CMoney: I played Avowed entirely on Xbox Series X in Quality mode, and the gameplay experience was exceptional. Combat in Avowed is where it shines, offering a sense of weight and satisfaction with each hit.
Doodle: The combat system in Avowed is both intuitive and deep, whether you’re playing in first or third person. CMoney played the entirety of the game in first person after trying 3rd person for a bit, and I did the opposite. I played in 3rd person, and I loved it. One of the standout features is the ability to independently dual-wield, allowing you to swing a sword with one hand while casting a spell with the other, or firing a pistol. This level of control makes combat incredibly dynamic.
CMoney: The balance between melee, ranged, and magic combat is well-executed. Melee combat feels visceral with weapons that range from swords to hammers, each with unique animations and impact. Ranged combat, like using a bow or arquebus, adds tactical depth with the need for precision and positioning. Magic, on the other hand, feels powerful and diverse with spells that can alter the battlefield in numerous ways.
Doodle: Mixing and matching these combat styles is where Avowed truly comes alive. You can switch mid-fight from a brute force approach with a great hammer to sniping with a bow or unleashing a magical storm. This mix-and-match approach keeps combat fresh and engaging, making every battle feel unique.
CMoney: The skill tree in Avowed is vast, offering pathways that cater to every playstyle imaginable. Whether you’re focusing on becoming a stealth archer, a spell-slinging mage, or a tanky warrior, there’s a plethora of skills to choose from. Each decision in the skill tree feels impactful, allowing you to craft a character that’s truly your own.
Doodle: Exploration is rewarded in Avowed, with combat being a natural extension of this. Hidden areas often require a mix of combat prowess and environmental interaction, like using magic to clear a path or precise shooting to hit distant mechanisms. The combat mechanics feed into the joy of discovery, making every new location feel like a challenge to overcome in your unique way. CMoney: Climbing and platforming is smooth, facilitating combat in vertical spaces or allowing for strategic retreats and ambushes. The over-encumbrance system is innovative, letting you manage your inventory on the fly by sending items back to camp, which means you can keep exploring and fighting without interruption.
Doodle: With the ability to run indefinitely as a Godlike, you’re never bogged down by stamina, which keeps combat and exploration fluid. The freedom to engage enemies on your terms, whether through stealth, confrontation, or magical manipulation, adds layers of fun that make you want to experiment with every encounter.
CMoney: The game encourages creativity in combat; you can set traps with magic, use the environment to your advantage, or even combine companion abilities with your own for devastating effects. The way Avowed integrates its combat system with exploration and character development makes it stand out as one of the most enjoyable RPG experiences we’ve had.
” I played Avowed entirely on Xbox Series X in Quality mode, and the gameplay experience was exceptional.” – CMoney
Fun Factor
CMoney: Avowed is just fun to play. The gameplay loop of combat, exploration, and the story keeps you engaged. I wish there was a New Game+ mode because you want to keep playing in this world.
Doodle: The fun comes from the freedom to explore, the engaging combat, and the compelling narrative. Each session feels rewarding, whether you’re advancing the main story or just wandering.
CMoney: The combat system feels rewarding, with each fight offering a sense of progression. The graphics are so good, that you might find yourself just stopping to admire the view, often, which adds to the fun.
Doodle: I love how every decision feels like it matters, how every companion has something unique to offer, and how the world is filled with secrets and stories. It’s a game that keeps pulling you back in.
CMoney: Even without New Game+, the game’s depth ensures multiple playthroughs will feel fresh. The combination of exploration, character development, and the joy of discovery makes Avowed a delight to play.
Doodle: It’s the kind of game where you feel empowered by your choices, immersed in its lore, and genuinely enjoy every moment, whether you’re fighting, talking, or just taking in the scenery.
“Avowed is just fun to play. The gameplay loop of combat, exploration, and the story keeps you engaged.” – CMoney
OnPoint Score
CMoney: Avowed is Amazing. It’s a game of the year contender, with its stunning visuals, engaging story, fun gameplay mechanics, and the depth of its combat system. Our Official OnPoint Review Score for Avowed is an easy… 10 out of 10.
