TIt's a long-standing joke that Bethesda's Skyrim has become so popular that it can do anything. It started with the humble Xbox 360 and expanded to the Nintendo Switch, virtual reality headsets, PS5, and even Amazon's Alexa. Over 13 years later, its sequel is still nowhere to be seen, so role-playing game veterans Obsidian are offering fans an alternative in the form of Avowed.
Considering it's derived from the somewhat staid computer RPG Pillars of Eternity, it's surprising how fun and refreshing this game is. Entering the game's colorful world of Eora, I explore dense caverns, jump across canyons and scale rock walls without breaking a sweat alongside an incredibly athletic wizard. I find myself doing it.
While Skyrim's dull color palette and clunky combat betray its 2011 origins, Avowed's kineticism and vibrancy create a sense of first-person spellcasting fun. Whether you're unleashing a burst of acid at a horde of charging skeletons or a barrage of ice missiles at an apocalyptic cult, chopping and toggling between spells is as easy as holding the trigger and pressing a button. It's as simple as that, and each attack is animated with an explosion of light and color.
“I think players will really enjoy the moment-by-moment combat experience,” said game director Carey Patel. “We wanted to take the sense of momentum and impact from more action-forward games and add the player-driven progression and choices found in our RPG roots.”
Refreshing and cheerful… I admitted it. Photo: Obsidian
My demo is accompanied by a cynical and sarcastic companion named Kai, complete with classic dialogue choices. There’s more than just Mass Effect elements here, with the actor who voiced Garrus in BioWare’s sci-fi epic providing an equally endearing companion for Kai. “Players will see the effects of their choices play out before their eyes, even if it’s early on,” Patel says. “Later in the game, the choices you make along the way will affect which characters trust you.”
While Bethesda approaches fantasy with a furrowed brow, Obsidian opts for a more irreverent tone. The level of banter is somewhere between Guardians of the Galaxy and the 2023 film Dungeons & Dragons, with a more sour Avengers-style dialogue style than a fully established one. It may be unpleasant for those who are not. The success or failure of this will depend on your friends and their personalities.
“I’m really looking forward to our players meeting the companions we’ve created for them,” Patel says.“We had a lot of fun building these characters and trying to create interesting moments between them. As you move through the world, they talk to each other, giving you time to get to know them and also give you time to watch them get to know each other.”
In many ways, what I’m looking at here is more Skyrim Zero than Diet Skyrim – less extravagant and without the dodgy aftertaste. With elements of Uncharted and Mass Effect, it’s a refreshing and hilarious take on a familiar fantasy setting.
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Source: www.theguardian.com
