars of Eternity” games from 2015 and 2018. Since many “Avowed” players might not be familiar with the extensive world-building, the game’s conversations are designed to assume that you, as a player, are already part of the game world. This is because your character in “Avowed” is an Envoy sent by the emperor of Aedyr, one of Eora’s major nations.

Avowed’s Active Codex Benefits Roleplaying Substantially

Make Informed Decisions

In Pentiment, the codex served a multitude of useful purposes, primarily functioning as an educational tool to help players understand and immerse themselves in the game’s historical environment. Although Pentiment incorporates roleplaying aspects, Avowed is more classically designed as an RPG, with numerous choices given to the player that directly impact Eora’s larger societal and political landscape. If you haven’t played Pillars of Eternity before, some parts like Kai’s tales from the Rauataian navy or Marius’ dwarven-laden dialogues might be challenging to grasp.

In the game Avowed, you can temporarily halt conversations to explore details about people, countries, deities, cities, and even words in imaginary languages – all without leaving the dialogue screen. This feature aids players in making well-informed decisions and prevents potential confusion that other complex settings might create due to missed conversation nuances. For characters like the Aedyran Envoy, who need a deep understanding of cultural intersections, this immediate access to information is particularly useful. Additionally, it allows players to gradually build their knowledge of Eora without having to search through multiple menus for specific details.

Avowed & Pentiment Demonstrate What Obsidian Does Best

Believable & Interactive Societies

Beyond just their in-game functions, the lore books in “Avowed” and “Pentiment” serve to amplify a long-standing skill of Obsidian Entertainment: crafting intricate worlds with multifaceted societies. Since at least “Fallout: New Vegas,” and arguably their work on “Star Wars” in “KOTOR 2,” Obsidian’s games have immersed players in the heart of profound sociopolitical struggles. The factions of “New Vegas” are still often praised as some of the best in the “Fallout” series, and both “Avowed” and “Pentiment” uphold this tradition, each in their unique ways.

In “Pentiment,” you find yourself delving into a largely familiar historical context, 16th-century Bavaria. Yet, its storyline navigates intricate social complexities between various classes within this society. The game presents a conundrum where innocent lives can be at stake due to ambiguous evidence about the killers’ identities. The historical period’s unique relationships and circumstances add layers of complexity, even with the extensive information provided by the game’s codex, making it harder to decipher the truth.

As a gamer, I’m always drawn into the intricate world-building of games like Avowed, where the depiction of colonialism in the Living Lands is not just black and white. The story choices presented to me are a mix of moral shades, making each decision feel significant and thought-provoking. Unlike many games that offer clear ‘good’ or ‘evil’ paths, Avowed stands out by challenging this norm. Obsidian has always been a studio that pushes against this simplistic dichotomy, and their latest venture is no exception. The vast world of Eora subtly permeates Avowed, making it feel like just a slice of the larger whole. Thankfully, Obsidian’s work on Pentiment has made understanding this complex world much easier.

2025-02-17 05:59