Avowed Review: An RPG with Great Action, but Almost No Roleplaying

Contents:

• Newbies are not welcome here
• Swordsman, archer, and mage at the same time
• Go wherever your eyes look
• Where's the RPG?

Newcomers Not Welcome

Awowed takes place in Eora, a familiar world for fans of Obsidian's Pillars of Eternity. If you're new to this company's isometric RPGs, be prepared for the game to begin not with a gripping introduction, but with a fairly extensive and detailed description of the world. This may seem overwhelming, but it's important to understand that this introduction helps to immerse you in the game's atmosphere and plot, making your interactions with Eora more rich and interesting.

In a short time, the player is immersed in the world of the Aedyran Empire, known for its colonialist approach. He encounters a plague known as the Dream Scourge, which ravages the land of Eora and transforms living creatures into aggressive, mushroom-like monsters. The player also encounters gods whose actions are reminiscent of ancient Greek myths, full of contradictions and irascibility. Souls, leaving this world, travel to otherworldly realms where they can be reborn as new beings. This is just part of the extensive encyclopedia that the writers present to the player through introductory cutscenes, initial dialogue with NPCs, and numerous notes, creating a rich and engaging gaming experience.

The world of Avowed offers unique and rich content that can engage players once they understand its features. Delving into the details of the Eora universe is a fascinating process, but starting with such extensive and, at first glance, dry exposition can seem strange. It is like watching The Lord of the Rings instead of accidentally finding yourself in a Tolkienist discussion of the etymology of the word Snaga, which can distract from the main storyline and atmosphere. Understanding the context and details will help players better appreciate the richness and complexity of the world of Avowed.

In the flood of information, it is easy to miss key plot points. The player takes on the role of an emissary of Aedir, sent into the wild lands with two important tasks. The first task is to strengthen Aedir's position in the free lands for future colonization. The second task is to determine the nature of the Dream Scourge, which is harming the flora and fauna of the Living Lands, and, ideally, eliminate this threat.

The protagonist appears to have a connection to the plague, as evidenced by the distinctive mushroom-like growths on his head. These growths typically indicate plague infection, but in this context, they hint at his connection to one of the gods of Eora. Godborn humans are typically aware of which god they belong to, but for our hero, it remains a mystery. This uncertainty about his divine identity will become an important element of the plot, emphasizing his uniqueness and the depth of the story.

Before writing this review, I spoke with several players who had already tried Avowed and had experience playing Pillars of Eternity. For them, the plot of Avowed seems more engaging and exciting from the very beginning.

Dialogues with most NPCs in the first hours of the game resemble reading a thematic wiki. Characters often use unique dialects and terms that exist only in the Eora universe. This creates an atmosphere of depth and immersion in the game world, allowing players to better understand the culture and history of the environment. Thus, interactions with NPCs become not just an exchange of words, but a true exploration of the rich mythology and language of the game.

Clicking the button opens a glossary that explains all the obscure terms in detail. If you want to understand what's going on, you'll need to spend as much time studying the dictionary as you do fighting or exploring. The glossary will help you dive deeper into the context and improve your skills in the game.

Avowed is impressive It's heavy on exposition, but doesn't focus on the core reason why it's important and should engage the player. In the first chapter, when the protagonist reaches a new location, the motivation to progress through the story is weak. The Dream Scourge feels like a generic disaster, devoid of exciting plot twists. To keep the player's attention, more intriguing elements and deeper storylines are needed to enrich the gameplay and develop the world of Avowed.

This is an undefined evil, and there's no desire to understand its origins. The protagonist's connection to this situation fails to evoke an emotional response in the player, as they lack a clear understanding of who the Godlike are and how they interact with divine forces. Understanding these elements is essential to creating a deep and engaging story, allowing the player to better understand their role and influence on events.

After completing the first open-world quest, the plot becomes even more convoluted. The protagonist receives a message from a mysterious voice asking to be released from the afterlife. Is this voice a deity or the progenitor of the plague? Or perhaps a combination of both? The questions mount, but the plot's depth and depth will only begin to develop after a few hours, when the player begins to understand the world of Avowed. Immersing yourself in its unique atmosphere and complex character interactions promises a captivating gaming experience.

