As the next RPG from Obsidian, Avowed aims to bring a new fantasy adventure to fans of the genre. Set in the Living Lands, an island in the far north of Eora, Avowed tasks players with investigating a mysterious plague that is supposedly spreading throughout the area.
On the journey, Avowed promises to offer plenty of obstacles along the way in the form of a diverse roster of antagonists. A unique variety of enemies is usually a given in many RPGs, but a key component of Avowed's gameplay could make combat and encounters far more strategic and rewarding. One of the most intriguing aspects of the game is that Avowed is embracing a multiclass approach when it comes to building skills. Ultimately, this could make run-ins with enemies far more dynamic.
Avowed's Classless System Could Prove to Be More Beneficial to Its Combat
Allowing Player Customization to Lead Avowed's Combat
There is set to be a wide range of enemy types in Avowed, and each one requires a specific approach when facing them. From plague-infested bears to the humanoid race of lizards known as Xaurips, each scenario will task players with implementing different strategies for each enemy. With Avowed's combat and abilities focused more on building specific skills rather than adhering to a rigid class system, players will be given a lot of freedom in making their character as unique as possible.
While Avowed restricts player creation to just two races due to lore, the skill-based mechanics will likely help balance that restriction. Despite the character creator not being as robust as other fantasy RPGs, the class-free system allows for an exciting amount of flexibility that will likely encourage players to change and adapt to situations when the opportunity arises. However, Avowed isn't completely ditching RPG classes, at least when it comes to abilities. Instead, players get to bounce around and explore different aspects of iconic class tropes in order to create the strongest version of their character.
Avowed's Skill Trees
- Fighter - This class focuses mostly on melee, two-handed weaponry, stamina, shields, and heavy armor.
- Ranger - Bows, guns, stealth, crowd control, and light armor make up the Ranger tree.
- Wizard - Spells, other magical implements, and crowd control are the focuses of this tree.
- Godlike - This is a tree for special abilities that players learn as a godlike.
- Companions - As the name suggests, this tree is a small tree for a player's chosen companions.
Even though Avowed doesn't outright let players choose a class, Fighter, Ranger, and Wizard all play into major RPG archetypes, so crafting a specific, rigid character is still very possible for those who are more interested in a strict role. Avowed breaking tradition is a compelling prospect, and seeing how these skill trees effect a player's approach to combat will be one of the most intriguing parts of learning the game, and it could be one of its greatest strengths.
Putting Multiclass Combat Into the Spotlight
Although playing a multiclass system isn't for everyone, Avowed's flexibility will likely be a benefit to both lovers of traditional RPG standards and those who prefer more freedom. The various systems that make up Avowed are ambitious, and sneak peeks at how these mechanics are implemented in the game have helped build anticipation. This new chapter of the Pillars of Eternity universe has been long-awaited, and once the game launches, its experimental features will hopefully prove to be a success.
Avowed launches on February 18, 2025.
A strong and diverse offering of enemies that have to be approached in differing ways is a promising sign for Avowed's combat. It can be hard to stand out in the world of fantasy RPGs, especially since the bar has been raised in many respects by Baldur's Gate 3. However, this embrace multiclass character building could provide an exciting and fresh way for players to learn and adjust to a game's environments and threats.
Avowed
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OpenCritic Reviews
- Top Critic Avg: 80 /100 Critics Rec: 82%
- Released
- February 18, 2025
- ESRB
- Mature 17+ // Blood and Gore, Strong Language, Violence
- Developer(s)
- Obsidian Entertainment
- Publisher(s)
- Xbox Game Studios
WHERE TO PLAY
Welcome to the Living Lands, a mysterious island filled with adventure and danger. Set in the fictional world of Eora that was first introduced to players in the Pillars of Eternity franchise, Avowed is a first-person fantasy action RPG from the award-winning team at Obsidian Entertainment.
You are the envoy of Aedyr, a distant land, sent to investigate rumors of a spreading plague throughout the Living Lands - an island full of mysteries and secrets, danger and adventure, and choices and consequences, and untamed wilderness. You discover a personal connection to the Living Lands and an ancient secret that threatens to destroy everything. Can you save this unknown frontier and your soul from the forces threatening to tear them asunder?
- Engine
- Unreal Engine 5
- Franchise
- Pillars of Eternity
- Platform(s)
- Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, PC
