Finished the starting/tutorial area and explored a first zone for a bit, here’s some thoughts and points for anyone who might be interested.
The Good.
• Combat.
Weapon animations are swift, enemies react to your hits and actually attack you simultaneously, so no standing around and waiting for their turn, the AI is alright but not very smart, I disabled all lock-on/aim assist features and my PC moves pretty smoothly, I also play with minimal HUD(only health/mana points and abilities bar) so I could clearly see that’s happening on screen, there’re appears to be some combos like freezing your enemy and then charging into him (I shattered the final boss of tutorial into pieces), you could duel wield any weapons (including two pistols, shield with pistol, shield with fist) sadly it seems there’s no shield+spells wielding(the magic works either as ability or spell from grimoire which uses the same hand as shield), also there’s spears. The encounters in PoTD difficulty were challenging but didn’t drag for too long.
• Exploration.
Wouldn’t call it good per se, but it gets the job done. Parkouring is fun, but it lacks some form of progression tied to it, there’s seems to be an equipment that allow you to traverse faster, but nothing more, maybe later? An equipment or ability that nullifies the fall damage or increases the jump height would be a nice addition. On a bright sight, you’re able to freeze any water you like, not only specific places, as I was afraid, but you can’t burn all the bushes though, or break every walls only specific ones, so disabling UI helpers is a must(for me). Unfortunately a companion gives you unwanted hints, but maybe it’s only true for a tutorial area. Are the locations worth exploring or not is remains to be seen, so far I was usually finding some gold or healing potions, but mainland probably offers more unique stuff.
The Bad.
•Leveling and character progression.
Avowed is a classless game, you basically pick perks from different trees: Fighter(which also includes a Barbarian and a Monk ability from PoE), Ranger(Rogue ability) and Wizard, said perks are fine but nothing cool or fancy(have to level up to confirm though) and most of them(except wizards) are passives. Unfortunately none of the perks(outside some wizard spells, one fighter and one ranger ability) are usable outside combat, character attributes are usually give you passive advantages or some flavor dialogue and you don’t have skills or reputation(maybe later?) like in PoEs. So one has to wonder is this game even an ARPG? Although anything like AssCreed or GoW are an R-P-G now, so yeah.
•Dialogues and C&C.
Typical obsidian flavor dialogues, that makes you think that your Attributes or Background are meaningful in any way, but it’s always leads to the same outcome. Writing is nothing new, just your familiar Deadfire slop that you click through, God helps you if you decide to actually pay attention to any of it, but there’re some unintentional hilarities.
•Simulations.
Basically there’s none. So I can understand why usual Bethesdatards are so disappointed with Avowed, I don’t care as much, just hoped they’d made a non-linear exploration game, but so far you always has a MQ to guide you.
•Graphics.
Can’t comment on that, because my computer is below min system requirements, but the game plays at 30-60 fps, with statter in crowded areas. So maybe Obsidian should’ve put a real minimal requirements, so we could have a day -5 purchase from Infinitron with fury of post afterwards. Also UI style is bland and boring.
The Ugly.
•Racism
Why is this game so racist? All character presets looks like interbreeding experiments(and I’m not talking about the shroom stuff), especially Asians are some ugly fucks, niggers not better. Seriously Obsidian, a realism in my fantasy game? The first NPC I met, besides the furry pet, calls me ugly, asks that’s wrong with my face and pleads not to come near her, then some girlboss portwoman almost vomits just looking at PC’s face, and if that wasn’t enough some fishermen say I’m stink. Don’t they know that I’m an esteemed Aedyryan Scholar, with a proud black heritage, who came to their land to educate local populace on importance of xaurip’s culture? At least a shellterfolk(that’s how Josh calls wood elves) woman was nice to me, until I learned she hopes that I help her to get rid of peaceful xaurips occupying her property, what a bigot! I couldn’t stand it anymore, so I had to restart as War Hero, Titus Flavius, send by the Emperor to an untamed, rebellious province to eradicate its populace and destroy their second temple. Ave, true to xaurip’s genocide!
TLDR: Combat and exploration is good, everything else is bad. Overall 4/10, it’s 7/10 if you just play it without paying any attention and money.