Doodle: I’m in full agreement. Avowed is dense, meaningful, and simply phenomenal. It’s an RPG that does everything right, offering an experience that’s both epic and personal.
CMoney: That concludes our deep-dive Review of Avowed. We hope you enjoyed this review. And be sure to check out the game Day One in Xbox Game Pass! Thanks again to Xbox and Obsidian Entertainment for sending us this game for review.
Doodle: Thank you for checking out our review. Don’t forget to like, subscribe, and hit that notification bell so you never miss an update from us. Do you agree with our score? Let us know what you think in the comments.
CMoney: and with that, Until next time,
Doodle: You’re intruding.
CMoney: You’re intruding
“Avowed is Amazing. It’s a game of the year contender, with its stunning visuals, engaging story, fun gameplay mechanics, and the depth of its combat system. Our Official OnPoint Review Score … is an easy 10 out of 10. ” – CMoney
Senua’s Saga: Hellblade II is one of the most profound and transcendent gaming experiences of the past decade, as it seamlessly blends a gut-wrenching and nuanced story; compelling and painfully realistic characters; and a dreary and unforgiving world to craft a video game that stands tall above many of the games of late and solidifies… Read more: Why Senua’s Saga: Hellblade 2 is MY 2024 Game of the Year
Love the Banter back and forth both in the review and shown in the transcription posted here. Also, love the different views of opinions from two people in the same household playing the game. The review is honest and having started playing it myself I can agree with the graphics it is visually beautiful and handcrafted in the pillars of eternity universe. While the Art direction is something to behold and beautiful, the sounds are superb and unique telling you “hey there an item around here” or immersing you into the beauty of the world. The gameplay is smooth and unless you are looking for stutters you hardly ever see them if at all and the balance between melee, ranged, and casting magic the buildup of stun giving the finishing moves a very unique feel along with the feedback of hitting the enemies and allowing them to cancel the frames of the enemy making you able to permanently stunlock them while the variety of swarms of enemies provides a unique challenge also given the difficulty you are playing on. The fun is out of this world great in this game. The equipment matters and if you know how to manage your inventory it fully depicts how much fun you’ll have because it can possibly change your entire playstyle midgame sometimes even mid-combat switching to your offset.
Me personally i give it a 9.5/10. It gives you plenty of options to play the game you as a player want. it doesn’t handhold you through tutorials after tutorial but you can view them all in the menu if you ever need a refresher. It’s not a “perfect” game but it’s extremely damn close. I do also agree this is the first of many xbox games to release this year that will be a contender for game of the year.
Thanks for checking out our Review!
Bewbs
Love the Banter back and forth both in the review and shown in the transcription posted here. Also, love the different views of opinions from two people in the same household playing the game. The review is honest and having started playing it myself I can agree with the graphics it is visually beautiful and handcrafted in the pillars of eternity universe. While the Art direction is something to behold and beautiful, the sounds are superb and unique telling you “hey there an item around here” or immersing you into the beauty of the world. The gameplay is smooth and unless you are looking for stutters you hardly ever see them if at all and the balance between melee, ranged, and casting magic the buildup of stun giving the finishing moves a very unique feel along with the feedback of hitting the enemies and allowing them to cancel the frames of the enemy making you able to permanently stunlock them while the variety of swarms of enemies provides a unique challenge also given the difficulty you are playing on. The fun is out of this world great in this game. The equipment matters and if you know how to manage your inventory it fully depicts how much fun you’ll have because it can possibly change your entire playstyle midgame sometimes even mid-combat switching to your offset.
Me personally i give it a 9.5/10. It gives you plenty of options to play the game you as a player want. it doesn’t handhold you through tutorials after tutorial but you can view them all in the menu if you ever need a refresher. It’s not a “perfect” game but it’s extremely damn close. I do also agree this is the first of many xbox games to release this year that will be a contender for game of the year.
Agree with everything. Only encountered 1 bug and that was patched out in their first patch this Tuesday when the game got its full launch.
GREAT REVIEW FOR A GREAT GAME! but seriously, no matter the metacritic, this game will be remembered as a great game as time goes on.