Avowed Review: Skyrim Competitor?

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Post on Feb 14, 2025

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Avowed Review: Skyrim Competitor? A Deep Dive into Obsidian's RPG

Obsidian Entertainment, the studio behind Fallout: New Vegas and Pillars of Eternity, has finally unleashed its highly anticipated RPG, Avowed. The game, set in the vibrant and dangerous world of Eora (shared with Pillars of Eternity), immediately sparked comparisons to Bethesda’s Skyrim. But is Avowed truly a Skyrim competitor, or does it carve its own unique path in the vast landscape of open-world RPGs? This in-depth review delves into the game’s strengths and weaknesses, exploring whether it lives up to the hype and its potential to rival the behemoth that is Skyrim.

A World of Intrigue: Exploring Eora

Eora, as depicted in Avowed, is a visually stunning world brimming with detail. From lush forests teeming with magical creatures to imposing, ancient ruins hinting at a rich history, the environment is both breathtaking and captivating. The level of detail is impressive, with noticeable differences in flora and fauna across diverse biomes. While not quite on par with the sheer scale of Skyrim's landscapes, Eora feels denser and more intricately designed, fostering a stronger sense of discovery.

Exploration is heavily rewarded. Hidden caves, crumbling castles, and forgotten temples are scattered throughout the world, each promising unique loot, challenging encounters, and intriguing lore fragments. The verticality of the environment also adds to the explorative experience, encouraging players to climb cliffs, scale towers, and discover hidden paths – a feature reminiscent of Skyrim but executed with a slightly more focused and less sprawling approach.

Combat: A Shift from Turn-Based Tactics

One of the most significant departures from Obsidian's previous works is the shift to real-time combat. While the studio is renowned for its deep, turn-based RPGs, Avowed embraces a more action-oriented system. This shift is initially jarring for long-time fans of the studio's tactical style, but the combat eventually finds its footing.

The combat system is fluid and responsive, incorporating a satisfying mix of melee and ranged attacks, magical abilities, and tactical positioning. Players can utilize a variety of weapons, from swords and axes to bows and staves, each with unique attack animations and combat styles. The magic system also boasts depth, allowing players to specialize in different schools of magic and craft powerful spells.

However, the combat, while improved, occasionally feels a bit clunky. The lock-on system, while functional, can sometimes be unreliable, and enemy AI can feel somewhat predictable at times. This isn't a game-breaking flaw, but it prevents Avowed from reaching the same level of fluid and refined combat seen in some of its competitors.

Character Creation and Progression: A Customizable Journey

Avowed offers a robust character creation system, allowing players to customize their appearance and stats to their liking. The range of customization options is impressive, providing players with a great degree of control over their character's appearance and skills. This extends beyond superficial choices; you meaningfully build your character's strengths and weaknesses.

The skill tree is intricately designed, offering a multitude of options for players to specialize in specific combat styles, magic disciplines, or even stealth-based approaches. The system encourages experimentation and allows for diverse playstyles, catering to both melee and ranged combatants. This depth allows for multiple playthroughs, each with a vastly different feel. This stands out as a significant strength and helps Avowed avoid feeling stale.

Story and Quests: Unveiling the Mysteries of Eora

Avowed's narrative is compelling, focusing on a central mystery that unravels gradually as the player progresses. The main storyline is engaging, and the world is rich with lore and side quests that offer both additional narrative depth and opportunities for exploration. The quality of writing is generally high, with memorable characters and captivating dialogues.

While the main story holds its own, the side quests frequently feel less impactful, often devolving into fetch quests or simple combat encounters. This is a common pitfall in open-world RPGs, and while Avowed doesn't completely avoid it, the main narrative arc is strong enough to keep the player engaged. The world's history and secrets are intriguing, constantly pulling you deeper into its mysteries.

Graphics and Performance: A Visual Feast?

Avowed’s visuals are a mixed bag. While the environments are undeniably beautiful and detailed, character models sometimes lack the same level of polish. The animations are generally smooth, but there are occasional instances of clipping or other minor graphical glitches.

Performance varies depending on the system, with high-end PCs experiencing smoother gameplay than those with lower specifications. Optimization could be improved, especially in densely populated areas. This is a common issue with large open-world games and is less of a fatal flaw, but something to be aware of.

Avowed vs. Skyrim: A Fair Comparison?

The comparison to Skyrim is inevitable, but it’s crucial to understand the differences. Skyrim’s strength lies in its sheer scale and breadth, offering an almost limitless sense of exploration. Avowed, while possessing a richly detailed world, focuses more on a curated and denser experience. Skyrim prioritizes emergent gameplay, letting players stumble upon unexpected adventures. Avowed is more structured, guiding the player more explicitly through its narrative.

Avowed excels in its tighter narrative focus, refined combat system (despite its imperfections), and more polished character customization. Skyrim's charm stems from its vastness and improvisational freedom. Both games offer exceptional experiences, catering to different playstyles and preferences.

Conclusion: A Worthy Contender, Not a Throne Stealer

Avowed is a strong RPG with a compelling narrative, a beautiful world, and a satisfying combat system. While it doesn't quite reach the monumental scale of Skyrim, it stands as a worthy contender in its own right. It offers a more refined and focused experience, excelling in aspects like character customization and narrative depth. Whether it surpasses Skyrim is subjective, depending on individual preferences. However, Avowed undoubtedly carves its own unique niche in the genre, offering a compelling and enjoyable experience for RPG enthusiasts. It's a game that deserves recognition not for dethroning a king, but for establishing itself as a strong contender in the kingdom of open-world RPGs. Its imperfections are outweighed by its strengths, making it a highly recommended title for fans of the genre.