Is Avowed really such a flop?
Is Avowed the disaster that critics suggest? Spoiler alert... no!
But before getting into the heart of the matter, let's start with the basics: what is Avowed?
Avowed takes place in the world of Eora , the universe well-known to fans of Pillars of Eternity . This choice is interesting because it allows Obsidian to draw upon a rich and already well-established lore. Unlike the Pillars of Eternity games , which were presented in isometric view, Avowed adopts a first-person perspective (FPS) , reminiscent of The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim .
Avowed, evil was born.
As I write this, I have over 15 hours of gameplay. I don't think that's enough to form a definitive opinion, but it's certainly enough to realize that the criticisms leveled against it are a bit... well, quite harsh and unjustified. Yet I think I know where they come from.
What is Obsidian? Obsidian is the studio behind New Vegas, one of the most acclaimed post-apocalyptic open-world RPGs in recent years. They've accustomed us to a standard of quality and high standards that few developers can match, and now they're developing Avowed. Let's be honest from the start: if the game had been developed by any other studio, the reviews would undoubtedly have been less harsh.
History and choices; 14 out of 20
We were promised a game where every choice mattered, every path taken could drastically alter the course of events. It's disheartening to realize that the dialogues and choices made have absolutely no impact on the story. Everything is meticulously scripted. During the main quest, one of our allies, though underdeveloped, will be hanged from a tree in protest. This event will occur regardless of your actions. In fact, three out of the four possible paths will lead to this scene. It lacks depth. There are so many missed opportunities in this game that it's sometimes truly sad.
The story itself is interesting; I'm not a Pillars of Eternity player, so I'm discovering this universe for the first time. I'm enjoying the quests, and the main quest is well-written enough that I don't feel like I'm just delivering a package.
Soundtrack; 18 out of 20
Wow! There's no other word for it. In this respect, they've outdone themselves, and every exploration and event is sublimely amplified by a soundtrack that works wonderfully well.
Gameplay; 14 out of 20
The combat is engaging, the weapon combos are varied, and the whole thing is dynamic. However, it does become a bit repetitive after only 10-15 hours of gameplay. The enemies are bullet sponges. A little tip for everyone: do the side quests to collect money and levels, because even in story or easy mode, the main quest quickly makes you realize that your gear won't be enough. Especially when changing zones!
Where I think this game completely misses the mark is in its gameplay mechanics. There's no crafting (other than recycling), so you can't make weapons; you can only upgrade them with components. There's no justice system; stealing in broad daylight in front of witnesses won't get you anywhere. The guards are as static as can be (see next point). This isn't an RPG; the role-playing aspect is completely absent. If the player character in front of you isn't hostile, you can't do anything. Even if they're a bandit. If there's a script, then you'll follow it. Period!
Immersion and the world; 12 out of 20
Here, Avowed loses its edge. A lot of edge, in fact. While the art style might not appeal to everyone, I find it pretty (except for the water... seriously, it's atrocious and often buggy). However, the immersion is often completely broken by the total lack of interaction with the world around you. The NPCs are useless; no interaction is possible. If you shoot an arrow at a passerby, it goes right through. They won't even speak to you. They won't continue what they're doing because they have nothing to do. They just have basic animations on a loop, and they barely even look at you. As mentioned above, there's no justice system, which means the guards are useless posturing, mere decorative elements. In short, the cities are dead; no life emanates from them, unlike what we might have seen in New Vegas, Oblivion, or any other RPG from 20 years ago.
Oblivion, in particular, had physics. A weapon, a bottle, or a plate could be picked up, destroyed, or at least impacted by the player. All of this is absent from Avowed. If the item isn't highlighted, you can't pick it up.
In short
Despite its many flaws, I can't say Avowed is a disaster. In fact, Avowed has a slight identity problem... it's not an RPG, it's an action-adventure game like Horizon. Avowed was born under a bad sign; it's not a good RPG in its structure, and it has the misfortune of having been developed by one of the most renowned studios in the genre. Give it a chance; it's available on Game Pass, and I think it's a great opportunity to try the service. Because let's be honest, I wouldn't be writing this if I'd had to pay $89 for it. It's a game I would have thoroughly enjoyed playing and would probably have bought on sale. The good news, however, is that there are regular updates; perhaps some of the issues mentioned above will be addressed—who knows?
Final grade: 14 out of 20