Avowed Review: A Skyrim Competitor?

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Post on Feb 14, 2025

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Avowed Review: A Skyrim Competitor?

Obsidian Entertainment's Avowed has generated considerable buzz since its announcement. Promising a first-person RPG set in the vibrant and dangerous world of Eora, from the Pillars of Eternity universe, many have immediately drawn comparisons to Bethesda's iconic Skyrim. But does Avowed truly live up to the hype, and can it genuinely challenge the reigning champion of open-world RPGs? This review delves deep into the game's mechanics, story, and overall experience to determine if it's a worthy competitor to the legendary Skyrim.

A World of Promise: Exploring Eora

Eora, the setting of Avowed, is a visually stunning world brimming with potential. From lush forests teeming with magical creatures to desolate, windswept plains, the environment showcases Obsidian's commitment to detail and atmosphere. The level of environmental storytelling is impressive; every corner seems to whisper tales of forgotten civilizations and ancient magic. This immersive world is a significant step forward for Obsidian, easily surpassing the graphical fidelity of their previous titles. The sheer scale is impressive, offering players a vast landscape to explore, brimming with hidden caves, mysterious ruins, and challenging encounters. Unlike some open worlds that feel empty, Eora is consistently engaging, rewarding exploration with captivating sights and compelling quests. However, the initial areas feel slightly more populated than the later game areas, potentially hinting at some optimization challenges with the world's density.

Combat: A Refined, but Familiar Experience

Avowed's combat system is a blend of real-time action and tactical considerations. Players can choose from a variety of weapons, each with unique attack styles and animations. The magic system is equally diverse, offering a range of spells to customize your character's playstyle. While the combat is satisfying and responsive, it doesn’t reinvent the wheel. Experienced RPG players will find the mechanics familiar, particularly those who've played games like Skyrim or The Elder Scrolls Online. However, the depth of customization and the variety of combat encounters prevent the gameplay from becoming stale. The addition of different weapon types, such as bows, staves, and various melee weapons, encourages experimentation and strategic thinking. It's not groundbreaking, but it's well-executed and provides a consistent sense of challenge. The difficulty curve, however, feels uneven at times, with certain encounters feeling significantly harder than others, seemingly unrelated to player skill or level.

Character Creation and Progression: A Depth of Choice

Avowed offers a robust character creation system, allowing players to fine-tune their appearance and choose from a range of backgrounds and skills. This level of customization allows for diverse playthroughs, encouraging players to experiment with different builds and approaches. The skill tree is extensive, offering a variety of options to shape your character's abilities and combat style. While there is freedom in how to build your character, some choices feel more impactful than others. While it offers a wide variety of builds, optimization and min-maxing are still heavily encouraged, and the differences between some builds are subtle until they are maximized.

Story and Quests: Unraveling the Mysteries of Eora

The narrative in Avowed is a captivating blend of political intrigue, personal journeys, and supernatural mysteries. The main story is compelling, with intriguing characters and plot twists that keep players invested. However, some side quests feel slightly less fleshed out compared to the main storyline. While the world is full of stories to discover, the execution varies in quality, with some side quests feeling more like fetch quests than meaningful additions to the narrative. The overarching storyline, however, is well-paced and keeps players engaged, even when tackling more mundane tasks.

A Worthy Competitor, But Not a Throne-Stealer

So, is Avowed a true Skyrim competitor? The answer is nuanced. Avowed undeniably offers a compelling experience with its beautiful world, engaging combat, and rich character customization. It successfully creates its own identity within the RPG genre, carving out a unique space with its own strengths and weaknesses. However, it doesn't quite surpass Skyrim's iconic status. The uneven difficulty curve and somewhat inconsistent quality in side quests hold it back from reaching the same level of polish and overall player satisfaction.

Strengths:

• Stunning World: Eora is a visually impressive and richly detailed world that is a joy to explore.
• Engaging Combat: The combat system is responsive and rewarding, offering a good blend of action and strategy.
• Character Customization: The extensive character creation and skill tree allow for diverse and personalized playthroughs.
• Compelling Main Story: The main narrative is well-written and captivating, keeping players invested.

Weaknesses:

• Uneven Difficulty: The difficulty curve is inconsistent, leading to frustrating spikes in challenge.
• Inconsistent Side Quests: Some side quests lack the same level of polish and engagement as the main storyline.
• Familiar Mechanics: While well-executed, the combat and RPG mechanics feel somewhat derivative of established titles.
• Performance Issues: Optimization could be improved to enhance the overall experience, particularly in densely populated areas.

Conclusion:

Avowed is a solid first-person RPG that delivers a captivating experience in many respects. Its beautiful world, engaging combat, and deep character customization are its significant strengths. However, issues with the difficulty curve and inconsistent side quests prevent it from dethroning Skyrim. While it doesn't quite reach the legendary status of its predecessor, Avowed stands on its own merits as a compelling and enjoyable RPG experience, proving Obsidian's capability to craft a truly immersive and captivating world. It’s a strong contender in the genre, and with potential future updates and expansions, it could easily rise to even greater heights. For players looking for a new open-world RPG with a rich lore and engaging gameplay, Avowed is a worthwhile investment, even if it doesn't entirely reinvent the wheel.