Avowed: A Spellbinding Adventure with a Few Hiccups

A world where magic meets martial arts, and your patience meets its match

Launch Day Larry

Welcome, fellow adventurers, to the mystical lands of Eora, where Obsidian’s latest creation, Avowed, invites you to wield swords, cast spells, and occasionally question your life choices. This game promises a rich tapestry of combat, exploration, and storytelling, but does it deliver a legendary saga or a tale best left untold? Let’s dive in.

Gameplay: A Symphony of Swords and Sorcery

In Avowed, the combat system is a delightful concoction of martial prowess and magical mayhem. Players can choose from three archetypes—warrior, ranger, and mage—and mix them like a cocktail at a fantasy tavern. The result? A fast-paced, flexible combat experience that feels as satisfying as landing a critical hit on a goblin.

The ability to pause time with a radial menu adds a strategic layer, allowing you to plan your next move while your enemies ponder their life choices. Exploration is equally rewarding, with parkour mechanics that make scaling walls as easy as pie—assuming pie involved climbing. The world is rich with side content, hidden loot, and texts that flesh out the lore, making every corner worth a peek.

However, not all is perfect in this enchanted realm. The enemy variety could use a bit more spice, as many foes are reskinned versions of each other. And while the character customization offers a buffet of options, some players find the bone structure choices a tad too soft, like a marshmallow left in the sun.

Graphics: A Feast for the Eyes, If Your Rig Can Handle It

Visually, Avowed is a vibrant spectacle, with a colorful art style that makes the world feel alive and inviting. The environments are beautifully crafted, from glowing mushrooms that light up the night to bustling cities and magical forests. It’s like stepping into a painting—one that occasionally crashes if your hardware isn’t up to snuff.

Character animations, particularly in combat, are generally well-received, though facial animations can be as stiff as a board meeting. Performance varies wildly, with high-end systems delivering stunning visuals, while lower-end devices struggle like a mage without mana. The game is capped at 30 FPS on consoles, which might leave some players feeling like they’re watching a slideshow of their vacation photos.

Story: A Tale of Magic, Choices, and Predictable Twists

Obsidian weaves a narrative that continues the themes from the Pillars series, offering a plot accessible to newcomers and rich in lore for veterans. The story is built on a strong foundation of meaningful choices and a world that feels alive. However, the plot twists are about as surprising as finding out the butler did it.

The writing style is described as “old school,” which might appeal to some but feels as fresh as a rerun of a ’90s sitcom to others. The dialogue can be a bit cheesy, and the lack of a voiced protagonist might leave some players longing for more immersion. Yet, the side quests shine, offering depth and the chance to revisit characters, adding layers to the narrative.

Final Verdict

Avowed is a game that offers a rich and engaging experience, with dynamic combat, a vibrant world, and a story that, while predictable, is still enjoyable. It’s a journey worth taking, especially for those who relish exploration and strategic combat. However, technical issues and performance variability might test your patience more than a boss fight on the hardest difficulty.

Score: 7.0/10