After making players wait over four years since its reveal, Obsidian Entertainment finally released their latest action-adventure role-playing game, “Avowed,” Feb. 18 on Xbox and PC. As a fan of Obsidian and RPGs alike, this is a game I knew I’d be playing on launch. At the time this review was written, I’d logged about eight hours in-game.
“Avowed” is a fantasy RPG set in the world of Eora, a pre-existing world used in the “Pillars of Eternity” franchise. The player controls a character referred to as “The Envoy” and is tasked by their emperor to investigate a mysterious plague known as the “Dream Scourge.”
The game wastes no time in reminding the player that they have been born “Godlike,” meaning they possess yet to be discovered deity-bestowed powers that separate them from the rest of civilization.
The first thing most RPGs prompt players to do is create their character. I found the character customization fun, as it has a wide variety of hair types, facial structures and unique “Godlike” features. Players can choose either to be a human or an elf, something I thought was underwhelming, as the fantasy world of Eora contains a plethora of non-human races to encounter. Players also have the freedom to choose between he/him, she/her and they/them pronouns, which has been a nice touch in video games as of recent.
The gameplay can be described as a middle-ground between that of “Souls-like” and “The Elder Scrolls” games. Players will often find themselves exploring open landscapes or close-quartered caves and fighting enemies. The game can be played in either a first person or third person perspective, though I’d recommend first person, as it makes your vision clearer. You can find your typical fantasy weapons: swords, axes, and bows and arrows, along with some 16th-century firearms, such as an arquebus or a blunderbuss.
As a personal fan of wizardry in fantasy worlds, I’ve taken a liking to the magic-based combat. Utilizing “grimoire” or a spellbook, players can memorize up to four spells at a time and use them in combat. As long as you keep an eye on your ‘essence’ meter, you can cast a dynamic amount of spells, including ‘fan of flames’ and ‘jolting touch.’ The combat is refreshing and is unlike anything I’ve seen before.
For the most ideal experience, I have been playing on normal difficulty. Players who’d like to experience the story without worrying about a challenge can play on ‘story time’ mode, while self-described masochists can play on ‘path of damnation’ mode. I have died a few times, but modern developers have preserved mental states by adding an autosave feature every five minutes to ensure I never lose too much progress.
One aspect about RPGs that is make or break for many players is dialogue. At the end of the day, your character will spend a lot of time talking to others, and good dialogue is essential for immersion. Playing “Avowed” after playing other Obsidian titles such as “Fallout: New Vegas” and “Outer Worlds,” I will say that the dialogue is average. It does not have the nuanced humor of “Fallout” nor the intricate conversations of “Outer Worlds,” but it does have its moments and doesn’t take away from the experience.
Another element that I’ve noticed in the handful of quests I’ve completed is the way in which you go about each journey. I’ve already been presented with moral questions upon reaching a goal, being forced to help one person at the potential sacrifice of many. I’m a big fan of games that allow you to be heroic, evil and everything in between; it’s an easy way to add replay value.
The game has received ‘generally favorable’ reviews, according to Metacritic, and for good reason. Whenever games get delayed and take longer than expected, I typically worry that they won’t meet expectations. So far, I’d say “Avowed” holds up. If you own Xbox or PC Game Pass, it can be installed and played for free, so give it a try!