As a result, there is a feeling of uninterestingness and confusion. New terms and concepts accumulate in the mind, and until they are organized into a logical structure, they prevent a full immersion in the story. Perhaps similar thoughts occur to the hero, who has been saddled with such a heavy responsibility. However, for an RPG, this is not an optimal gaming experience. A more seamless integration of new elements is needed to ensure players can easily absorb the material and enjoy the story. The situation is similar with secondary plot lines. The player has the opportunity to strengthen Aedir's reputation in various regions or, conversely, abandon their duties and defend the right of peoples to sovereign territories. This is a classic dilemma between the desire for freedom, full of its difficulties, and the reliable support of a large state. Players often have moral intuition on this issue, but unusual local situations can undermine this, demonstrating the nuances of a complex political situation. At such moments, players are faced with choices that can significantly impact the development of the story and their interactions with the game world.

Awowed's writers are hesitant to attach significance to the game's key conflict. Paradis, Avowed's main city, is filled with protesting residents expressing their discontent with slogans like, "Aedir wants to take away our freedom." Understanding the situation naturally inspires players to support Aedir's opponents, especially in the absence of a detailed explanation of the motives behind the invasion. This leads to a one-sided perception of the conflict, which reduces its interest and depth.

To make the choice between political systems more engaging, it's necessary to offer reasonable alternatives and highlight the shortcomings of free sovereign rule. Obsidian has successfully accomplished this in its projects before. A classic example is Fallout: New Vegas, where the player faces three radically different political paradigms, each with its own justification for seeking control of New Vegas. In contrast, in Avowed, the studio failed to create such a nuanced conflict, with Aedir supporters boiling down their arguments to the simple phrase, "This place lacks discipline." It's important for the developers to delve deeper into the political aspects and present players with multifaceted motivations and consequences of their choices, which will make the game more engaging and memorable.

The dull introduction, while uninspiring, is refreshingly engaging, but it's enriched by interesting characters. From the very beginning, the protagonist is joined by Kai, a powerful soldier of the unique, amphibious Aumaua race. They are soon joined by his friend Marius, a seasoned tracker with a grumpy personality and reserved manner. Both characters are well-developed: Kai's pursuit of justice contrasts sharply with Marius's pragmatic and sometimes cynical approach, who is not afraid to ignore ethical norms for the safety of his comrades. This balance between idealism and realism makes the interaction between the characters engaging and multifaceted.

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Kai joins the adventure for almost no apparent reason and willingly agrees to embark on a long journey to defeat the Dream Scourge. At first, this decision may seem unreasonable, but as the story progresses, Kai's motivations become clearer and deeper. His drive to win and desire to overcome difficulties reveal his character and make his role in the story more meaningful.

In the camp, which serves as the main hub for upgrading weapons and storing unnecessary items, the heroes periodically engage in debates. This is a place not only for upgrading equipment but also for communicating with comrades, who willingly share stories of their homeland, opinions on Aedyr, and discuss controversial player decisions. During the main gameplay, companions continue to actively participate in the game, commenting on events, pointing out interesting locations, and engaging in dialogue with story NPCs. This creates an atmosphere of engagement and vitality, adding depth to the gameplay.

In the future, two more characters will join the party, seeking to destroy the Dream Scourge. The time spent with these new companions will be significantly shorter, and the last of them will join the players' camp in the final part of the game. These characters will add new tactical possibilities and gameplay variety, making the final stage of the adventure even more engaging.

Despite the slow start, this does not detract from the quality of Avowed's plot. While it's common to hear the phrase "the game opens up after N hours," in this case, it's truly true. The story begins to develop and deepen as the player progresses, revealing new aspects and details that make the gameplay more engaging and exciting.

As events begin in the Emerald Steps, the game's second location, the plot gains momentum and becomes filled with engaging conflicts. The protagonist encounters the Animants—local scientists who, instead of traditional technology and electricity, use the souls of deceased beings. This unique technology allows them to power entire cities and improve soil fertility. Interacting with animants opens new horizons for exploring the world and understanding its magic, and also raises important questions about life and death.

Some animants are engaged in the resurrection of the dead, using them as free labor. This raises concerns among the more conservative residents of the Emerald Steps, who believe that such experiments with life and death could lead to serious consequences. Questions of morality and ethics are becoming increasingly pressing, and residents are concerned that playing god could have devastating consequences for society.

