A First Look at Avowed - The Good, The Bad, and The Garrus
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Hey everyone! Today, we're taking a deep dive into Avowed, Obsidian's latest RPG that's got everyone talking. Is it a masterpiece? A dud? Well, I'm TwoChack, and I'm here to break it all down for you.

What's Avowed All About?

Avowed throws you into a semi-open world RPG where your choices don't really matter, and secrets lurk around every corner. Think hidden loot, not so mind-bending puzzles, and a world brimming with barely any consequences for your actions.


The Good Stuff:


A World That Captivates:

The world design is a major win! It's got that familiar Obsidian feel, reminiscent of The Outer Worlds, with distinct open areas, each with its own unique theme and personality. We're talking five different regions, each with its own town and atmosphere. You'll be constantly discovering hidden treasures, secret pathways, and even hidden walls! (Dark Souls fans, say hello!) The way these open areas are structured makes exploration feel rewarding and keeps you hooked.


Creative Problem-Solving:

Stuck behind a wall of water? No problem! Freeze it with a cold spell. Vines blocking your path? Burn them with your companion's abilities or your own fiery magic. Broken wall in your way? Blast it open! Obsidian clearly drew inspiration from the Arkham series, and it's a welcome addition.


Easy to Navigate:

The inventory and skill tabs are incredibly user-friendly, making it a breeze to understand everything. And speaking of understanding, I love the inclusion of a lore book in the dialogue system. It helps you grasp the world and its characters much better.


Combat That's Solid, Not Spectacular:

The combat is a bit of a middle ground. It's simple and easy to pick up, but it's also effective and fun. The ability to wield a gun and sword simultaneously is a nice touch. Don't expect anything groundbreaking, though.

Garrus Returns! One of my favorite things about Avowed? Hearing Garrus's voice again! That voice acting is pure gold!


Alright, let's get into the less-than-stellar aspects of Avowed. It's not all sunshine and roses, folks.


The Shadows Lurking in Avowed

While the game has some strong points, there are some areas where Avowed falls short.

Story That Takes a Nosedive:

The story starts off promisingly, with the first two chapters holding your attention. However, it takes a sharp turn for the worse in chapter three. It feels like the writing team switched gears, and the quality of the quests and overall narrative drops significantly. I won't spoil anything, but the decision you have to make at the end of chapter three is mind-bogglingly bad. Even Rum couldn't save it!


Character Design Deja Vu:

The character design in Avowed feels like a recycled version of Concord, with only a couple of outfits and one character standing out. It's a baffling choice, especially considering the game's emphasis on customization. Why repeat the same mistakes?


Character Creator Needs More Love:

The character creator is a bit barebones and basic for my taste. It lacks the depth and customization options you'd expect from a game of this caliber.


Where's My Headgear?

This one really grinds my gears. The game repeatedly mentions headgear and masks, but you can't actually wear them! Why even mention them if they're not an option? It feels like a missed opportunity.


Difficulty Scaling That's All Over the Place:

The hardest difficulty feels like a straight-up "Veilguard" experience, where you have practically no health, and even basic enemies hit like bosses. It's not challenging; it's just tedious.


Weapon Scaling That Feels Grindy:

Each new area requires higher-tier gear, which means you'll be constantly farming resources to upgrade your weapons. This can feel repetitive and grindy, especially when you're attached to a particular weapon.


A World That Lacks Life:

Despite the beautiful environments, the world feels strangely lifeless. There are plenty of NPCs, but they just stand around, staring blankly at you or each other. It's like a scene straight out of Starfield's launch.
Perhaps this is a remnant of the game's original multiplayer plans.


Technical Troubles: A Mixed Bag

Micro-Stutters:

The micro-stutters on PC are a real bummer. They're not constant, but they're frequent enough to be noticeable and distracting. Hopefully, Obsidian will address this with a future patch. It's not uncommon for games to have performance issues at launch, so fingers crossed that they'll get it sorted out.

Bugs:

Not Game-Breaking, But Annoying There are definitely some bugs in Avowed, from glitching out of bounds to broken quests and NPCs stuck in rocks. It's not the most polished game out there, but it's not a complete disaster either. The bugs are pretty rare, so they don't completely ruin the experience. But they're definitely a nuisance.



Overall, while Avowed has some promising aspects, it falls short in several key areas. The story takes a sharp decline, the character design feels uninspired, and the difficulty scaling feels unbalanced. Avowed had so much potential, but it just didn't quite reach its full potential. It's like a delicious-looking cake that turns out to be a bit undercooked.

So, would I recommend it? No I wouldn't. Unless you're a die-hard Obsidian fan or you're desperate for a new RPG to play, I'd say to stay away. If you have Game Pass, give it a try and see if it's your cup of tea. But for now, I'd say it's a pass.

