Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 and Avowed: two entirely different ends of the RPG spectrum, coexisting?

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It’s become my thing to compare seemingly uncomparable games, but this time the comparison seems much more logical. After playing Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 right after Avowed, I got quite a neck strain, yet the achievements of both games left me pondering.

Complexity, simplicity, and the muddy stuff in-between

Unlike many video genres that experience shifts between being popular and forgotten (such as stealth games and real-time strategies), some categories remain staples within the industry. Games like shooters, simulators, and role-playing titles seem to maintain their relevance regardless of trends.

Over time, titles within popular genres can adapt based on the preferences of their audience. For instance, observe the changes in shooter games; an overwhelming number now feature complex weapon customization systems, a feature that was scarce before. Whether these additions are essential or not is debatable, but they certainly provide entertainment and engagement for many players. This trend seems to resonate with a large portion of gamers, as evidenced by their widespread adoption.

Previously derailed, a phenomenon akin to what we’ve witnessed with Role-Playing Games (RPGs) is worth noting. Following the triumph of From Software’s “Dark Souls”, a mini sub-genre was born, capitalizing on the trend and, more bluntly, profiting from it. However, not every modern RPG has transformed into a ‘Souls-like’ game just yet. At least, not entirely.

When Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 dropped, I was genuinely astounded by the torrent of praise and affection it received. To be clear, I knew the game would resonate with players and flourish, but the scale of its success took me aback. It made me think that Avowed might get overshadowed because everyone would still be engrossed in Kingdom Come 2. But then, yet another instance of being taken aback happened when a surprisingly straightforward RPG managed to thrive soon after an intricately deep one had done the same.

Niches within niches (within niches)

To clarify: I didn’t anticipate that Avowed would be a poor game. Instead, it reminded me of the fate of Dragon Age: Veilguard. Now, regardless of personal opinions on Veilguard, it’s challenging to argue against its technical proficiency and enjoyability in its immediate gameplay. It shares similarities with Borderlands 3, where the games offer a fantastic playtime, but their narratives and dialogues can become tiresome very fast.

Gratefully, it should be clarified that Avowed is not related to Veilguard in the traditional sense. Over time, we have seen a variety of games that follow this pattern – more straightforward RPGs. Games like Diablo fit into this category, but more specifically, think of titles such as Mass Effect, Kingdoms of Amalur, and Greedfall. At the other end of the spectrum, we find games like Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2, The Elder Scrolls 3: Morrowind, and Baldur’s Gate 3.

It’s quite clear that there’s a significant difference between the old RPGs and the new ones: The older ones are polished, structured, and swift. They assign you a specific role with limitations on what you can do, although they allow some flexibility in how you complete your tasks. However, due to their design, you’re unable to engage in unconventional, open-ended gameplay as you can in the more recent games.

Admittedly, it feels as if Avowed is a fantasy take on the fast-paced action of DOOM. To put it simply, your character moves with agility, almost like a speed-addled squirrel. The fighting feels substantial and rewarding, and there’s always something new to collect, even in short gaming spells, giving them significance. The characters are well-crafted and intriguing, while the storyline subtly raises thought-provoking questions for those curious enough to delve deeper.

In contrast to Kingdom Come 2, the experience is methodical and deliberate, much like the strategy game ARMA in the realm of RPGs. This game doesn’t shy away from penalizing careless players; it even restricts saving progress unless you have Savior’s Schnapps on hand. However, Henry, your character in this game, is adaptable and can be shaped according to your desires.

In reality, “Avowed” and the upcoming “Kingdom Come 2” are starkly contrasting games in their essence. Despite their differences, they have managed to captivate the RPG community separately, each for unique and distinct reasons.

Misreading the room

As a gamer, I can tell you that luck can definitely influence a game’s triumph, but in the case of Dragon Age: Veilguard, it wasn’t about good fortune – it was about failing to meet expectations. In contrast, when it comes to keeping gamers satisfied, Avowed has got it down pat. Unfortunately, Bioware’s anticipated masterpiece, Dragon Age: Veilguard, seems to have missed the mark.

From a gameplay perspective, both “Avowed” and “Veilguard” share similarities as they are action-oriented games that prioritize enjoyable combat regardless of character class or stat distribution. However, unlike “Kingdom Come 2”, neither title seems to be overly punishing if mistakes are made during gameplay. So, the question remains: why is the RPG community more receptive towards “Avowed” and seemingly dismissing “Veilguard”? This could potentially be due to various factors such as marketing strategies, unique features, or perhaps the overall appeal of the respective games within the community at this time.

In my opinion, Bioware seemingly overlooked their target audience during the development of Veilguard, resulting in a significant mismanagement of its setting, mood, and storyline. However, despite Avowed‘s substantial departure from its ancestor, Pillars of Eternity, it remains faithful to the established lore and tone. While Avowed may appear unusual if you consider its larger, encompassing narrative, that’s simply an extra layer of intrigue on top of what fans of PoE have grown accustomed to and cherish.

As a dedicated fan, I can tell you that when it comes to Veilguard, likening it to Dragon Age: Origins isn’t particularly helpful or accurate. While they do exist within the same genre, they differ significantly in terms of the unique qualities that make Dragon Age fans fall in love with the series. This dissimilarity, unfortunately, made it hard for the community to warm up to Veilguard.

Nowadays, it seems RPG enthusiasts are enjoying a bounty of excellent games, as two fantastic ones have been released back-to-back lately. Interestingly enough, these games cater to distinct audiences and have both achieved remarkable success. Typically, the launch of one significant game can overshadow another’s reception, but I’m delighted that Avowed managed to avoid this trend.

In a more unfortunate turn of events, Bioware unfortunately didn’t manage to deliver on their promise as exemplified by the game “Veilguard”. It had the potential to be similar to this year’s anticipated title, “Avowed”, but it ultimately fell short. With the upcoming “Kingdom Come 2” and “Avowed”, there seems to be an abundance of Role-Playing Game (RP) to Graphics (G) offerings on our horizon.

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2025-02-25 20:18