Summary
For the last 10 to 15 years, fantasy RPGs have dominated the video game industry. FromSkyrimtoThe Witcher, these fantastical adventures have captivated gamers with their immersive worlds and gameplay. Whenever a new fantasy game of a similar ilk is announced, many gamers begin to buzz with anticipation at the thought that they could have anotherSkyrimorWitcheron their hands, and Obsidian Entertainment’sAvowedwas no exception when it was revealed. Coming off a strong teaser trailer in 2020, hopes were sky-high forAvoweduntil very recently.
Obsidian was more or less radio silent onAvoweduntil this year when it revealed gameplay and plot details for the first time. This reveal subverted a lot of gamers' expectations, and not exactly for the better, as the dark fantasy ofAvowed’s teaser trailerhad been abandoned for a more colorful and whimsical tone. In addition, Obsidian revealed thatAvowedwould not be a 100-plus hour experience through a gargantuan world likeSkyrim, crushing the hopes of those looking for that exact experience. However, just becauseAvowedisn’t anotherSkyrimlike some expected doesn’t mean it should be dismissed outright.
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Obsidian Entertainment Excels At Intimate Experiences
One of the main reservations some gamers have withAvowedis its smaller scale, as Obsidian has statedAvowedwill be more likeThe Outer WorldsthanSkyrimin terms of size and scope. In an industry crowded with beloved games that take close to 100 hours to complete, and a genre that often encourages such an experience, the disappointment of this revelation is understandable. It’s important to consider, though, that Obsidian Entertainment has always marched to the beat of its own drum within established genres, and has routinely done so to great success.
Ironically enough, perhaps one of the best examples of Obsidian’s ability to find success while subverting expectations isThe Outer Worlds. In the same year thatDeath Strandingtook players on yet another massive open-world adventure,The Outer Worldsprovided a more intimate experience. Obsidian crafted a tight-knit, off-beat sci-fi RPG that told a compelling story and could be fully appreciated in about 30 hours. It wasn’t bloated, nor was it devoid of meaningful content—it just understood the limits of its form and leveraged that to provide a well-rounded game.
AlthoughAvowedmay not be as expansive asSkyrim, it still has the potential to be anexceptional fantasy RPG for Xboxby providing a similar balance of content toThe Outer Worlds. While exploring snowy mountainsides for untold treasures can be thrilling, there’s also value in having a clear objective and a wealth of objectives to choose from.The Outer Worldsthrived on the latter, andAvowedcould do the same with its fantasy setting. Instead of having players wander around and create their own adventures in 60–80 hours, Obsidian now has a chance to makeAvowedas consistently enjoyable as possible within 30–40 hours.
Avowedstill has some work to do before it regains the complete faith of those initially excited for it, but it nonetheless has a strong foundation. The first-personspellcasting featured inAvowed’steaser traileris still at the core of the game’s combat, which was one of its initial draws. Although it may not be within the same bleak, dark fantasy world many gamers anticipated, this mechanic has the possibility to makeAvowed’s moment-to-moment gameplay feel truly unique. It may not be theSkyrimclone some gamers were hoping for, but that doesn’t meanAvowedstill can’t be a worthwhile experience.
Avowedreleases in 2024 for PC and Xbox Series X/S.
