Avowed Review — High Fun Per Square Foot

At Gaming News, we approach every title with a singular goal: to provide an unparalleled depth of analysis that empowers our readers to make informed decisions about their gaming experiences. When a studio with the pedigree of Obsidian Entertainment announces a new role-playing game, especially one set in the richly imagined universe of Eora, our anticipation is palpable. Avowed, their latest endeavor, promises a first-person adventure that harkens back to the beloved Pillars of Eternity series, while forging its own distinct identity. While it may not redefine the genre, Avowed masterfully hones a time-tested formula, prioritizing engaging progression, satisfying combat, and captivating exploration. It’s a journey through a world that, while perhaps not groundbreaking, consistently leaves players with a contented smile.

Exploring the Living Lands: A Curated and Engaging World

From the outset, Avowed makes it clear that its ambition lies not in the sheer scale of a sprawling, seamless open world, but rather in the density and meticulous crafting of its individual zones. As we journeyed across the diverse biomes of The Living Lands, we were struck by how effectively each area is packed with meaningful content. What might be lost in the perceived lack of a gigantic, singular open-world is more than compensated for by the ease with which players can transition between missions, exploration points, and dynamic combat encounters.

The world of Avowed is structured as a single, expansive island, divided into several distinct and meticulously designed zones. This approach allows for a tightly curated experience, where every corner turned can reveal a hidden cave system, the crumbling remnants of ancient ruins, or a switchback mountain path leading to a long-forgotten treasure chest. Enemy camps can quickly escalate into fierce battles as monsters emerge from unexpected fissures, creating moments of thrilling surprise. The developers have clearly prioritized verticality and depth in their environmental design, ensuring that even smaller, more confined spaces feel expansive and ripe for discovery. This careful staging of the world means that players are constantly presented with new challenges and opportunities, making the act of exploration an inherently rewarding activity.

Mastering Movement: Intuitive Parkour and Seamless Navigation

The mechanical engagement with the environment extends beyond mere discovery to the very act of traversal. Avowed features a refreshingly simple yet deeply enjoyable approach to parkour and navigation. We found ourselves genuinely surprised by the sheer pleasure derived from leaping across chasms, sliding down slopes, and generally fluidly moving through dungeons and towers. This intuitive movement system enhances the sense of agency and makes even simple traversal feel dynamic and engaging.

Furthermore, the inclusion of a generous fast-travel system significantly streamlines the experience. The ability to quickly hop between previously visited locations ensures that players can efficiently manage their time, whether returning to a town to resupply, revisiting a quest giver, or simply exploring an area they enjoyed. This system is particularly welcome in a game that encourages dense exploration, preventing potential backtracking from becoming a tedious chore and allowing players to remain immersed in the core gameplay loop. The seamless integration of these navigation mechanics ensures that the focus remains squarely on the adventure, not on wrestling with cumbersome movement controls.

The Art of Combat: Weighty Melee and Explosive Magic

The first-person combat in Avowed is a particular highlight, offering a satisfying blend of deliberate action and exciting spectacle. While the pace can occasionally be slower and more measured than in some contemporary action-RPGs, this deliberate approach fosters a profound sense of control and a meticulously balanced interplay between offense and defense. Melee weapons possess a tangible weight and heft, making each swing feel impactful. We relished the timing of parries and expertly executed counters, strafing around the battlefield to create openings and punish enemy aggression.

The magic system, however, truly shines. It is not merely a collection of spells, but an integrated force that interacts spectacularly with the environment and the player’s abilities. Impressive visual effects accompany each incantation, from crackling electric bolts that can be bounced off surfaces to explosive concoctions that can turn the tide of a battle. The synergy between different magical elements and environmental objects offers a deep well of tactical possibilities. We found ourselves constantly experimenting with how to best utilize the magical arsenal, often leading to emergent and highly satisfying combat scenarios.

Our only minor critique in the combat department lies with the ranged weapons, particularly the firearms. Their implementation feels somewhat finicky, with a strong emphasis on precision that can, at times, feel out of sync with the otherwise mobile and often frenetic nature of the battles. While skilled players will undoubtedly master their intricacies, for some, this focus on pinpoint accuracy may detract from the more fluid and reactive combat experience offered by melee and magic. Despite this, the overall combat system is a robust and deeply enjoyable component of Avowed.

