While Avowed skipped the recent Xbox Developer Direct, Obsidian hasn’t let that stop them from sharing exciting details about their highly anticipated RPG. The focus? Player freedom. A staple in many previous Obsidian games, Avowed aims too take this concept to a whole new level.
According to a blog post on Xbox’s website, the development team emphasizes that choices and their consequences will feel both impactful and intuitive.”If every choice and outcome is easy to predict, it’s not very rewarding because you miss out on that joy. But if everything seems completely arbitrary, it can be disturbing,” explains director Carrie Patel.”As a player, you are the main character in a story and we want the outcomes and consequences to feel like something you have worked for.”
Get ready to make decisions that ripple through every aspect of the game, shaping dialog, influencing individual missions, and even affecting gameplay itself.
Interestingly,some choices are predetermined even before you start playing. Obsidian revealed on X that your character’s background will influence how the world reacts to you. “The background gives you unique dialogue choices and determines which weapon you start with,” they shared. “All of the equipment and features will be available to you no matter what background you choose.”
Early impressions of Avowed, gleaned from a preview this past fall, have been mixed. While the game holds promise,some aspects haven’t quite captured the excitement. “when it comes down to it, I’m unfortunately less excited about Avowed after playing the first two hours,” wrote our very own gaming writer, Andreas Bjørnbekk. He found that the story, dialogue, combat system, side quests, and even the world itself felt somewhat generic, lacking the spark to truly elevate the tension.
Despite these reservations, Avowed remains a highly anticipated title.its release on February 18th for both PC and xbox Series X/S is sure to generate considerable buzz amongst RPG enthusiasts.
How can Obsidian ensure that the player choices in Avowed feel impactful and meaningful beyond just shaping dialog and mission outcomes?
Table of Contents
- 1. How can Obsidian ensure that the player choices in Avowed feel impactful and meaningful beyond just shaping dialog and mission outcomes?
- 2. Obsidian’s Avowed: Breathing Life Into Player Choice
- 3. Impactful Choices, Intuitive Consequences
- 4. Your Past Shapes your present
- 5. Beyond the Hype: Can Avowed Deliver?
Obsidian’s Avowed: Breathing Life Into Player Choice
With high expectations surrounding its release, Obsidian’s newest RPG, Avowed, promises a world where player choices truly matter. We sat down with Carrie Patel, Director of Avowed, to discuss how they’re defining this player freedom, the role of background in shaping the narrative, and how Avowed aims to stand out in the crowded RPG landscape.
Impactful Choices, Intuitive Consequences
“If every choice and outcome is easy to predict, it’s not very rewarding because you miss out on that joy. But if everything seems completely arbitrary, it can be disturbing,” explains Patel. “As a player, you are the main character in a story and we want the outcomes and consequences to feel like something you have worked for.”
Obsidian is striving for a delicate balance, ensuring choices feel both impactful and natural to the world. “We want players to feel like they are not just clicking buttons but are actively making decisions that have tangible consequences,” Patel elaborates. “These consequences will play out in a variety of ways, from shaping dialogue and influencing individual missions to even affecting basic gameplay aspects.”
Your Past Shapes your present
Interestingly, the impact of player choices begins even before the game truly starts. Obsidian has revealed that Avowed’s starting background will significantly influence how the world reacts to your character.
“The background gives you unique dialogue choices and determines which weapon you start with,” shared timberland on the official X account.”All of the equipment and features will be available to you no matter what background you choose.”
This suggests a level of environmental storytelling and dynamic interactions that promises to be multifaceted and engaging.
Beyond the Hype: Can Avowed Deliver?
while the concept and mechanics of Avowed are certainly promising, early impressions have been somewhat mixed. Andreas Bjørnbekk, our gaming writer, noted in his preview that aspects like the story, dialogue, and combat system seemed somewhat generic, lacking the spark to truly elevate the tension.
How do you think Obsidian can balance the lofty promises of player freedom with crafting a truly compelling and memorable RPG experience? Let us know in the comments below!
Ultimately, Avowed will be judged on its execution. With its release on February 18th for PC and Xbox Series X|S, the gaming community will soon have the opportunity to determine if Obsidian’s latest effort truly lives up to the hype of player-driven choice and outcome.