The text is a vivid metaphor reflecting the use of biotechnology in modern science. It is also a fascinating set of stories. Learning how animants treat souls and observing the conflicts between the various sides, pushing the reader to choose their position, is very interesting. This aspect makes the topic of biotechnology not only scientific but also emotionally rich, which attracts attention and provokes thought.

The main plot develops over time, acquiring new facets. Details are difficult to reveal without spoilers, but overall, the nature of the Dreamscourge becomes clearer, and the reasons for its emergence gradually make sense. The environment vividly demonstrates the devastation wrought by the plague. The Emerald Steps, once the primary source of food for all the Living Lands, now bear witness to the aftermath of this disaster. With the emergence of the Dreamscourge, the soil has begun to die, and even animancy is unable to feed all those in need. The locations vividly illustrate this problem: abandoned vegetable gardens, half-empty riverside markets, and starving townspeople create a vivid and disturbing picture. The horrific reality that the inhabitants live in highlights the deteriorating living conditions and the need to find solutions to save the ecosystem and ensure food security.

A swordsman, a marksman, and a mage at the same time

Despite the weak exposition, Avowed does not become a tedious game. From the very first minutes, it demonstrates its strengths - the combat system and the sense of exploration. In the tutorial section, the player is introduced to the various types of available weapons, such as a sword, a bow, a magic wand, a two-handed hammer, a pistol, and a spellbook. This allows you to immediately appreciate the variety and flexibility of the combat system, which adds depth to the gameplay and makes it more engaging for players.

Awowed offers a variety of combat styles. Based on the mechanics of Skyrim, combat encourages players to use two hands for equipment: you can choose from a pair of one-handed weapons or a single two-handed one. Players can also use a secondary set of equipment, allowing them to easily switch between them during battles. The variety of weapon types provides ample opportunities for creating unique builds. You can choose classic options, such as a knight with a sword and shield, or experiment with unusual combinations, such as a marksman with a pistol in one hand and a magic tome in the other. Avowed offers players the ability to customize their skills and fighting style, making every game session unique.

In each Each grimoire contains four unique spells. These include passive character enhancements and familiar offensive spells like fireballs and electric strikes. Many grimoires found in the open world offer a variety of spells, making their study especially important. Pay attention to the features of each grimoire to maximize their effectiveness in the game.

Each of the represented playstyles is executed to a high standard. Strikes effectively knock back enemies, while spells create impressive visual effects, such as freezing and shock. Destroying a frozen enemy results in their spectacular shattering into tiny pieces. Precise critical hits deal significant damage and can instantly eliminate an enemy.

A well-balanced game world allows all weapon types to be useful, opening up a variety of options for players. Even with a pair of wands, significant damage can be inflicted. Unlike Skyrim, where using fire spells might look impressive but offer no real benefit, in this game every tactic matters. Players can experiment with different combat styles and find the ones they enjoy most. This approach creates a unique gaming experience and allows you to develop your skills in combat.

Over time, the combat mechanics become more Complex and varied. The arenas feature powerful enemies capable of inflicting area-of-effect attacks or attacking multiple times in a row. While their attack patterns are relatively simple, they offer the player a variety of evasive options, requiring skill in using dodges in different directions. At the same time, additional threats must be considered: ranged enemies, priests who restore health to all enemies in a radius, and mages who periodically summon new enemies. These elements make the gameplay more exciting and require players not only to react but also to think strategically.

Awowed's classic action menagerie strikes a balance between tactics and action. Players will be able to experiment with different weapon types, allowing them to find the most effective combinations and strategies. This variety in weapon selection adds depth to the gameplay and promotes a more engaging and thoughtful approach to combat.

Melee fighters will benefit from having long-range weapons in their arsenal to take down priests from a distance. Shooters should choose weapons with a slow-motion effect to prevent the rapid attacks of aggressive enemies and avoid situations where the hero gets trapped. The correct combination of these types of weapons will ensure effectiveness in combat and increase the chances of victory against various opponents.

System The game's progression is structured to allow for unrestricted experimentation. Many skills significantly increase the effectiveness of various weapon types. For example, you can instantly increase wand damage by 25%. Players have complete freedom in choosing which skills to upgrade—they only need to reach the required level. This allows for developing high-level skills from unfamiliar branches even late in the game. Found a powerful spear but spent all this time focusing on leveling up firearms? Don't worry—by the next level, you'll quickly master the necessary skills.

