Avowed Hands-On - After 4 Hours This RPG Bought Me with Its Story and Dialogues. Obsidian Knows What It's Doing

As a seasoned RPG enthusiast who has traversed countless worlds and battled hordes of fantastical creatures, I must say that my recent journey into the Living Lands has left me absolutely enthralled. Obsidian Entertainment has truly outdone themselves with Avowed, a game that promises to be an unforgettable addition to the RPG genre.

My feelings towards the game “Avowed” can undeniably be described as complex. While I’m excited about it since it brings back my beloved fantasy universe, the initial sneak peeks were less than encouraging… to say the least. This led me to question if “Avowed” was a game released years too late. Yet, subsequent previews have sparked optimism within me, suggesting that there might be something promising hidden beneath its unappealing exterior.

Here we stand, now faced with a sneak peek of the game in my possession. Let me tell you, Obsidian has shown me two things: One, they seem to struggle with marketing their own games, which ultimately works against them. They ought to consider bringing on more skilled individuals for creating trailers and demonstrations. Two, Avowed appears promising and could mark a strong comeback following the moderately successful run of The Outer Worlds. This hidden gem has potential to astonish many.

A hero with character

In the preview, I was provided with a trial version of the game, which was intended to provide approximately 2 hours of playtime. Yet, true to my nature, I found ways to explore every corner of this demo, extending my stay in the Living Lands beyond 4 hours. Instead of starting from the middle of the title like a typical demo, the piece we received was the entire prologue of the game and a glimpse into Act I.

Right from the get-go, I was quite impressed. The character creation in Avowed is fantastic. The developers have struck an impressive balance, providing a myriad of choices for players without overwhelming them like the creator of Dragon’s Dogma 2. While it may not match the extravagance found in that game, Avowed‘s options far outnumber those offered in Baldur’s Gate 3, and although Larian’s RPG boasts a larger variety of playable races, Avowed still offers a wider range of customization possibilities.

In this game, you have a wide variety of options for customizing facial features like contours, adornments, scars, makeup, tattoos, eye colors (even if they are different for each eye), hair, and skin tone. With so many hairstyles available, it’s rare that additional modifications would be needed, though you won’t find advanced physics as in “The Veilguard”. Instead, the level of customization is similar to what you see in “BG3”. Additionally, there are unique physical symbols of divinity, such as various mushrooms, roots, and coral reefs, that can be used to decorate your character’s face.

Instead of focusing solely on appearance, it’s crucial to also consider the character traits and statistics of our main character. In the process of developing this RPG character, you’ll typically distribute points among various attributes and select your hero’s origin. We offer a variety of choices in this regard, ensuring that every player can find a fit – from those who prefer role-playing as a courtier ensnared in Aedyr politics to those who enjoy the intrigues of a noble born into an aristocratic family.

In the spirit of great Role Playing Games, these choices are not just superficial but will impact our journey throughout the game. Conversations with NPCs offer a variety of options, both standard dialogue and those influenced by our attributes and background. These choices can aid in overcoming obstacles (such as the classic option to intimidate foes through physical strength) or serve to deepen our character’s personality, adding depth and uniqueness to our protagonist.

As a devoted fan, I find myself drawn to discuss my favorite character, who has earned the endearing nickname “the Astrologer Elf.” This seasoned elf excels in magical combat and possesses an infectious enthusiasm for all things celestial. She delights in sharing her insights about the cosmos, alignments with enigmatic energies, and a wide-ranging wisdom of mysticism. Her unique approach can sometimes be unconventional and disorderly, leaving some Non-Player Characters (NPCs) perplexed and others questioning her sanity. However, this eccentric style allows her to swiftly deduce the origins of the afflicting plague in the lands she visits.

On the trail of the mysteries of the Living Lands

Having brought up the captivating dialogues in “Avowed,” let me share some thoughts on the game’s intriguing plot. As a devoted fan, I can’t help but delve deeper into this fascinating tale. The story unfolds after completing several primary and secondary quests, revealing an engaging narrative.

Regrettably, our journey has taken an unexpected turn. The fort, meant to be a sanctuary, instead opened fire on our ship, leaving our hero stranded. Upon investigating the surroundings, things only grew bleaker. It appears that the fort’s inhabitants have turned violent and slaughtered each other, with a strange illness being the culprit. We are now shunned from this region, and to compound our troubles, we begin to hear voices. There is an additional complication – we are divine beings, marked by the gods, but it remains unclear which deity has graced us with their favor.

Jumping right into the thick of things, we find ourselves smack in the middle of the action, surrounded by tantalizing enigmas. There’s no time for tedium or leisurely storytelling here. The plot gripped me from the start, leaving me eager to discover where it leads. The fact that the preliminary version of the game concluded with a nail-biting cliffhanger was quite a punch, given that Avowed is still three months away from release.

Without a doubt, it’s evident that the narrative will be a standout feature in this game, and it shines particularly brightly in its dialogue. I fervently hope that this standard remains consistent throughout the entire game, as my experience thus far has been devoid of banal and ordinary dialogues. Even a casual chat with the first random vendor resulted in an amusing tale about his separation from his wife, who, remarkably, operates a shop right next to him (a situation that seems almost unbearable). Engaging with significant characters is a delightful experience – especially since the voice acting is equally impressive.

It’s worth mentioning that among my companions, Kai, a member of the Aumaua race, stands out as the one I have met so far. Given how engaging and charming the other companions might be, our group dynamics promise to be quite intriguing. I found Kai captivating right from the start. He’s got a dry wit that never fails to crack me up, even when he keeps a straight face. I can’t wait to uncover more about his past.

