Avowed Review: The Fantasy RPG That Promised the World… and Delivered a Village

Ah, Avowed. The game that was supposed to be Obsidian Entertainment’s magnum opus. A sprawling, immersive RPG that would make us all forget about the other gazillion fantasy games clogging up our libraries. Instead, what we got was… well, let’s just say it gives new meaning to the phrase ‘temper your expectations.’

The Premise: A World as Big as Your Imagination (Or Not)

First, let’s talk about the premise. Avowed is set in the same universe as Pillars of Eternity, a beloved series known for its rich lore and complex storytelling. But don’t get too excited — this isn’t your typical Obsidian RPG where you spend hours agonizing over dialogue choices. No, Avowed is more like its laid-back cousin who shows up to family reunions without a dish to share. It’s pretty, sure, but it’s also missing the heart and soul you’d expect from the studio.

The game drops you into the world of Eora and has you wielding magic, swords, and whatever else you can find to fight off enemies. Sounds fun, right? Well, it is… for the first few hours. Then the cracks start to show. The world feels as expansive as a postage stamp, and the story is about as deep as a kiddie pool. You’ll quickly realize that ‘immersive’ is just a buzzword here, not an actual design philosophy.

Gameplay: Swing, Miss, Repeat

Let’s talk gameplay. If you’ve played Skyrim, you’ll feel right at home here. But not in a good way. Combat in Avowed feels like a decade-old action RPG, complete with clunky mechanics and repetitive encounters. The swordplay is decent, but the magic system? Oh boy, let’s just say it’s about as exciting as watching paint dry.

The game does try to spice things up with a variety of spells and abilities, but they’re so poorly balanced that you’ll likely stick to the same three moves for the entire game. And don’t even get me started on the AI. Enemies either charge at you like they’ve got a death wish or stand there looking confused, like they forgot why they showed up in the first place.

Graphics and Performance: A Mixed Bag

On the bright side, Avowed is visually stunning — at least when it’s not stuttering like an old car trying to climb a hill. The environments are lush and detailed, and the lighting effects are genuinely impressive. But those visuals come at a cost. Performance issues are rampant, even on the PS5. Frame rate drops, texture pop-ins, and other technical hiccups are all too common, making it hard to fully appreciate the game’s beauty.

Oh, and let’s not forget the bugs. From disappearing NPCs to quests that refuse to complete, Avowed is a reminder that some things never change in the world of RPGs.

Pros & Cons

For those who like their information bite-sized, here’s a quick rundown:

• Pros:
  • Stunning visuals and art direction
  • Decent combat mechanics (if you lower your standards)
  • Set in the rich Pillars of Eternity universe
• Cons:
  • Shallow story and characters
  • Repetitive gameplay
  • Performance issues and bugs
  • Feels like a watered-down version of better RPGs

Final Thoughts: Is It Worth Your Time?

So, should you play Avowed? That depends. If you’re a die-hard fan of Obsidian Entertainment and you’re willing to overlook its flaws, you might find some enjoyment here. But if you’re looking for a groundbreaking RPG that raises the bar for the genre, you’d be better off replaying Skyrim or diving into Cyberpunk 2077 (now that it’s finally fixed).

In the end, Avowed is a game that tries to do a lot but doesn’t quite stick the landing. It’s like a cake that looks amazing on the outside but turns out to be mostly air when you cut into it.

What Do You Think?

Have you played Avowed? Did it live up to your expectations, or were you left scratching your head like the rest of us? Let us know in the comments below! And if you’re looking for more gaming content, check out our review of other PS5 titles.

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