Xbox fans are in for a treat with a trio of AAA exclusives. The highlight, of course, is Indiana Jones and the Great Circle. However, RPG diehards are looking forward to something else – Obsidian Entertainment’s Avowed, an upcoming Xbox exclusive set in the Pillars of Eternity universe.
Initially revealed in 2020 and showcased at Summer Game Fest 2023 (the said showing wasn’t well-received), Avowed is hyped as the next great AAA RPG title.
With its release window set for Fall 2024 following the latest Xbox Direct Showcase, the fans are eagerly anticipating its release. But, the more skeptical ones are wondering, does Avowed have what it takes to tango with the best of them these days?
Avowed is a first-person RPG that bears a striking similarity to The Elder Scrolls V Skyrim – ironically, Obsidian pitched a TES game to Bethesda only to have it turned down – featuring rune-based magic powers and sword combat. The game is set in the land of Eora and involves exploring the Living Lands, an area affected by a plague that corrupts souls. It’s a game that promises a rich narrative experience, starting with the player character who’s a powerful magic-wielder sent by an emperor to investigate the plague. This setting, combined with the game’s mechanics, offers a blend of hand-to-hand melee combat, gunplay, and spellcasting.
Avowed’s combat system is designed to be dynamic, allowing players to switch seamlessly between different weapon varieties and abilities, including magic, melee weapons, and guns. The gameplay also includes defensive abilities like parrying and dual-wielding for increased firepower or versatility. Avowed will offer a mix of combat challenges, with a quest system where players investigate events and interact with NPCs, making choices that influence the direction of quests.
The gameplay trailer showcases the vibrant and saturated environments of the Living Lands, filled with diverse biomes, people, and enemies. It also introduces us to Kai, a Coastal Aumaua and former soldier, one of the game’s companions. Kai’s idealistic and pragmatic nature will guide the player through the wild frontier of the Living Lands.
Despite the anticipation, the internet has mixed reactions to Avowed’s showcase. Some show excitement about its potential, while others express concern, particularly due to its stiff combat system and the animation quality. Its unique visual style, which uses a stylized color palette, stands out. However, RPGs are held to an undeniably extreme standard these days – just ask Bethesda how people continue to criticize Starfield despite its strong sales – Avowed’s unnatural combat system and the lack of overall polish ahead of its release later this year needs much improvement.
While Pentiment and Grounded aren’t half-bad, they didn’t have AAA budgets. Avowed does. Thus, Avowed’s success is largely dependent on how it compares to other open-world titles and RPGs that have pushed the genre forward since the days of Fallout 4 and Skyrim, namely, Cyberpunk 2077, Baldur’s Gate 3, The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild and The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom.
If it lives up to the expectations, improving its combat system to be more fluid and less janky paired with a compelling narrative, and, most important of all, a dynamic magic system, Avowed could very well add to Obsidian’s legacy of creating memorable RPG experiences.
But, if not, then Bethesda better consider it as another reminder that The Elder Scrolls VI will have to be leagues ahead of Skyrim to be worth the wait.
