Avowed is Obsidian Entertainment’s latest foray into the expansive world of fantasy RPGs, drawing players into a rich, detailed universe filled with mystery, magic, and danger. Set within the same world as their acclaimed Pillars of Eternity series, Avowed promises to blend deep storytelling with engaging combat mechanics, all set against the backdrop of a land teetering on the edge of chaos. In this review, we’ll dive into what makes Avowed tick: from its narrative depth to its world-building and everything in between. Can it live up to the legacy of Obsidian’s previous works, or does it fall short of expectations? Let’s find out.
Story and World-Building:
One of Obsidian’s most notable strengths has always been its ability to create rich, intricate worlds, and Avowed is no exception. The game is set in the vast kingdom of the Living Lands, a region steeped in lore, politics, and supernatural forces. The story follows the player’s journey as they navigate through a political conflict that threatens to destabilize the kingdom and uncover deeper, darker forces at play.
The plot is compelling, with plenty of twists and turns that keep players engaged. However, it’s the world-building that truly shines here. Every corner of the kingdom feels alive with history and mystery. From the bustling marketplaces to ancient ruins hidden in mist-covered forests, Obsidian’s attention to detail is evident in every interaction, piece of lore, and environmental design. The lore of Avowed ties in perfectly with Pillars of Eternity, offering long-time fans a deeper connection to the world, while newcomers can still appreciate the rich, well-crafted setting.
Gameplay and Combat:
Unlike the isometric perspective of Pillars of Eternity, Avowed shifts to a first-person view, a decision that allows for a more intimate and immersive experience. Combat is fluid, combining traditional swordplay with magic, which allows for dynamic and satisfying battle sequences. Players can combine spells, weapon attacks, and tactics to take down various enemies, from roaming beasts to dangerous factions. The magic system, in particular, is a highlight—spells are visually stunning, and the ability to cast complex, multi-step rituals offers plenty of room for experimentation.
While the combat is enjoyable, there are moments where it feels slightly repetitive, especially when facing groups of enemies that require similar strategies to defeat. The AI can sometimes feel lackluster, with enemies not posing as much of a challenge in certain encounters. However, this is a minor flaw in an otherwise solid system.
Character Customization:
Character creation in Avowed is robust, offering players a wide array of options to tailor their protagonist’s appearance, abilities, and background. The RPG mechanics are familiar to Obsidian fans, with a focus on choices and consequences. The skill trees are deep, offering both combat and non-combat routes for development. You can play as a brutish fighter, a cunning rogue, or a powerful wizard, with each choice affecting how the world reacts to you.
The NPCs in Avowed are equally well-crafted, with complex personalities and motivations that make every conversation meaningful. Dialogue options and character interactions feel weighty, offering players the opportunity to shape their relationships with allies, factions, and even the environment itself.
Graphics and Audio:
Avowed impresses visually, with stunning landscapes, meticulously designed environments, and detailed character models. The first-person perspective allows players to appreciate the world in a way that Pillars of Eternity never could. The world feels large and open, yet densely packed with small details that invite exploration. The art style continues Obsidian’s tradition of blending realism with a hint of fantasy, creating a world that feels both grounded and magical.
The audio is equally impressive, with a hauntingly atmospheric soundtrack that perfectly complements the tone of the game. Voice acting is strong, with characters delivering lines in a way that feels authentic and emotionally charged.
Exploration and Side Content:
One of the standout features of Avowed is the sheer scale of its world. The Living Lands is a sprawling region filled with diverse environments, from lush forests and towering mountain ranges to dark, damp caves and ancient ruins. As with most Obsidian titles, exploration is not only about seeing new locations but also about uncovering secrets. Every corner of the world feels like it could hold a hidden story, a valuable treasure, or an unexpected encounter.
Side quests in Avowed are more than just filler content. They are often tied into the game’s lore, giving players a deeper understanding of the world and its history. Whether it’s solving an ancient mystery, aiding a village in need, or uncovering the truth behind a faction’s actions, side content feels meaningful and rewarding. The side quests are varied, ranging from tactical encounters to more narrative-driven storylines that further flesh out the world.
The game also introduces a dynamic weather system and day-night cycle, which enhances the immersion. Certain areas and quests change depending on the time of day or weather conditions, adding layers of strategy and discovery. This dynamic world makes exploration feel fresh and unpredictable, encouraging players to return to areas they’ve already explored to see how they’ve changed.
AI and Party System:
While Avowed has a first-person focus, it still features companions, as expected from an Obsidian RPG. However, unlike Pillars of Eternity, where party management is central to the experience, Avowed leans into a more personal, solo adventure with optional companion characters that join you during quests. These companions each have distinct personalities, skills, and backstories that make them feel like more than just allies—they’re a part of your journey. Their interactions and banter are well-written, and their loyalty or discontent can affect story outcomes, adding depth to your relationships with them.
That being said, the companion system could have benefited from more robust interactions and side stories. While the core companions are interesting, the lack of a more dynamic party structure may leave some RPG veterans feeling like something is missing when compared to other Obsidian titles, where full party dynamics were a core component of the gameplay.
Performance and Technical Aspects:
On a technical level, Avowed runs relatively smoothly, with impressive visual fidelity and relatively few performance hiccups. That said, the game does suffer from occasional frame rate drops and glitches, especially when exploring large areas or engaging in combat. These are not game-breaking issues, but they do detract from the otherwise polished experience. Given that Avowed is still in its early stages post-release (if we’re assuming the review is for an early access or initial release), these performance issues may be addressed with patches in future updates.
The load times are generally quick, and the open-world design allows for a seamless transition between locations, adding to the immersion. However, the game’s massive scale does mean there are moments when you feel the weight of the world, with occasional pop-in textures or minor environmental bugs. These are expected from games of such ambition, but hopefully, Obsidian can work out these kinks as the game matures.
Avowed offers several difficulty options, allowing players to adjust their experience depending on their preferences. Whether you prefer to breeze through the game’s quests or challenge yourself with more complex encounters, Avowed accommodates a wide variety of playstyles. The difficulty can sometimes feel unbalanced, particularly in certain mid-game sections where enemies feel disproportionately strong. However, for players looking for a true challenge, the hardest difficulty should offer a satisfying test of skill and strategy.
Replayability is high, especially for fans of open-world RPGs. The vast number of quests, character builds, and decisions you can make throughout the game ensures that no two playthroughs are exactly alike. The game’s branching narratives and numerous ways to approach situations make it a game worth revisiting. Multiple factions, companion arcs, and skill-based solutions mean that replaying the game with different choices can drastically alter the outcome, giving it a high level of depth.
Final Thoughts:
Avowed is a game that sets out to combine the rich lore and deep RPG mechanics that Obsidian is known for, while introducing a fresh, immersive first-person perspective. With its compelling world, complex characters, and dynamic exploration, it stands as a strong contender in the modern RPG space. While there are minor technical issues and areas for improvement, particularly in AI behavior and the companion system, the game offers enough depth and quality to satisfy both fans of the genre and newcomers to the world of Eora.
Ultimately, Avowed is a game that will keep you thinking long after you’ve put it down. With a narrative full of twists and multiple paths to explore, it holds tremendous promise as one of the standout RPGs of the next generation. For those who appreciate a richly woven story, strategic combat, and a world full of mysteries to uncover, Avowed will not disappoint. It’s a game that truly shows the potential of Obsidian Entertainment’s storytelling prowess, and it’s one that will likely continue to evolve and improve, making it even more exciting as the years go on.
special thanks to Prima Interactive and Obsidian for the review product
