Avowed: An Unexpected Magical Journey

Avowed isn’t the Obsidian fantasy RPG I originally hoped for, but it turns out to be a surprisingly entertaining spell-slinging parkour shooter. While Avowed comes close to greatness, its quest design and storytelling seem a bit too formulaic, often reminiscent of a checklist hastily marked off by someone rushing to catch a bus. Despite these shortcomings, the world is a breathtakingly beautiful and expansive fantasy landscape, an impressive and peculiar realm awaiting exploration. By focusing on a wizard character, you bypass the clumsy melee combat of other classes and dive into an electrifying spellcasting experience. Initially, I never expected to describe Obsidian’s latest title as “a delightfully fun magical treasure-hunting parkour FPS,” yet here it is.

In Avowed, you can tailor your own version of a law enforcer as you work to manage various conflicts, calm the locals, or expose rebellion as you choose. While the side quests initially captivate, they ultimately fizzle without much emotional impact or intrigue. Major plot points offer challenging decisions but suffer from feeling isolated and overly scripted. Despite this, the cities and towns bring a dynamic sense of political and social tension that plays out in intriguing ways. Unmarked encounters and conversations fill Avowed, adding layers of richness to the bustling communities. So, if magic is your path, you’re armed with a spellbook and wand, unlocking progressively powerful elemental spells. These can be enhanced and customized through the class skill tree.

The vertical nature of Avowed’s open zones offers a remarkable experience, and you might find yourself scaling city walls as much as venturing through the streets. If you have Game Pass, it’s worth downloading just to explore this expansive world. Sometimes it truly is about the size; Avowed’s hand-crafted, semi-open world might just be the most stunning and intricate in gaming. I just wish I felt more eager to immerse myself further into it.