Avowed’s Unique Approach Elevates the RPG Experience

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Among the absence of romantic elements and the intriguing Pillars of Eternity atmosphere, one aspect that has been generating anticipation among eager gamers eager to explore Avowed is its confined environment instead of an open world. After finishing the game, it’s clear that this design choice was the right approach.

In most role-playing games (RPGs), you envision a vast, unfamiliar universe teeming with life, often incorporating enchantments such as spells and showcasing unique terminology that’s new to the ear. Games like Skyrim boast Dragonborns, shouts, and Tamriel; Fallout presents mutants, Synths, and a blend of past and future America; and Avowed introduces Godlikes, grimoires, and Eora as its setting.

Although Avowed is confined to a specific region, it’s not an open-world adventure in the traditional sense, as compared to games like Skyrim, Fallout, Fable, or others similar in style. Instead, players move about by fast-traveling between different locations, altering its genre fundamentally. This design choice suits the game perfectly.

Four degrees of separation

In total, the game Avowed offers four distinct areas for discovery, each boasting a unique ecosystem, governance system, aesthetic, adversaries, and level of challenge.

Instead of having separate regions, Obsidian could have designed an interconnected world. This way, you’d be able to traverse the entire map, reaching each region’s border and seamlessly entering the next one. This approach is common in RPGs and it works effectively. It particularly benefits the game by making the locations feel like a continuous country or land.

In Avowed, I find myself traversing distinct worlds apart, with the troubled farmlands of the Emerald Stair contrasting starkly against the scorching deserts of Galawain’s Tusk. Each region offers a unique challenge, immersing me deeper into this fantastical universe.

In Avowed, each location stands out distinctly, giving the player a sense of uniqueness for each city, just as in real life, it’s hard to confuse Pine Crest Cavern with Kittredge Pass from Fallout 4. This is not the case in Avowed; they are clearly different.

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The nature of politics

Previously, we noted that Avowed contains its fair share of inconsistencies, where you frequently engage in battles that involve both the intricacies of civilized politics and the unpredictability of wilderness, all while striving to halt the Dreamscourge (which somewhat resembles 2020). This style of exploration is ideal for tackling a multifaceted narrative like the main storyline of Avowed.

The essence of the Living Lands lies in its being alive, which might come as a surprise, and also posing considerable peril. According to folklore, this place serves as refuge for many, representing a last resort for most of the population. It’s important to note that not all who reside there take it as a blessing.

Since that area in the middle of the map is perilous, to the point that Marius avoids it entirely, it’s illogical for a political emissary to venture there. By positioning locations far apart and dividing them geographically and politically, we create a more intriguing narrative and significantly expand the scale of the Living Lands.

They feel like levels

Apart from sharing no common political or geographical ties, the methods of exploration and difficulty levels in these regions are remarkably different. Although it’s not immediately apparent through clear guidelines, each region has its unique level and challenge rating. Dawnshore provides initial equipment for an easier journey, while encountering stronger enemies and superior loot is more common in Galawain’s Tusks, including Superb or Exceptional items in their stores and on the fallen foes themselves – even legendary beasts roam these lands.

In this way, your advancement seems closely connected to distinct areas, giving them a sense of independent stages that can be revisited at any time for gathering specific resources or finishing side missions, rather than traversing an expansive nation.

As a gamer, I can tell you that Avowed offers an immersive experience by treating each city as its own unique storyline rather than merging them into one massive narrative. This way, I get to traverse the Living Lands at my own pace, uncovering distinct political landscapes and architectural designs that set each region apart. It’s like exploring different worlds within the same game!

The Living Lands outshines numerous role-playing games in various aspects. Fingers crossed, we’ll witness a surge of similar designs in the coming times.

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2025-02-19 20:00