Avowed: Hands-on Preview - Obsidian Doing Obsidian Things
Obsidian are, in no uncertain terms, one of my favourite developers of all time. Even before they came into being they captured my imagination with Fallout 2 and Icewind Dale as Black Isle Studios. When Obsidian formed they developed a close relationship with Bioware, jumping in with sequels to Neverwinter Nights and Knights of the Old Republic, both of which I feel are superior to the original (in the case of KoToR though, there is more to that story.) They then moved on to develop a string of games that I have adored. Alpha Protocol, South Park: The Stick of Truth, Fallout: New Vegas and The Outer Worlds just to name a few. Sadly though, one thing has always held these games back and that seems to be the mighty dollar. Every game has been subject to tight deadlines and even tighter budgets so there have undoubtedly been tech quality issues with the final products. Now though, they are under the cash umbrella of Microsoft and for their first big RPG since the merger they are bringing us Avowed. I have been lucky enough to have played a good couple of hours and it feels like Obsidian doing what Obsidian does best, only this time there is a heaping serve of polish on top.
My playtime was limited to the initial few hours of the game, experiencing the tutorial/prologue along with the first few main missions. It was a nice healthy chunk and gave me a good chance to play with some different styles of combat as well as see the direction the game is heading. First things first, and I say this with the deepest respect, I don’t think Avowed is doing anything groundbreaking here. I think Obsidian are taking a game format we have seen before and polishing it until it shines which frankly is A-ok with me. Obsidian are taking past hits, including their own, and improving on them with refinements and flair.
The first thing I noticed is just how good everything feels. I think the early preview videos really did the game an injustice because what I played feels a mile away from those early showings. Movement is wonderfully fluid with a sense of momentum and control that is rare in this sort of game. Dodging, platforming and running feel more in line with an FPS as opposed to what is usually present in these big First Person RPGs. As a result, getting around and exploring is a joy, with appropriate rewards on offer for those willing to scale a cliff, climb a tower or dive into a tunnel.
This movement complements the combat system beautifully. Even this early on in the game there are a huge amount of weapons available, each with their own very different feel. From daggers and swords to bows and muskets, to grimoires and wands, the range is epic and each can be tailored to the player’s desired play style. I ended up settling on a Wand/Grimoire with a long-range musket for my secondary loadout but I could easily see the other options being just as appealing. The moment-to-moment combat is a blast, with easy access to blocks, dodges, spells and special moves allowing players to mix it up on the fly with no confusion. I was super impressed with just how engaging it all was and it feels like it has taken the fantasy combat of titles like Skyrim to the next level.
It wouldn’t be an Obsidian game without two things, excellent writing and perfect voice acting and I am more than happy to report that both of these are in abundance in the early stages. The writing seems to have that dark, yet comedic edge that Obsidian is known for and the voice acting, without exception, was all bang on. I was even pleasantly surprised to find out my big blue lizard-man companion Kai is voiced by none other than Brandon Keener, the voice of my favourite big blue(ish) lizard-man Garrus Vakarian of Mass Effect fame. It was a wonderful surprise that brought a big smile to my face when I realised who it was.
Graphically, Avowed has a clear style to it that presents familiar fantasy landscapes but with a unique flair. I loved the colourful palette on show, it is a much brighter world than most high-fantasy games we are used to, making it stand out immediately. The character designs are stunning and some of the details, especially in the faces of NPCs are fantastic. Even in this early build, everything seems to be running smoothly without any major glitches or issues and to me it very much seems like a victory for style over realism. As for the 30fps thing, I can’t comment because I was playing on a high-end PC with 60fps so I am not sure if it will affect things. I do hope that some sort of performance mode is added to the console release, even if it is one of those mid-point things that aim for 45fps, just to give people the choice.
After my time was over, I was left wanting more… a lot more. This is absolutely my type of game and I can’t wait to dive into the full version. About the only negative thing I have to say about my experience is that this isn’t a game that seems to be doing anything new. It is running down roads we have all seen before. That said, improving on such a loved style of game is hardly a massive crime, in fact, it feels great to go back to a format that has entertained me for so long. Avowed really is shaping up nicely and thanks to my time with it, my anticipation for the full game has reached fever pitch. Forget the rough gameplay videos shown early in the piece, Avowed is the real deal and if you have enjoyed Obsidian’s previous work, this should be high on your most wanted list.
Avowed is releasing on Xbox Series and PC on the 18th of Feb, with 5 days of early access for Premium edition pre-orders.
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