Beautiful journey

In contrast to previous games set in this universe, such as both installments of Pillars of Eternity, Avowed offers something unique that might sway skeptics about Pillars of Eternity – a three-dimensional world. Although I find the isometric maps from “Pillars” endearing, I understand that for some, it is seen as outdated. To put it simply, the virtual world in Obsidian’s latest RPG is nothing short of breathtaking. Occasionally, I found myself taking screenshots while exploring the map because certain views were so picturesque they resembled postcards.

Occasionally, I come across stunning rock structures, traverse lush, wild caves, watch sailboats anchored in the twilight harbor, and delve into captivating woodlands. The architecture also caught my eye, reflecting the harsh yet compelling lifestyle of this planet. The team behind this project truly deserves a bonus. Personally, I’m eager to discover more parts of this region, as the developers have promised a variety of distinct ecosystems to explore.

From my perspective, Avowed appears more captivating in action than it does in static screenshots. While playing, I was greatly impressed by the dynamic lighting and vibrant colors. However, one aspect of the graphics that doesn’t quite meet the lofty expectations I have is the facial expressions of the NPCs. They seem somewhat unrefined, particularly during scenes where laughter is required. Instead of conveying genuine joy, they merely open their mouths widely without any signs of real amusement. At times, it’s so unnatural that I’m unsure if this is a work in progress or if it might create confusion at the game’s release.

If not with a wand, then with a sword

Yet, I haven’t touched upon the aspect that has been troubling me since the initial announcements – the combat system. Initially, based on early gameplay clips, it seemed somewhat rigid and antiquated, reminding me strongly of Skyrim, a game known for its age (and at launch, combat wasn’t its strongest feature). However, luckily, to some extent, these concerns appear to be purely superficial.

The conflicts are surprisingly lively, more so than I initially perceived. The one area that feels clunky is the movement itself, but it maintains an impression of managing a somewhat awkward figure. Nevertheless, the battle system operates smoothly and offers substantial freedom.

As a gamer, it appears that I’ll have the freedom to craft my unique playstyle within this game. Whenever I feel like tweaking my character, there’s an option to respec for a reasonable price. Now, not every class might be a powerhouse, but for those who love tinkering with custom builds, this could be a dream come true. In my imagination, I can already envision wizards charging into battle armed with guns instead of the traditional wand – after all, bullets seem to pack quite a punch compared to a wand’s heat!

As an enthusiastic gamer, I’m excited to delve into countless scenarios where I can experiment with diverse strategies. In this captivating game, it’s not just about engaging in numerous combats, but also regularly encountering mini-bosses that add an extra layer of challenge. From time to time, while traversing the map, I stumble upon formidable adversaries armed with a wide array of attacks. The tough battles are rewarded handsomely with coveted loot, making every challenge worthwhile!

In one specific scenario, this entire system fails to function optimally. I’m referring to the third-person viewpoint here. From the start, developers have emphasized that Avowed is primarily designed for First-Person Perspective (FPP), which is evident. Including a Third-Person Perspective (TPP) option is more of a concession to players who requested it rather than a viable alternative. Navigating during combat becomes trickier when viewing the surroundings from this perspective, as it’s harder to spot enemy attacks. A closer eye-level view makes it simpler to spot incoming assaults from opponents, but it also increases the challenge and diminishes enjoyment. Spotting hidden notes or items to collect is also more difficult, and the world seems less stunning when viewed from a perspective other than the protagonist’s.

There is something to work on

If you’ve made it this far in the text, you might have observed that it exudes a great deal of optimism. In essence, I am lavishing praise upon every aspect of the game and painting a picture of an impending blockbuster. But are we about to burst your bubble and lay out all the flaws that mar the gaming experience in Avowed? Not quite. Obsidian’s latest RPG shows a lot of promise, and if the rest of the game is as captivating as its initial hours, it could indeed be a smash hit. However, there are potential financial factors to consider, such as its availability on Game Pass and competition from other major releases like Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 or Assassin’s Creed: Shadows.

Although it seems like there are no issues, the truth is there are still a few minor glitches with the game, which appear to be part of ongoing development rather than post-launch concerns. For instance, the character movements in TPP mode seem unpolished, and I believe Orlan’s ears serve as additional expressions for the characters, but they only shrink and enlarge at specific instances. Furthermore, there are other elements that appear to be works in progress, such as cutscenes that are currently just sketches.

The main issue that requires careful attention is the optimization of the game. There’s still room for improvement in this area, and we can only hope that the developers address it since the game currently puts a significant strain on computer resources. Certain sections caused noticeable drops in frames per second (FPS), which somewhat took away from the gameplay experience. Surprisingly, I didn’t encounter these issues during combat, which would have been most problematic.

Brace yourself for February

2025 could potentially offer us an outstanding RPG that was regrettably absent in 2021 (for fans of Dragon Age, my apologies). Based on what I’ve seen, I have faith that Obsidian is capable of producing a fantastic game. However, it appears that the marketing may not have been up to par. So we can only cross our fingers and hope that the game avoids further delays and lives up to its initial promise, especially given how impressive the early stages look. I’m already eagerly anticipating my return to the Living Lands with great impatience.

2024-11-21 17:33

Avowed Hands-On – After 4 Hours This RPG Bought Me with Its Story and Dialogues. Obsidian Knows What It’s Doing