A First Look at Avowed - The Good, The Bad, and The Garrus ---------------------------------------------------------- Hey everyone! Today, we're taking a deep dive into Avowed, Obsidian's latest RPG that's got everyone talking. Is it a masterpiece? A dud? Well, I'm TwoChack, and I'm here to break it all down for you. What's Avowed All About? Avowed throws you into a semi-open world RPG where your choices don't really matter, and secrets lurk around every corner. Think hidden loot, not so mind-bending puzzles, and a world brimming with barely any consequences for your actions. The Good Stuff: A World That Captivates: The world design is a major win! It's got that familiar Obsidian feel, reminiscent of The Outer Worlds, with distinct open areas, each with its own unique theme and personality. We're talking five different regions, each with its own town and atmosphere. You'll be constantly discovering hidden treasures, secret pathways, and even hidden walls! (Dark Souls fans, say hello!) The way these open areas are structured makes exploration feel rewarding and keeps you hooked. Creative Problem-Solving: Stuck behind a wall of water? No problem! Freeze it with a cold spell. Vines blocking your path? Burn them with your companion's abilities or your own fiery magic. Broken wall in your way? Blast it open! Obsidian clearly drew inspiration from the Arkham series, and it's a welcome addition. Easy to Navigate: The inventory and skill tabs are incredibly user-friendly, making it a breeze to understand everything. And speaking of understanding, I love the inclusion of a lore book in the dialogue system. It helps you grasp the world and its characters much better. Combat That's Solid, Not Spectacular: The combat is a bit of a middle ground. It's simple and easy to pick up, but it's also effective and fun. The ability to wield a gun and sword simultaneously is a nice touch. Don't expect anything groundbreaking, though. Garrus Returns! One of my favorite things about Avowed? Hearing Garrus's voice again! That voice acting is pure gold! Alright, let's get into the less-than-stellar aspects of Avowed. It's not all sunshine and roses, folks. The Shadows Lurking in Avowed While the game has some strong points, there are some areas where Avowed falls short. Story That Takes a Nosedive: The story starts off promisingly, with the first two chapters holding your attention. However, it takes a sharp turn for the worse in chapter three. It feels like the writing team switched gears, and the quality of the quests and overall narrative drops significantly. I won't spoil anything, but the decision you have to make at the end of chapter three is mind-bogglingly bad. Even Rum couldn't save it! Character Design Deja Vu: The character design in Avowed feels like a recycled version of Concord, with only a couple of outfits and one character standing out. It's a baffling choice, especially considering the game's emphasis on customization. Why repeat the same mistakes? Character Creator Needs More Love: The character creator is a bit barebones and basic for my taste. It lacks the depth and customization options you'd expect from a game of this caliber. Where's My Headgear? This one really grinds my gears. The game repeatedly mentions headgear and masks, but you can't actually wear them! Why even mention them if they're not an option? It feels like a missed opportunity. Difficulty Scaling That's All Over the Place: The hardest difficulty feels like a straight-up "Veilguard" experience, where you have practically no health, and even basic enemies hit like bosses. It's not challenging; it's just tedious. Weapon Scaling That Feels Grindy: Each new area requires higher-tier gear, which means you'll be constantly farming resources to upgrade your weapons. This can feel repetitive and grindy, especially when you're attached to a particular weapon. A World That Lacks Life: Despite the beautiful environments, the world feels strangely lifeless. There are plenty of NPCs, but they just stand around, staring blankly at you or each other. It's like a scene straight out of Starfield's launch. Perhaps this is a remnant of the game's original multiplayer plans. Technical Troubles: A Mixed Bag Micro-Stutters: The micro-stutters on PC are a real bummer. They're not constant, but they're frequent enough to be noticeable and distracting. Hopefully, Obsidian will address this with a future patch. It's not uncommon for games to have performance issues at launch, so fingers crossed that they'll get it sorted out. Bugs: Not Game-Breaking, But Annoying There are definitely some bugs in Avowed, from glitching out of bounds to broken quests and NPCs stuck in rocks. It's not the most polished game out there, but it's not a complete disaster either. The bugs are pretty rare, so they don't completely ruin the experience. But they're definitely a nuisance. Overall, while Avowed has some promising aspects, it falls short in several key areas. The story takes a sharp decline, the character design feels uninspired, and the difficulty scaling feels unbalanced. Avowed had so much potential, but it just didn't quite reach its full potential. It's like a delicious-looking cake that turns out to be a bit undercooked. So, would I recommend it? No I wouldn't. Unless you're a die-hard Obsidian fan or you're desperate for a new RPG to play, I'd say to stay away. If you have Game Pass, give it a try and see if it's your cup of tea. But for now, I'd say it's a pass.