It’s no secret that Microsoft have been a lacking in exclusives for more then a few years. To solve this, the Washington-based giant went on a spending spree of studios a few years ago. That game development splurge took some time to come to fruition. In fact, Indiana Jones and the Great Circle is arguably the first true system seller to emerge from their acquisitions. The next game to join this line up of one is Avowed.
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Avowed comes to us from Obsidian Entertainment, the studio behind games like Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic II: The Sith Lords, South Park: The Stick of Truth and Fallout: New Vegas. So, it’s safe to say they know how to craft an action role-playing game.
And, it’s this rich past and wealth of skill that really shines through with Avowed. No part of the the game is exceptional in the singular. But, when all pulled together – combat, storytelling and exploration – all combine into something a bit special.
Living World
Avowed takes place in the Living Lands, a diverse region within the world of Eora. The Living Lands features a range of ecospheres – from lush forests, arid deserts, to sprawling caves and valleys. You are an envoy from the Aedyr Empire, tasked with investigating a mysterious plague known as the ‘Dream Scourge’.
Dream Scourge is corrupting everything it finds, turning all into monsters covered in a sort of fungus. Your goal is to strengthen the Aedyr Empire’s foothold in the Living Lands, then prepare for it to join the empire.
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If you’re an RPG fan some of this setting may be ringing a bell with you. The game takes place within the same universe as the Pillars of Eternity series – another Obsidian Entertainment set. This is a clever move, I think. It gives the game an extremely lore rich world from which to choose elements from with room to add elements of its own.
Especially given the fact that the Living Lands have never featured as a playable area in a Pillars of Eternity game. This whole new world serves as a treat for series fans, and a blank slate on which the devs could go wild.
Ol’ Slice and Chat
Gameplay in Avowed is an interesting mix of blades and chat. You will do battle with your words as much as with your sword and spells. It’s within the game’s many dialigue moments that you truly shape the tale and the future of the land.
Due to your role as the envoy, you technically speak on behalf of the empire. And there are a few weighty questions you’ll have to think about and the outcomes of them. The impact of each choice varies, mind. Some have short-term consequences, while others longer term, but there are enough to have you stop and really think.
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Combat is an engaging and fun mix of weaponry and spells that you can mix in order to craft your own style. Movement and pacing are tight, adding layers to battles. This sense of dynamism and emergence is only helped by a bewildering arsenal of weapons ranging from daggers, to pistols and everything in between. You’ll quickly find there are hidden depths here beyond swinging a sword and praying.
You can also duel wield most small arms. You can have an axe and a wand, or say two hammers. The possibilities are endless, and it’s a lot of fun to see what mix deals the most damage or effects.
Party Up
Your companions allow you access to special attacks and skills, which will save your bacon time and time again.
However, things become a little unstuck when it comes to the levelling-up side and skill tree. These aspects are a little too simplistic, but this is an issue that a lot of mainstream RPGS suffer from. Avowed tries to streamline everything for a wider audience beyond the hardcore, but in doing so it over simplifies things too much.
There are set skill trees – fighter, ranged, wizard and companion – which are fine. However, it’s all very standard and overly restrictive in terms of making your mark on a custom build.
Exploration is handled well, going for a similar open areas model to The Outer Worlds, another Obsidian Entertainment property. This format allows for detailed areas to get lost in, with keeping a grip on the grander vision and pacing. To be honest, the world never feels small.
Crafted Role-Player
Avowed looks great. Each area feels new and fresh, with great variety across its points of interest. Locals, creatures and plant life all look different, yet feel like part of the world. Sound is cracking. An interesting mix of well-acted accents mixed with the epic, high-fantasy soundtrack carries the game as you traipse from caves to mountain tops.
Avowed doesn’t really reinvent the wheel or add to the ARPG formula, but it is a compelling and enjoyable adventure in a land of wonder. Hours will turn to days, as you find more things to do and see. Its not as impactful as Baldur’s Gate 3, or as painfully real as Kingdom Come: Deliverance II, but it is an extremely well-crafted ARPG, that is as compelling as it is rewarding.