I’m Glad Obsidian Lied About Avowed’s Romances

by

As the launch of Avowed approached, there was a lot of discussion about its similarity to The Outer Worlds in that it would not feature romantic options for players, but rather concentrate on fostering deep platonic bonds between the player and their game companions.

Obsidian Studios chose to deviate from conventional romantic mechanics, focusing on building relationships with characters without the need for winning over a particular companion or multiple ones. This decision was primarily due to the challenge of creating a compelling and fulfilling non-romantic path that would significantly expand the game’s complexity beyond what could realistically be achieved.

However, as players have progressed through the game over the past month, what was initially thought to be false has proven to be somewhat true. To clarify, it’s possible to develop a romantic relationship with one character, though I won’t reveal who for spoiler reasons. If you’ve been playing diligently, you might have an idea of who it is. As for more potential romances, the mystery remains as nobody has definitively found any others yet! That’s what makes it so intriguing.

RPG Romances Are Too Calculated

For a long time, romances have been a significant aspect of RPG games, often providing players with the most emotionally satisfying experiences within the game. Our writer Stacey Henley shares her thoughts on the importance of romances in the Witcher developers’ upcoming game, while Rhiannon Bevan has expressed her admiration for Dragon Age: Origins’ Alistair and shared her struggles with him. Similarly, I have written about my affection for Karlach from Baldur’s Gate 3 and my own challenges with her on this platform.

top-mob.com‘s staff are never beating the rizzless allegations, I suppose.

While it’s true that romance can add depth to some RPGs, there are valid concerns about its inclusion as well. In many cases, romances don’t enhance gameplay but may even diminish the overall gaming experience due to the artificial nature of interactions in video games. For instance, actions that seem natural in real life become scripted when simulated in a game, such as selecting items from an inventory or choosing dialogue options from a pre-determined list. The freedom to explore and interact with the environment is also limited by the developers’ design choices, making the experience feel less organic.

In a similar fashion to romantic relationships, it often feels like you’re accumulating favor or approval points. Once a character is presented as a potential romantic interest, certain behaviors that role-playing games have conditioned us to perform may unconsciously take over. You find yourself doing and saying things that seem most appealing to this character, disregarding the roleplay aspect. This might involve giving them gifts they’d appreciate or performing actions you believe will win their affection. The idea is that if you play your cards right, they’ll express interest in your character – it’s what they’ve been designed to respond to.

Interacting with characters in this way might give you a more profound insight into them. You may discover aspects about them that would have remained hidden if they were merely your acquaintances. However, these characters can sometimes transform into mere achievements or prizes for the player – becoming depersonalized and reduced to items to collect rather than complex individuals with depth and personality.

Not Knowing There Was Romance Made It Feel Organic

Instead of explicitly stating that there will be no romances in the game, Obsidian subtly hinted they might be present by suggesting they would “really, really, really” get it right if included, or not include them at all. In other words, they obscured the possibility of romantic relationships in the game.

In essence, romance isn’t explicitly a feature within the game itself. However, upon completing the game, you can strengthen your bond with certain characters, which is showcased in the ending slides. Yet, the development of this relationship and the realization that you’ve been working towards it aren’t directly experienced or evident throughout the gameplay.

By keeping the romantic potential of characters hidden initially in Baldur’s Gate 3, Obsidian allowed players to develop their own connections with the characters, as though they were getting to know real people rather than trying to manipulate them for affection. This approach feels more authentic than traditional game mechanics that guide players through a process to win a character’s love. Without knowing there was a romance option, you can’t consult a guide or follow a set of steps; instead, you simply build relationships naturally over time.

Instead of suggesting that there’s no romance in the game, it could be more accurate to say that while there isn’t a traditional romance mechanic, there is still an element of romantic growth and development between characters. The organic way relationships evolve can create a delightful surprise for players, as love often does in real life. Although this may not align with some player expectations, it could be exactly what the game needed to offer something unique and authentic.

Read More

2025-03-14 21:51