As a seasoned RPG enthusiast with over two decades of gaming under my belt, I must say that Avowed has piqued my interest in ways few games have before. Having traversed countless worlds from the familiar to the fantastical, I can confidently assert that the Living Lands of Eora seem poised to offer a unique and immersive experience.
Obsidian Entertainment intends to return to a fantasy realm with their RPG expertise for the game Avowed, slated for release in February 2025. Recently, I was given a chance to test out an early demo of Avowed, covering its prologue and initial hours. This sneak peek has sparked my enthusiasm for the promised combat mechanics and left me eager to discover more about this freshly imagined world.
A living, breathing world
Set within the fantastical realm of Eora, on the vibrant island dubbed the Living Lands, this story unfolds. This enchanted region teems with various creatures and landscapes, all unfamiliar to both player and protagonist. Your character is dispatched from a distant empire with a mission: explore, unravel the mystery behind an ominous magical affliction known as the Dream Scourge.
At the start of Avowed, I ventured from a coastline, traversed a woodland, and ultimately arrived at a city. Throughout my adventure, I encountered various characters and had the freedom to choose dialogue options that reflected my characteristics and past. Occasionally, certain dialogue choices were inaccessible because they required specific attribute levels that I hadn’t yet attained. These attributes are defined during character creation and can be improved as you progress and level up.
locate a key and set them free. This scenario echoes The Outer Worlds, Obsidian’s role-playing game set in space; the narrative is driven by characters and player choices, shaping a complex, branching storyline.
Magic, swords, and guns
Among all aspects of the game, Avowed’s combat system was undeniably the most impressive during my playthrough. This system adopts a flexible approach, enabling players to arm themselves with their preferred weapons in both hands. Consequently, you can create intriguing combinations such as wielding a spellbook alongside an axe, or a wand together with a blunderbuss pistol. It seems like a progression of Skyrim’s innovative combat mechanics.
In a skirmish by the water’s edge, I employed my grimoire to summon lightning, electrifying the water and harming everything immersed in it. Subsequently, I utilized the same magical tome to chill an adversary with an icy spell. As its vitality was depleted, a single axe strike pulverized it into minuscule fragments. Players will discover that foes possess distinct vulnerabilities and resistances towards elements and attack styles.
Essential for both conflict and discovery, these elements play a crucial role. Numerous locations were obstructed by tangled brambles, which I managed to clear using fire. This task could be accomplished either by casting a fire spell, or by directing my ally Kai, who carried a gun that fired incendiary bullets, to eliminate the obstruction.
When a player advances to the next level, they have the option to allocate points into one out of five categories: Warrior, Explorer, Mage, Divine, and Ally. The first four enhance the power and effectiveness of your weapons and skills, while the Ally branch can be utilized to strengthen and unlock additional abilities for the non-player characters who accompany you on your adventure. A player can change these abilities at a fee in gold coins.
Besides weapons, you’ll also need to choose armor and accessories tailored to your play style. You can acquire these items by defeating enemies, finding them in hidden chests, or buying them from shops. I was thrilled to find out that not only could I conceal my gear, but I could also transform it, making it appear as if I were wearing an entirely different item from my inventory.
Weird fantasy
Avowed, at first glance, seems to deliver a robust start as a role-playing game that values and encourages diverse play patterns. It aligns nicely with The Outer Worlds, while drawing inspiration from classic fantasy RPGs. As it’s set in the same universe as Pillars of Eternity, I’m excited to discover how Obsidian Entertainment will develop the lore further in the complete game.
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2024-11-21 17:28