Avowed Review
Avowed offers a vibrant, detailed world with excellent combat mechanics and interesting storytelling, my full review.
Obsidian Entertainment has once again demonstrated its mastery of the Western role-playing genre with Avowed, a journey that captivates with its medieval fantasy world. While it doesn’t break the mould for WRPGs, what is here is so refined from world-building to combat that it made it hard to put down the controller. Set in the world of Eora, Avowed has you explore the diverse landscapes of the Living Lands, from lush forests to arid deserts. As an envoy from the Aedyr Empire, you're tasked with investigating the mysterious "Dream Scourge" plague to save its inhabitants. This has you navigate a narrative filled with political intrigue and moral complexities. Let’s set sail for the wilds of the Living Lands and explore what made Avowed an experience that captivated me from start to finish.
Avowed Details
Platform(s): Xbox Series X|S, Windows PC Reviewed on: Xbox Series X Developer: Obsidian Entertainment Publisher: Xbox Game Studios Genre: First-person action role-playing game Available modes: Single-player
ESRB Rating: Mature 17+
Author Your Own Story
The main story arc in the game has you step into the shoes of an envoy from the Aedyr Empire, dispatched to the Living Lands to investigate a plague known as the Dreamscourge. This affliction wreaks havoc on the local flora and fauna, setting the stage for setting the stage for a complex narrative where your decisions shape the fate of the region. As you delve deeper, you'll confront ancient secrets, navigate political tensions among diverse factions, and uncover your own mysterious connection to the land, all while battling the pervasive corruption threatening to consume everything. Overall, the narrative is engaging, but the story is somewhat clichéd, with predictable twists that I saw coming. With that being said, the choices you make will not only influence your path but effect the world and how the NPCs perceive you. Despite these shortcomings, the game's dynamic world offered enough of a compelling experience to keep me going.
You Are What You Wield
In Avowed, you see the world from a first-person perspective, which I found offers greater immersion. Obsidian took their time refining play mechanics, and the overall experience is better for it. Large vistas and structures have an even greater sense of scale through the first-person view, and the combat is even more visceral. You can also opt to play in the third-person perspective; it gives you a better view of your character and armour, but the game has clearly been designed with 1st person in mind. I tried the third-person perspective briefly in my playthrough but quickly went back to first-person because it just looked and felt so much better.
The flexible combat system was definitely a highlight of the Avowed experience for me. It enables combinations like dual-wielding pistols or wands, handling a two-handed axe, or pairing a sword or gun with a shield. With all that being said, if you approach the combat in a static way, you might not get as much out of it. I can’t stress enough that you really should experiment with your arsenal and mix things up; the game will reward you for it. The gameplay design emphasizes player choice and adaptability. If you opt to just hack n’ slash and don’t experiment with magic or ranged attacks, you can get by, but the combat will become monotonous. This versatility encourages experimentation, catering to a diverse range of playstyles. The skill tree system is also very forgiving, and for a minimal fee, you can even completely re-spec your character. Embracing these features and experimenting with different playstyles will lead to a more immersive and rewarding journey.
Avowed Graphics and Performance
Visually, Avowed is a treat and incredibly well-optimized from a technical standpoint. The Living Lands are depicted with a vibrant palette of pinks, purples, and oranges, creating a unique aesthetic that sets it apart from typical grey and drab fantasy settings. The environments are bright and full of character, making exploration a visual delight. Performance-wise, the game runs smoothly on the Xbox Series X, with minimal technical issues. However, while the game maintains a somewhat consistent frame rate, there are some dips, though it still feels smooth during gameplay. Something worth mentioning is that with my dozens of hours with the game, I never experienced a hard crash. For a game of this scale and scope, I was very impressed, RPGs of this size are often riddled with issues. Avowed looks great and performs incredibly well, kudos to the team.
Final Thoughts on Avowed
Avowed offers a vibrant, detailed world with excellent combat mechanics and engaging storytelling. While it doesn’t break the mould for WRPGs, what is here is so refined—from world-building to combat—it’s hard to put the game down. While it may not revolutionize the RPG landscape, it provides a solid and entertaining journey through the world of Eora. The vivid world design, engaging narrative and flexible combat system are the highlights, though if you don’t experiment, you might find the combat lacks depth. Nonetheless, Avowed is a well-crafted, tight and enjoyable RPG experience I highly recommend.
Avowed PROS
+Vibrant and unique world design
+Engaging narrative with meaningful choices
+Flexible combat system catering to various playstyles
Avowed CONS
-Combat may lack depth for some players
-Limited enemy variety
-Some performance limitations on certain systems
Overall Assessment of Avowed
Gameplay: 8/10
Graphics: 9/10
Sound: 8/10
Lasting appeal / Replayability: 8/10
Overall Rating: 34/40 = 85%
Xbox Game Studios provided a copy of the game to conduct this review.
About the Author - Matthew "Dapper Tux" Rondina
Matthew has been involved in all things gaming since the 8-bit era. He is a video game and tech industry veteran who has been passionate about technology and gaming for over 20 years. In addition to being the Managing Editor of dappertux.com, he has bylines with Best Buy, Cineplex Entertainment, Mobile Syrup and Walmart. Follow Matthew’s gaming + tech adventures on multiple social platforms with the handle @dapper_tux via X, Instagram, Threads, TikTok, and join in on the fun!
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