A preview build for developer Obsidian Entertainment's Avowed got mixed reactions from fans who were able to dive into its world early.
Avowed is a first-person RPG based on Pillars of Eternity that showcases a world of fantasy and danger. The game gives players control of a god-touched envoy of a distant emperor.
Avowed Early Preview
You are sent to an island realm that is known as the Living Lands and are tasked with investigating a mysterious blight. The term god-touched in Avowed means that your character has special powers.
Players can choose from a selection of backgrounds for their characters that will determine what starting weapon they are given. Your background will also shape your character's stats and unlock unique dialogue throughout the game.
Some of the backgrounds that you can choose include a noble scion, a vanguard scout, an arcane scholar, and many others. Avowed also features a deep decision-based narrative that will define your relationships with other characters, according to Rock Paper Shotgun.
Avowed's combat perspective provides a fresh experience for players and gives them a unique view of the art and location design the world has to offer. But some still have their reservations about the game and are looking forward to how it improves.
The game was originally revealed at the Xbox Games Showcase in 2020 and a lot of people thought it was the developer's personal take on Skyrim. But Obsidian Entertainment instead opted to create a much more focused experience.
A Beautiful World
The beta build of Avowed lasted about two hours and showcased a tutorial dungeon, which then opened up to a massive explorable region. Even without being an open-world game, this was enough to satisfy fans who wanted a big region, Game Rant said.
The game also offers deep character customization at the start to let you make your own unique persona in Avowed's world. The tutorial dungeon provides players with various healing potions and equipment to fight enemies.
The combat in Avowed was described as punchy and fun and gives players two sets of weapons being equipped at the same time. This allows for much more variety whenever you encounter enemies.
Director Carrie Patel said that Avowed and Pillars of Eternity are titles that they made in the world of Eora.
She noted that what set these games apart from other titles in the fantasy RPG genre is a blend of a political story and a philosophical and mysterious metaphysical story, according to PCGamer.