A Deep Dive into Progression: Customization and Rewarding Growth

The approach to character progression in Avowed is exceptionally well-executed, earning high marks for its clarity and the sheer fun it injects into player development. The experience point system is intuitive and easy to grasp, leading players to unlock a diverse array of appealing abilities across several distinct upgrade trees. The true joy lies in the freedom to pick and choose across these trees, allowing for the creation of truly custom classes that cater precisely to an individual player’s preferred playstyle. Whether you lean towards a heavily armored warrior, a nimble rogue, or a devastating spellcaster, Avowed provides the tools to craft your ideal hero.

Gear acquisition and upgrades are similarly a source of considerable enjoyment. The game encourages experimentation, especially with the unique mechanic of mixing and matching distinct pairings of right and left-hand items. Discovering and wielding synergistic weapon and armor combinations becomes a rewarding puzzle in itself. We were frequently delighted by the unique weapons and armors we acquired, spending considerable time pondering the optimal loadout due to the desirability of their potential perks. This constant cycle of discovery, experimentation, and refinement ensures that character growth feels consistently rewarding.

Moreover, the inclusion of an easily accessible inventory and stash system, available at any time, is a boon for players who, like ourselves, tend to accumulate a vast amount of treasure. The ability to quickly offload excess loot without disrupting the flow of exploration or combat is a thoughtful quality-of-life feature that significantly enhances the overall player experience, allowing us to get back to the action with our character’s encumbrance alleviated.

Visual Splendor: A Vibrant Palette in the Living Lands

Avowed distinguishes itself with a bright and saturated visual style that offers a refreshing departure from the often grim and muted palettes prevalent in many other first-person RPGs. The Living Lands setting is a testament to imaginative environmental design, brimming with strange and wondrous plant and fungal life. There’s an almost alien quality to the landscapes, a unique aesthetic that consistently captivates the eye. The game’s progression through its distinct zones ensures that this visual palette remains fresh, changing the backdrop every few hours just as you might be ready for something new.

However, while the environmental variety is commendable, some of that visual spark can be dulled by a somewhat limited array of creature types. After encountering a significant number of bears, for instance, their charm inevitably begins to wane. Similarly, facing too many of the same monster types repeatedly can wear thin over time, especially when these encounters fail to introduce genuinely new challenges that necessitate a change in combat approach. While the world itself is visually stunning, a greater diversity in enemy design would have further amplified the impact of its already impressive aesthetic.

Narrative Hooks and Companion Conundrums

The overarching narrative of Avowed manages to effectively hook players from its early moments. We found ourselves thoroughly savoring the surreal and dreamlike quality of a mysterious voice that frequently interjects into the player’s journey. This enigmatic presence constantly forces the player to question its true nature – is it a benevolent guide or a sinister manipulator? As The Living Lands grapples with a devastating plague, stepping into the role of the hero tasked with making difficult choices to serve your own interpretation of the greater good is a rewarding and engaging experience.

The cast of companions accompanying the player is generally well-written and convincingly voiced. However, we found it somewhat challenging to forge a deep emotional connection with the individual party members. Their integration into the group often felt somewhat lacking in adequate justification for their presence, and their personal side stories, while present, never fully captured our imagination in the way we might have hoped. This disconnect meant that while the companions were present and functional, they didn’t quite achieve the memorable impact that truly elevates a party-based RPG.

Obsidian’s Masterful Execution: A Confident and Fulfilling Adventure

With Avowed, the talented team at Obsidian Entertainment has achieved a rare and impressive feat: they have grasped the scope of their ambitious project and, for the most part, have hit the mark on every target they aimed for. While it may not claim the title of the biggest or the most innovative role-playing game on the market, our time spent traversing The Living Lands was consistently filled with an awareness of the sheer fun we were experiencing, simply by allowing the game to carry us forward.

Avowed is a confident and deeply fulfilling fantasy adventure that carries no pretension. It is the product of a studio that clearly understands its strengths and knows precisely what it is delivering to its audience. While this particular journey might not fundamentally change your own world, the richly crafted world of Avowed itself should be more than enough to satisfy the cravings of any seasoned adventurer seeking a well-made and enjoyable RPG experience. The high fun per square foot ratio ensures that every moment spent in its vibrant embrace is a worthwhile one.

Score: 8.25

About Game Informer’s review system: This score reflects a thorough evaluation of gameplay mechanics, narrative depth, world design, technical performance, and overall player enjoyment. Our aim is to provide a comprehensive and objective assessment of each title’s merits and shortcomings, guiding our readers toward the best gaming experiences available.