Avowed offers players the unique opportunity to create bold builds without having to choose only the most effective gear. Even fans of two-handed axes can become skilled mages, as grimoires and wands have no strict stat requirements. Sufficient mana allows for the instant casting of even the most powerful spells. For example, I discovered an interesting combination—a pistol and a wand—that opened up new tactical possibilities in combat.

The character's appearance, reminiscent of Daniel Radcliffe from Harry Potter, combined with his Guns Akimbo persona may seem unusual, but this weapon combination proves highly effective and provides a lot of fun. While reloading the pistol, the player can quickly fire off several shots with the wand without wasting precious time. Considering that both weapons deal electrical damage, this creates an excellent opportunity to preemptively attack a powerful enemy, dealing damage and inflicting negative effects. This approach allows you to maximize your capabilities in combat and increase your chances of winning.

Over time, this rich set of mechanics will become even more diverse. Companions who accompany the hero have active abilities that are under the player's control. Most of these abilities are aimed at crowd control, allowing the player to use them strategically in battle.

An experienced tracker, Marius is able to keep multiple enemies in one place, giving the team a strategic advantage in battle. His skills allow him to effectively control the situation and ensure the safety of his allies. Former pirate Kai, meanwhile, can accurately shoot any enemy, distracting them for ten seconds. This creates an opportunity for the team to develop a tactical plan and attack the enemy from an unexpected side.

The combat system offers deep and varied gameplay, creating a controlled environment where battles are more than just click-baiting. By the mid-game, combat reaches a high level of intensity and variety. Over the course of 20-30 seconds, the player can switch between different weapon types, cast 3-4 spells, throw grenades, and simultaneously control their units. This creates a dynamic and exciting atmosphere, where every battle requires strategy and quick reactions.

Diverse, Flexible and responsive combat encourages players to explore the surroundings of Paradis from the very first minute in search of new battles and unique equipment that adds additional interest to battles. One of the main advantages of Avowed is the thoughtful design of locations and gameplay systems, which makes the process of exploration exciting and engaging. Players will enjoy every minute, discovering new horizons and immersing themselves in the game's atmosphere.

Go wherever your eyes lead

The world of Avowed consists of four unique locations, each a compact yet rich playground. Here, interesting discoveries await you at every turn: picturesque caves full of loot, castles teeming with traps and treasures, and hidden caches of travelers. Small buildings in these places tell about the lives of local residents through the environment and notes, adding depth and atmosphere to the gameplay. As you explore the world of Avowed, you'll discover a wealth of captivating stories and mysteries that make each location truly unique.

In Avowed, players won't have to search far for interesting locations, thanks to the clever environmental design that emphasizes key elements. Two majestic rocky towers stand out in a desert canyon, enticing players to explore them—perhaps they contain valuable finds. Near the riverbank, you might stumble upon the corpses of fishermen, and your companion will immediately notice that they were killed by some powerful creature that dwells nearby. This carefully crafted game world creates an immersive atmosphere and encourages players to explore.

Awowed's level designers skillfully capture players' attention, constantly making them wonder, "What is this place? I need to explore it." The contrast between the mundane environment and prominent locations helps avoid the feeling of missed opportunities that often arises in open-world games. If the developers don't highlight a location, it means there's nothing interesting about it. This approach makes the gameplay more engaging and encourages deeper immersion in exploring the world.

Inside the optional locations, the developers Games find effective ways to maintain player interest. One popular technique is the "Reward and Denial" method, where a valuable item is visible from a distance but impossible to reach directly. This and similar techniques are actively used by developers to constantly offer players new rewards and keep them engaged in the gameplay. Thanks to such tricks, players feel the desire to explore the game world, overcoming obstacles on the way to the desired prizes.

The desire to explore the world of Avowed does not wane over time, as the game offers players a variety of rewards for their curiosity. For example, you might peer into a cave behind a waterfall and meet an aspiring poet seeking solitude to write a poem about his beloved. Despite dangers such as vicious spiders and monsters infected with the Dream Scourge, the poet remains courageous. It may seem strange, but you can help him choose suitable lines. You can then see how she reacts to his creation in town, adding an interesting element of interaction to the gameplay. Avowed constantly encourages exploration and interaction with unique characters, creating a rich and engaging gaming experience.

