Avowed won’t let you romance the sexy fish man, but it’s for a good reason

by

As stated by Obsidian Entertainment, the characters in Avowed were not primarily intended for romantic relationships. Instead, these companions are portrayed as your strong-willed, personal friends, each with unique motivations, desires, and self-determination. Although you can develop a close relationship with them, there is no option to romance any of them in the game.

On Obsidian’s part, the enthusiasm over Kai wasn’t entirely forecasted, but they’re more than content to engage in the discussion. It’s only natural for game companions to be attractive, engaging, and approachable since you’ll be spending a significant amount of time with them in Avowed. There’s no issue with casting the occasional friendly glance or two.

According to Berman’s account, crafting Kai’s appearance was a comprehensive task that included extensive study of the history of Rauataian culture from Pillars of Eternity, to authentically reflect it in the design and methodology. The team tried out numerous armor styles, and in their quest to make him visually captivating, they seemed to have hit upon a design that was appealing in various aspects.

We didn’t plan for Kai to be perceived in this manner, but it turns out he looks just great! Since the player will spend a lot of time observing the companions, we want to ensure they are visually appealing. We also aim to make them relatable and evoke empathy from the player, as their journeys should feel genuine.

Carrie Patel, the Game Director, mentioned that although the interest was somewhat surprising, there was a historical basis within the Pillars of Eternity series. Notably, the aquatic beings in this franchise, particularly those in Deadfire, have received considerable attention.

Patel commented, “At first glance, it appears quite ordinary, doesn’t it? We’ve got these aquatic humans, but they are athletic, robust, large and well-built. This foundation provides us with a solid starting point.

Why there’s no romance in Avowed

According to Patel, even though you can’t pursue romantic feelings towards your game characters, you will have the opportunity to develop a deep bond with them as they act as loyal friends. They will guide you, share updates, fight alongside you, and always believe in you. It was crucial for Patel to maintain this platonic friendship dynamic so that the characters wouldn’t be influenced by player desires or become objects of fulfillment.

Patel expressed that it’s quite common for companions to transform into validation tools for players. However, he grew fond of them due to their unique personalities, values, and individuality, which make them remarkable and distinctive figures on this journey.

In a simpler way, this passage can be rephrased as: “Companions often get absorbed into their roles next to the player. However, since these companions aren’t designed for romance, we have been able to explore their individual stories, character development, and personal journeys more deeply, beyond just their party role.

According to Patel, it was crucial for the characters in “Avowed” that their personal histories significantly influenced the main storyline. In an environment filled with turmoil and strife, developing romantic relationships could have hindered their development, allowing players instead to delve deeper into understanding them.

Within Obsidian, there were similar apprehensions regarding the difficulty of crafting a heartfelt, fulfilling romance that truly compensates players for their efforts and dedication.

To ensure both the romantic and platonic storylines are engaging, we need to put in extra effort. Creating a well-rounded and satisfying romantic plot is tough and requires a lot of work, not just during the initial development but also as we continue to expand the content,” Patel explained.

After that, let’s ensure that we treat the platonic path equally well, so no one feels they’ve been unfairly treated for not pursuing a romantic relationship. In my view, it’s wiser to focus on one (either the romantic or platonic) and excel at it, rather than attempting both and potentially doing a poor job with either.

Putting Avowed‘s pieces into place

As a gamer, I’m excited about how Obsidian is shaping the narrative of Avowed to be more self-sustaining and engaging. It’s not just about the possibility of flirting with the handsome fish man character, but rather about crafting deeper, standalone characters like Kai. His allure isn’t immediately obvious; it comes from his sleek design, his abilities, and the depth of his storyline that unfolds as you progress through the game.

According to Patel, the voice actors’ contributions significantly enhance and make the characters more realistic, engaging, whether it’s Kai, Giatta, Marius, or Yatzli.

Patel mentioned that selecting actors for his characters is always thrilling, particularly for companion roles. Typically, this process occurs as we advance in our scriptwriting, though there’s still plenty of opportunity for adjustments, enhancements, and fine-tuning.

Listening to that character’s voice for the first time makes it easier to fill in the blanks when reading their lines, as if you’re hearing unwritten parts with a sense of completion. Brandon Keener (the voice actor for Kai, who Mass Effect fans will recognize as Garrus’ voice) beautifully combined warmth, dry humor, and vulnerability, which made Kai’s more intimate moments feel alive and enriched the work I was doing during final revisions on those scenes.

Listening to the unique voices of each character brings life and individuality to their underlying concepts, which is where humor and tragedy are discovered.

In the game “Avowed“, a blend of humor and tragedy will lead players through Eora, a world that’s filled with fear and transformation at every turn. Along your journey, the companions in “Avowed” will offer protection and guidance, and you’ll do the same for them in return.

When designing these companions, the team meticulously added both intentional and seemingly accidental details to create characters that players would want to ally with in their battles. Although you can’t kiss them, the depth of their personalities, distinctive fighting styles, captivating backstories, and unique quirks make the companions of Avowed reliable traveling partners.

Avowed is set to launch for Xbox Series X/S and PC on 18 February 2025.

Read More

2025-02-13 17:07