I'm about 6-7 hours into Avowed and so far it's been really great. It isn't overly ambitious but knows exactly what it wants to be and executes it very well. You're not going to find some industry changing game mechanics here. Instead, you will find very solid and fun combat, great lore and dialogue, interesting characters, and a sense of wonder and exploration that I haven't felt in quite a long time.
The combat plays like a mix of Skyrim and Elder Scrolls Online. You have an ability bar that you equip different powers into the slots, and mash on them along with your mouse button to use them. So ESO because of the ability bar, Skyrim because of the first person combat. The combat has a slight MMO feel to it, which I think works very nicely in this kind of game. It gives it more depth, allowing you to approach each fight differently, and make up your own class and loadout as you choose. Currently I am rocking a wand in my right hand and a grimoire in my left, shooting magic blasts out the wand and using the grimoire for four additional spells. There are many different grimoires with different spells, so currently I have two that I switch between. I am going for a spell and magic only build, with the backup bow and arrow in my secondary loadout in case I need it. The wand is ranged but doesn't go too far. My strategy right now is to use a freezing spell to root enemies in place then a lightning spell to chain electrocute them.
The story so far is very interesting. Sometimes when I play a new game with brand new lore I don't know, I try very hard to understand it and get invested. Often times that leads me to be overwhelmed with too much lore, or I simply just get bored and don't care, but that isn't the case with this game. Of course, with any new lore there is a lot of stuff thrown at you that you don't fully understand right off the bat, but over time things start to make more sense. I found it to be quite fun learning about the world and what is going on. I haven't played Pillars of Eternity, but I think Avowed eases you into it gently, so people like me can understand what's going on. There's the classic notes scattered around the world for you to read, local's conversating about their distaste for the Aedyran Empire, and other means of visual storytelling.
Perhaps my favorite thing about the game so far is the exploration. While not a true open world, each area is very large and intricately detailed. This is some of the best level design in a singleplayer action RPG lately. Everywhere you go there is treasure to be found. The game allows you to pull off some sick parkour moves and makes it very easy and accessible to do so, so traversing rooftops and alleyways is a breeze. If you're like me who spent most of their time in Deus Ex and Cyberpunk trying to find every single secret vent, alleyway, rooftop path, climbing every building, jumping from tall heights to land onto the building across the street, just generally trying to get into places you shouldn't be or find some secret stashed away in a locked apartment, you will absolutely love Avowed for all of those reasons.
So far, Avowed has been very great. As a lot of you here know, I've been in a deep gaming rut most of the year so far, so I am very happy to find something that I am genuinely invested in. Avowed doesn't try to break any molds, doesn't try to aim for the moon and fails short, no, it stays relatively conservative with its design choices and it's all the better for that. The best way I've heard someone describe Avowed is it's Skyrim for people who realize Skyrim is 14 years old and feels outdated by today's standards. While it's not a 1:1 comparison with Skyrim, it shares a lot of similarities and builds upon them for a modern audience.
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