Avowed Game Review: Slow Burn with a Chilly Reception

A star rating of 3 out of 5.

The game “Avowed” poses a challenge to critique, as some aspects of it truly shine, whereas others didn’t resonate with me. The experience as a whole felt like a gradual build-up – I found myself appreciating it significantly more in the later stages than the initial ones.

In many game reviews, there’s usually an urge to expedite the primary narrative and grasp the grand design of the game – the larger adventure players embark upon – while operating under tight deadlines.

For this particular situation, we had two full weeks to play the game, which, it should be noted, is slightly longer than what’s typical in the industry. However, given the pressured nature of a time-bound review process, it didn’t quite provide the ideal setting for appreciating Avowed.

Now that we’ve concluded the process, let’s attempt to synthesize both the advantages and disadvantages into a comprehensive evaluation.

With the conclusion of our journey, we’ll now strive to blend the pros and cons into a well-balanced assessment.

Or simply: Having finished our venture, we’ll now aim to combine the good and bad points into a fair appraisal.

In simpler terms, “Avowed” is a role-playing game set in the fantasy genre, featuring action combat, and it takes place in a visually stunning world known as The Living Lands. Remarkably, this game shares the same universe with the older Pillars of Eternity games developed by Obsidian, but fear not if you’re unfamiliar with these; Avowed offers fresh characters and an exclusive storyline, making it accessible to both newcomers and veterans alike.

Instead of constituting one large interconnected world like Elden Ring, The Living Lands consists of distinct open regions that are connected via trips with loading screens in between.

The Vibrant Terrains teem with a variety of edible or potentially explosive plants and animals that can either boost your health or pose a threat. The wildlife often appears menacing, while the scenery is breathtakingly beautiful, offering picture-perfect views worth capturing.

It seems that the main plot didn’t manage to capture my interest right away. In this game, you assume the role of an ‘Envoy’ serving an unseen emperor, who has dispatched you to The Living Lands for an investigation. The objective is to explore a mysterious affliction known as the Dreamscourge, a soul plague that’s been sweeping across the world and transforming people into mindless, zombie-like beings, incoherently babbling nonsense.

The storyline is typical of a fantasy genre, though it develops depth as it progresses, presenting challenging decisions. However, what detracts from the experience is the lack of vibrant and engaging characters to enliven your journey.

Over time, you’ll gather four associates. The initial pair might seem quite commonplace, reminiscent of stock characters often found in stories, with one being stoically grumbly but quick-witted with sarcastic remarks.

As a gamer, I found the third character to be quite subdued, yet they possess an intriguing past that piques my curiosity. The fourth one, though, is like a refreshing burst of energy when it’s needed most, filled with zany humor and hints that are more than suggestive. However, you’ve got to hold your horses and wait deep into the game before they join your team.

In Avowed, the fighting stands out as one of its most impressive aspects – while it delivers the traditional swords, shields, bows, and arrows common in fantasy games, it also offers an expansive collection of firearms, enchantments, and larger two-handed weapons to create a unique blend.

Conveniently, I can prepare two battle setups simultaneously, ready to toggle between them with just a button press. In one setup, I’ve got a magical arsenal that lets me unleash flames, electricity, or frost on my foes, while in the other, I opt for a double-handed sword for some heavy-duty slashing action!

Returning to the point that Avowed is challenging to critique, it seemed to me that the game’s battle and armor system is designed to discourage a hasty progression through the primary storyline.

It encourages you to savor the process of discovery and additional tasks, always seeking improved equipment and resources for self-crafted enhancements.

If you prefer focusing on the main storyline before tackling side missions, you’ll likely encounter tough enemies that could potentially defeat you every 30 minutes or so.

My teammates are encouraging me with exclamations like, “You could use stronger armor! It’s high time you improved your weapon!” Guys, I appreciate the advice, but could you tone down the sarcasm?

It’s great to know that the game provides an option to reduce the challenge level whenever needed – if you find yourself struggling during combat, it might be better to adjust the difficulty instead of persistently trying something beyond your current skill level.

If you find yourself struggling even on the easier setting after linking multiple primary missions, don’t hesitate to switch to ‘Story Time’ mode for an easier experience.

Ultimately, I gave in to the game’s gentle nudges and began investing extra time into side missions, while also staying attentive to which objects I should gather for enhancements.

Additionally, you’ll encounter captivating short tales hidden within the side quests, and several companion journeys that offer richer insights into their personal histories.

It appears there’s no romantic element here, unfortunately, which is disappointing – particularly when considering the recent romantic elements in Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2.

The game fails to present a definite antagonist clearly. Remarkably, it maintains the mystery surrounding several characters’ motives and takes multiple perspectives in various discussions, making it intriguing.

Instead of engaging in a major showdown with a formidable foe, you might find it possible to negotiate a peaceful resolution more frequently in the game. However, this approach may lead to the game feeling less intense or immediate at times.

In simpler terms, the primary danger we face isn’t competition from another group, but rather a pandemic. This situation seems somewhat lopsided and gives us a sense of freedom to act as we please without feeling rushed.

This game encourages you to savor your experience, delve into the details, familiarize yourself with the characters and environment, and progress when you’re confident about tackling the next level of battle.

While the elements seem commendable, Avowed lacks a compelling narrative, well-rounded characters, and an engaging antagonistic force that would keep me invested for such an extended period of time.

Despite taking my time to appreciate the crucial aspects, Avowed simply doesn’t resonate with me strongly.

It has a beautiful world, and some great combat, but is that enough to hang a whole game on?

It’s great news! Instead of relying solely on my opinion, you’ll have the chance to experience Avowed yourself as it debuts on Xbox Game Pass in a week. If you’re a subscriber, you can give the game a spin at no additional cost and make your own judgment.

If you enjoy a leisurely journey of discovery and don’t mind spending several hours to have a good time, then give it a try and form your own opinion! It could turn out to be something you really enjoy, even more so than I did, and that’s perfectly fine.

Beginning at 3 PM GMT today, the 13th of February, the Premium Edition purchasers will have early access to Avowed. Meanwhile, for those without the Premium Edition, Avowed will be available on Xbox Game Pass starting Tuesday, the 18th of February.

2025-02-13 18:37

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