The environmental stories in Avowed are sometimes more engaging than the main and side quests. The screenshot shows a failed animant who lost the support of his colleagues due to risky experiments with a fire grimoire. Despite the setbacks, the ambitious mage persisted and went to a secluded location to test destructive spells. The good news is that the grimoire was truly remarkable; it can even be found on a corpse as a reward for his attentiveness. However, the outcome was sad, and the consequences of the experiment are clearly visible.

In various game situations, the player can count on material Rewards such as money, resources, experience, or unique items. In most games, earning a few coins is considered trivial, but in Avowed, this decision is justified thanks to a unique economic system. Players will appreciate the variety of rewards, which adds depth to the gameplay and makes each encounter more engaging.

The game constantly requires resources and money, preventing their overabundance. Upgrading equipment usually requires common resources, such as metal. These materials can be found almost everywhere, but a significant amount must be collected to upgrade. Since a player often has 3-4 types of weapons in their active inventory, this creates additional motivation to constantly search and collect resources. This makes the process of upgrading equipment engaging and requires a strategic approach to resource management.

The screenshot shows the "Paradise Ladder," a key ingredient for upgrading equipment. This element grows everywhere and is indicated on the minimap, allowing the developers to use it as a kind of "guide" for players. In this case, the "Paradise Stairs" not only serves as a useful resource, but also encourages exploration of the canyon's scenic views. This approach makes the gameplay more engaging and promotes deeper immersion in the world around us.

Awowed does not You can quickly get rich in just a few gaming evenings, as you might see in other RPGs. Earned funds are quickly spent on purchasing necessary items. Merchants' prices are quite high, making financial management an important aspect of gameplay. Players will have to carefully plan their spending and choose how to spend their earnings to avoid financial hardship. For example, several useful resources may require a couple of hours of exploring interesting locations. Shops often contain unique items, which is rare for RPGs and a strong incentive to accumulate resources.

A legendary arquebus with a fascinating history is available only in one store. The price for this unique weapon is significantly prohibitive. As a true explorer, I always thoroughly search every location, and by the time I bought it, I only had half the required amount in my pocket.

Awowed features a multitude of unique items, making the gameplay even more exciting. Every other cave contains a ring, sword, or armor that has no equivalent in the game. This pairs perfectly with the varied combat, where each new item with unique properties opens up opportunities to improve your build or create something original. For example, a new dagger that inflicts poisoning after several hits can be effectively combined with a freezing spell for a safe and guaranteed result. These combinations make Avowed's gameplay dynamic and rich, giving players a variety of strategies to explore.

Interesting treasure maps evoke a sense of exploration and adventure, encouraging you to search for the desired areas using simple sketches. Vibrant and detailed environment design makes it easy to understand the map, making the exploration process engaging and accessible to everyone. These maps are not only entertaining but also develop navigation skills, making them an excellent tool for active recreation and learning.

Awowed is filled with exciting discoveries that make exploring the world a true pleasure. Every corner hides interesting items and secrets, rewarding players for their efforts. Even if you already have an optimal build, you can dismantle unwanted unique gear to obtain Adra—a rare resource needed to upgrade the most powerful items. This creates additional opportunities for customization and character development, which makes the gaming process even more exciting.

The game includes Totems that provide significant permanent bonuses, such as a 20% increase to critical damage. Activating these totems requires collecting a base and six decorative fragments. These items are among the rarest in the game, but the rewards are well worth the effort. In the screenshot below, you can see a map showing the location of fragments, which can only be purchased from a single, inconspicuous merchant. It's recommended to carefully explore his inventory to avoid missing out on opportunities to improve your stats in the game. Exploring the world in Avowed doesn't feel like a routine grind. The game offers a unique approach to navigation: map markers are sparse, denoting only quests and merchants. Much of the map is covered in fog of war, which dissipates only in the immediate vicinity of the player. This creates an atmosphere of true discovery, where every interesting corner of Eora becomes a surprise find. Players aren't forced to follow map icons to fully explore the region. Unique items are unmarked, adding an element of surprise: finding a ring can be a pleasant surprise rather than a mandatory item on a list. If the player hasn't discovered something valuable, they won't even know it, making the exploration process more engaging and natural.

