You Won't Believe What's Missing From Avowed

In most Role-Playing Games (RPGs), there are companions who accompany the player, but is it possible to develop romantic relationships with these characters in Avowed? While many RPGs have included romance options, it’s not a universal feature across all titles, and some games choose to focus on platonic relationships instead. Given Obsidian Entertainment’s history with RPGs, they have shown a tendency to avoid implementing romantic mechanics in their games.

Even though Avowed is being released during a period when romantic elements in RPGs are particularly popular, given the success of romance options in Baldur’s Gate 3, it’s reasonable to assume that other contemporary RPGs might feel some pressure to incorporate similar features. However, it’s worth noting that no previous Obsidian RPG loses any of its satisfaction simply because it doesn’t feature romanceable NPCs. Consequently, it wouldn’t be surprising if the developers of Avowed choose not to include such a mechanic in their game.

Avowed Does Not Allow Players To Romance Companions

Avowed’s Game Director Specified Why Romance Would Be Hard To Include

In the game ‘Avowed’, there will be no option for players to develop romantic relationships with their companions. This decision was confirmed by the game’s director, Carrie Patel, in an interview with Games Radar at EGX.

Patel points out that creating romance systems requires a significant amount of effort. He emphasizes the importance of getting it right, which includes ensuring that players who choose not to romance but desire a deep relationship with companions have an equally rich and meaningful experience on friendship or ally paths. Consequently, they decided to narrate the companions’ stories and the player’s relationships without the need for a romance option.

From Patel’s statements, it appears that romance was initially considered during the project’s development phase, but ultimately discarded because it required extensive character development to be executed effectively. However, Patel emphasized that while romantic relationships might not be present, friendships with companions remain significant, regardless of their being platonic in nature.

In the same interview, Patel talked about how the companions in the game ‘Avowed’ will be significant, explaining they serve as storytellers of the ‘Living Lands’, guiding the player through the game’s environment. The Non-Player Characters (NPCs) within ‘Avowed’ reflect diverse viewpoints on the Living Lands and help immerse players in the game world. Each character has unique, intricate lives and motivations that can be uncovered as players strengthen their bond with them. Despite not necessarily leading to a romantic relationship, it’s worthwhile for players to spend time getting acquainted with their party members in ‘Avowed’.

Avowed Isn’t The First Obsidian RPG To Skip Romance

Many Obsidian RPGs Opt To Avoid Romance

In line with what’s typical for an Obsidian game, it might not be a shock that some players find no romantic options among the companions in an RPG. This is because while some Obsidian games, such as Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic 2, do feature romance, many others do not. Developers of other Obsidian RPGs have often defended this decision by pointing to the game’s characteristics.

In an interview with Polygon in 2018, Game Director Leonard Boyarsky of The Outer Worlds explained that they chose not to include romantic options to emphasize role-playing. Boyarsky stated that players frequently make choices with the goal of winning over a specific companion, which he felt detracted from genuine role-playing as it influenced decisions based on who one wanted to romance rather than what one truly desired.

In contrast to other games, Obsidian’s Fallout: New Vegas opted out of featuring playable romantic companions, instead offering occasional interactions with non-player characters (NPCs). Similarly, the Pillars of Eternity series, set in the same universe as their upcoming game Avowed, included a few romance options in its second installment but not in the first. From what Patel and Boyarsky have shared about their games, it seems that Obsidian prioritizes crafting immersive role-playing environments, and while romantic elements don’t necessarily detract from this, they are not the primary focus.

Obsidian Is Smart For Not Rushing Romance Mechanics

Rushing Romance Mechanics Makes For Sloppy Storytelling

Examining romance mechanics in various RPGs, it’s clear where Obsidian directors like Patel and Boyarsky might have reservations about incorporating romance in a game. For instance, in games such as Mass Effect, when a character is romancable, the resolution of their storyline often coincides with the consummation of the romantic relationship. This can result in an unsatisfying conclusion for players who opt to maintain a platonic relationship, leaving the character’s story feeling unresolved and fading away instead.

Over-emphasizing romance in a story may limit the depth of a character’s narrative, as their interactions primarily revolve around their relationship with the player, leaving little room for exploring other facets of their personality. Conversely, a character might possess a rich backstory, but a hastily added romantic element could appear forced or obligatory rather than a genuine progression in their connection with the main character. The creators of Avowed wisely understood that crafting a successful romance requires care and attention, and opted to omit it when there wasn’t enough time to execute it effectively.

2025-02-14 02:27

You Won’t Believe What’s Missing From Avowed