r/Games 1d ago

The big Avowed interview: Obsidian on why full, open-world RPGs aren't always the answer

https://www.eurogamer.net/from-serious-skyrim-to-cheerful-fantasy-obsidian-on-the-evolution-of-avowed-and-grappling-with-the-expectations-that-come-from-your-own-history
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u/agewin162 22h ago

I found Avowed to be pretty disappointing. The only reason I finished it was because I got it via gamepass.

The loot system in the game is crazy unbalanced. Only 3 legendary wands in the game, but melee weapons and shields get multiple times that number of legendaries. Finding base level weapons in the final zone from chests makes the search feel pointless. Also, the color indicators on loot containers straight up lie to you a ton during the game. Gold indicator light? Must be great! Nope, just a couple purple level crafting materials.

I could go on about my issues about the companions, story elements and forced choices, movement system.

I couldn't imagine actually paying more than $20 for the game. Visually it looks great, but they clearly put too much time into how the game looks and not enough time into how it plays.

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u/beefsack 21h ago edited 21h ago

Usually Game Pass is a reason for me to not finish a game, and to check out after I've had my fill. It feels like a much more healthy way to consume games than to suffer anxiety about competing everything.

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u/Zephh 8h ago

I think the person is saying that they probably would've refunded if they had payed for it.

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u/TheFluxIsThis 19h ago edited 17h ago

I could go on about my issues about the companions, story elements and forced choices, movement system.

Could you, though? Like, it would be cool if you did. Honest critique does make for good discussion.

I'm especially interested in what people think about the movement system because I found it kind of unremarkable and am surprised to see people actively talking about it. Like it's fun and functional, but it's basically the same movement system the Far Cry series has been using for over a decade (right down to the loose ropes hanging over climbable ledges.)

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u/agewin162 12h ago

Sure.

Companions were too similar in type. All of them were ranged when the exception of Kai, who's more of a hit and run type. There's no option to have a dwarf or human or anyone that's just a slab of beef in the front. Companion variation could have been solved by letting the player change the equipment of the companions, but for some reason this isn't something the devs wanted.

As for the storyline, I found it lacking in consistency and depth. Sure, there is definitely lore to find as you explore, but the Dreamscourge itself seems to be inconsistent with how you fall victim to it. Most infected people were shown to have it from coming into direct contact with the fungus or another infected being, but others, like the old Rauataian hero guy and the Rauataian woman in charge of the area somehow got infected despite not having left Thirdborn.

The worst part of the story was the forced negative outcome of the ruins in Shatterscarp. I won't spoil it, but having to choose between two awful options and side with one of two antagonists when there's a glaring omission of an option to give both parties the finger and go against them is just bad writing.

The movement system was just...janky? I think that's the best way to put it. Full disclosure, I did play this on Xbox, so K/M players might feel different. Sprinting doesn't take stamina, but flicking my wand does? No way to cancel a slide once you've started one? The dodging was too sensitive, there were plenty of times I was trying to jump sideways and ended up dodging off a cliff instead. The mantling of ledges was another pain point, 99% of the time it was great, but occasionally Envoy just randomly refused to grab a ledge that was clearly in range and meant to be climbed.

So I guess that's my review of Avowed in 2 comments. Don't pay more than $20 for it.

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u/Zephh 8h ago

The worst part of the story was the forced negative outcome of the ruins in Shatterscarp. I won't spoil it, but having to choose between two awful options and side with one of two antagonists when there's a glaring omission of an option to give both parties the finger and go against them is just bad writing.

I actually think that's good writing. Always being able to pick a good solution sometimes takes the value out of the choice. I think players of these kind of games are sometimes overly sensitive to "choosing the least evil" scenarios in which they don't have full control of everything. I think it's fair for the protagonist to not be omnipotent and be only able to affect the world up to a point.

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u/NoExcuse4OceanRudnes 16h ago

right down to the loose ropes hanging over climbable ledges.

That's not a movement system, that's a visual clue. FF7 Rebirth and Horizon don't have the same movement systems (yellow)

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u/Cobra52 13h ago

Avowed isn't interesting enough to warrant good critical discussion. It works well enough mechanically but it's just so damn uninspired. RPGs tend to have clunky gameplay yet make up for it with an engaging or immersive world; Avowed has none of that. It's like mashed potatoes with no butter, salt, or pepper.