This creates a sense of true adventure that continually maintains the player's interest and intrigue. Thanks to the superb environmental design, which effectively separates the background landscape from key objects, the player intuitively recognizes that if something catches their eye, something interesting is hidden there. This approach promotes deeper immersion in the gameplay and encourages exploration of the virtual world.

The game has many chests, which are an important part of the gameplay. The developers aimed to reward players for their actions, but often did not take into account the realism of the placement of these chests. For example, why is a chest on the edge of a chasm that destroyed an entire city? This is just one of many cases where the logic of object placement in the game raises questions.

Where is the RPG?

The masterful design of the game space and systems draws players into a fascinating cycle. Each stone has its own story, each village is full of detail, and conversations with travelers add depth. However, you soon realize that this is more like Ubisoft games, where, instead of endless markers on the map, there is skillfully thought-out level design that guides the player while maintaining the freedom of exploration.

The interesting choice and role-playing that are characteristic of high-quality games are absent in this game. As practice shows, there are few such elements in the game, which reduces its appeal for fans of deep storylines and character interaction.

The game Avowed lacks engaging side quests - only four for each of the four locations. Additionally, there are contracts to eliminate particularly dangerous criminals, but these lack plot value and merely encourage players to explore remote corners of the map. This number of quests is clearly insufficient to create a continuous flow of interesting stories capable of holding the player's attention. Often, the stories associated with these quests prove bland. In Avowed, players too often embark on treasure-hunting adventures but encounter compelling storylines far less often, which reduces the overall interest in the gameplay.

Early on, the hero meets two unfortunate relatives from Aedyr. They seek peace in their new lands and ask for help with relocation. This is a typical fetch-and-get quest, where you need to convince smugglers to arrange transportation and resolve issues with property documents.

Before completing the quest, it is revealed that the Aedyr are wanted for murder. Before leaving their hometown, they accidentally became involved in a conflict that led to a tragic death. The game offers the option to report your former relatives, but this is perceived as unnecessary snitching that will not lead to positive consequences. Therefore, the choice at the end of the mission seems superficial, and its acceptance does not arouse interest.

The game has many exciting quests, although they become noticeably more interesting as the story progresses. In the first location, it's almost impossible to recall any memorable story. However, when the player reaches the third location, the number of interesting quests increases to five, significantly enriching the gaming experience. Thus, progress in the game directly affects the quality and variety of quests, making each new location increasingly exciting.

During the journey, we encounter a seasoned pirate who asks us to help find his old crew for a final meeting over a glass of rum. This is an intriguing plot twist, but the adventure doesn't end there. His former crewmates are in no hurry to meet him, claiming he always wished them harm. However, if you study their stories closely, the perception of a pirate can change dramatically.

The first location of Avowed clearly feels artificial. Numerous videos have already appeared online mocking the inability to interact with NPCs in the city or knock a mug off a table. While these moments may seem funny, they do not significantly affect the overall gameplay experience. However, the lack of interactivity in places where it would be appropriate really affects immersion.

While exploring Paradis Bay, I came across a tower in which I found a key and a note. It says that Aedyran fighters stole the key to the city militia warehouse. This happened due to their fatigue from the constant disrespect from the rebels. This story episode delves deeper into the relationships between the conflicting parties and offers a more complete understanding of the situation than the main plot.

I immediately headed to the warehouse and discovered disgruntled residents of Paradis gathered nearby. They were discussing the disappearance of the key, which created an interesting situation. What would happen if an emissary of the hated Aedir opened the warehouse right before their eyes and took all the valuables? Most likely, nothing. The residents would continue to focus on the missing key, oblivious to what was happening around them. This scene highlights their indifference and inability to notice larger events, creating a contrast between their petty concerns and the real threat.

The problem is that even in its unresponsiveness, Avowed exhibits significant inconsistency. Once the player gets used to the world not reacting to their actions, an unexpected situation arises when an NPC suddenly becomes aware of the character's actions, which were happening unnoticed. This creates a sense of dissonance and breaks immersion. Understanding the mechanics of interaction with NPCs and the world in Avowed becomes an important aspect that affects the overall player experience.

