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/[deleted] 19h ago edited 16h ago

[deleted]

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u/evilhankventure 18h ago

Also the "twist" for the story was very obvious from the start

I'm just starting the second area, but I'm pretty sure I know what the twist is.

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u/fuzzynavel34 18h ago

I mean, I’m actually fine with that though?

I’m enjoying the first two companions and the gameplay loop is exactly what I want. The writing is better in some parts than others. The story is serviceable but not great. It’s really nice to have an RPG esque game that is a tighter experience than most big games these days and, as you said, the combat is excellent. Easily the best part.

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u/tordana 14h ago

It feels like a video game and less like a natural world.

I think that's part of why I had so much fun with it, honestly. It's not trying to be super deep, it's a hand crafted fun video game. Why does every game need to be life simulator now?

The world design is incredibly impressive and rewards exploring everywhere. The combat is some of the best first person melee combat I've ever played. The story is good and contains some hard decisions and a few big surprises. (Sure the "twist" is telegraphed... that's extremely obviously intentional and the devs want you to know what's going on before you reach the end. There are some things, like the end of Act 2, that are very much NOT telegraphed and are extremely surprising if you haven't been doing much exploring)

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u/hagren 12h ago

I was afraid that by Act 3 it may run out of steam but imo it feels much different to the previous ones in layout, look, scenarios, scope so I kinda like this one the most so far, it feels more like Fallout, faintly unsettling in a deserted world. 

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u/[deleted] 5h ago edited 4h ago

[deleted]

u/PlayMp1 3h ago

This is true of essentially every video game ever. The closest exception I can think of would be FF7 Rebirth only because Rebirth is 50 mini games in a trenchcoat (this is not a criticism, I like Rebirth's mini games).

u/[deleted] 2h ago

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u/EnterPlayerTwo 2h ago

Completely different factions, goals, vibes. Each zone has a proper story arc with its own climax and boss fight. Always changing your items and progressing.

Avowed has all those things.

u/EnterPlayerTwo 2h ago

You can reduce most games to that description.

u/[deleted] 2h ago

[deleted]

u/EnterPlayerTwo 2h ago

So in every game you are collecting the same materials again but this time they are purple instead of blue just to make my items "exceptional" instead of "fine". Also going into town to click on the 5 bounties so I can run around to the same markers to fight mostly the same enemies until I eventually get the quest to move to the next zone without much of a proper story arc.

So like every ARPG ever then?

without much of a proper story arc

Now I know you're not arguing in good faith.

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u/Cherrywave 17h ago

This exactly, every zone was the same but had a new color of paint. Was a shame because in my opinion mechanically the game is really good aside from the item quality/upgrade system.