Awowed feels sloppily developed, which may disappoint RPG fans. However, it has many interesting elements worth noting, such as carefully designed companions and fascinating plot secrets that the player must uncover on their own. Furthermore, important decisions made by the player significantly impact the appearance of entire settlements and cities. These aspects add depth and immersion to the game, despite its shortcomings.

Exploring locations provides a wealth of fascinating information about the game's world. For example, the mayor of Fiore, the second-largest city, steadfastly denies the existence of the Dream Scourge and refuses to cooperate with the animancers. A thorough examination of his home reveals an interesting secret that explains his strange behavior. This fact cannot be known in any other way, which makes the research especially valuable.

Awowed features unique companions with Deep personalities and individual weaknesses. Throughout the game, each character reveals their traits, becoming increasingly multifaceted. Initially, heroes may seem like simple archetypes, such as the "pragmatic, gruff professional," but as the story progresses, they share their stories and pasts, allowing us to better understand their behavior in current circumstances. This approach to character creation makes the game more engaging and emotionally rich, deepening the interactions between the player and companions.

I've already mentioned Kai, who joins the team with surprising ease and enthusiasm. In Fiore, our companion will invite us to visit the house of his deceased brother-in-arms. The reasons for his death remain unknown to the player and arouse intrigue. This event can reveal new aspects of the plot and deepen our understanding of the character, as well as add intrigue and emotional weight to our journey.

The character occupied a significant place in Kai's life, and for some reason he feels partially responsible for what happened. Since then, our friend has had a hard time finding his place in life. His presence gives him the opportunity to follow a strong leader who makes decisions, including those that affect him.

Ranger Marius is a seasoned, reserved dwarf with an aversion to animancy. His negative attitude toward the science is evident in engaging dialogue with his animancy companion at camp. He often asks her provocative questions about the principles of animancy, creating a tense and engaging atmosphere. This dynamic reveals the depth of Marius's character and highlights his skepticism, making the interactions even more engaging for players.

Atmospheric scenes not only immerse players in the game world but also help them better understand the principles of animancy. In the future, players will be able to develop Marius's character and support him in overcoming his anxieties and mistrust of others. Interactions with companions present a unique opportunity for the player to choose their words carefully. Since Marius is not known for being sociable, it is important not to impose on him. At the same time, Pirate Kai values ​​justice and honesty highly, and he will quickly notice hypocritical remarks. Thus, interaction with characters requires attentiveness and sensitivity, which makes the game more engaging and deep.

Companions actively interact during gameplay, which makes the game more engaging. Not only do they joke with each other during exploration, which adds humor, but they also engage in dialogue with NPCs. Characters express their emotions, demonstrating displeasure or approval, which adds variety to the choices in discussions. This creates a dynamic atmosphere and makes each interaction unique.

Unfortunately, the script rarely offers situations that require additional perspective. In most conflicts, you can play the role of the "good guy" by using careful wording that pleases all parties. Or, with a highly developed stat, you can activate a unique line, which significantly expands the possibilities of interaction in the game. This allows not only to resolve conflict situations, but also to further enrich the gameplay.

The image shows Queen Delemgan. To progress the story, the player must retrieve an important item from her. Despite her menacing appearance, the queen is friendly and willing to assist the hero. However, if the hero has previously killed her kin in this location, which is often unavoidable, she will react with rage in dialogue. At first glance, it may seem impossible to avoid conflict. However, with a high intelligence level, the player can use a phrase like "Well, that's just how it happened," which will avoid combat and satisfy the queen. This approach doesn't offer an engaging gameplay experience and limits interactions with the character.

Avowed is an unusual RPG that differs significantly from other Obsidian projects. It feels like it was developed by a new team within the studio, experimenting with an existing universe. This may be true, as Josh Sawyer, the renowned game director behind such iconic titles as Fallout: New Vegas, Pillars of Eternity, and Pentiment, wasn't actively involved in Avowed's creation, serving only as a consultant. Perhaps this is why the game lacks the hallmark Obsidian elements, such as deep role-playing and engaging quests, that made the studio's previous projects iconic. Avowed's level design and combat are high-quality, making it far from run-of-the-mill. Exploring the world feels incredibly engaging and relaxed. For Game Pass subscribers, this release is a great experiment worth trying. Other players should carefully evaluate their expectations before purchasing.