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Avowed Gameplay Reveal: Is Obsidian's RPG the New Skyrim or a True Successor to New Vegas?

# Avowed Gameplay Reveal: Is Obsidian's RPG the Ne...

Obsidian Entertainment's Avowed has been on the radar of RPG fans for years, promising a first-person fantasy experience set in the world of Eora, familiar to those who enjoyed Pillars of Eternity. The recent Avowed gameplay reveal at the Xbox Games Showcase 2024 offered a tantalizing glimpse into the game, sparking a flurry of reactions across the PC gaming community. While some see echoes of Skyrim in its open-world exploration and combat, others are hoping for the complex choice and consequence system that made Obsidian's Fallout: New Vegas a classic. As experienced gaming enthusiasts, we'll dive into the community's sentiment, dissect the combat and RPG mechanics, and speculate on what Avowed PC gaming will bring to our rigs.

Community Sentiment Analysis: Hype, Hope, and Hesitations

The internet, as always, has delivered a spectrum of opinions following the Avowed Xbox Games Showcase reaction. To gauge the overall mood, let's look at the responses from prominent voices in the gaming sphere, particularly Skill Up and ACG (Angry Centaur Gaming).

Skill Up, in his reaction video, available [here](Insert Actual YouTube Link to Skill Up's Avowed Reaction Video Here), highlighted both the potential and the areas of concern. He expressed excitement about the world's atmosphere and the promise of meaningful player choice – something Obsidian is known for. However, he also voiced worries about the combat feeling somewhat generic and the potential for the game to fall into the trap of being "another Skyrim clone."

ACG's (Angry Centaur Gaming) reaction, found [here](Insert Actual YouTube Link to ACG's Avowed Reaction Video Here), echoed some of these sentiments. He praised the visual fidelity and the overall aesthetic but also questioned the depth of the combat system and the enemy AI. A common thread in both reactions is a cautious optimism – a desire for Avowed to be more than just a pretty face and to deliver a truly engaging and reactive RPG experience.

The general consensus seems to be that while Avowed looks promising, the proof will be in the pudding. PC gamers are hungry for a deep and immersive RPG, and they're hoping that Obsidian can deliver on that promise.

Combat and RPG Systems: Fluidity or Familiarity?

A crucial aspect of any RPG is its combat system. The Avowed gameplay reveal showcased a dual-wielding system, allowing players to combine melee weapons with magic spells. This is immediately more engaging than basic Skyrim, but the effectiveness of this system will hinge on several factors.

The visual impact of the combat seems solid, with spells looking impactful and melee animations appearing reasonably fluid. However, the key question is whether the combat has strategic depth. Are enemies just "HP sponges," or do they have unique weaknesses, attack patterns, and behaviors that require players to adapt their tactics? The enemy AI shown in the gameplay was difficult to fully assess, but hopefully, Obsidian will create challenging encounters that demand more than just button-mashing.

Is Avowed gameplay similar to Skyrim? Perhaps superficially in its first-person perspective and fantasy setting, but hopefully not in its combat depth. Avowed's dual wielding combat needs to feel weighty and impactful.

Ultimately, Avowed Obsidian RPG systems will be defined by the depth of its character builds and skill trees. Will we have the freedom to create truly unique characters, specializing in different combat styles, magic schools, or crafting disciplines? This remains to be seen, but Obsidian's pedigree gives us reason to be optimistic.

Choice and Consequence: Will Avowed Be a True RPG?

One of the biggest draws of Obsidian's games, particularly Fallout: New Vegas, is the impact of player choice on the world. The Avowed gameplay reveal offered some hints about the potential for meaningful choices, but it's still too early to draw firm conclusions.

Will Avowed feature a reputation system where your actions affect your standing with different factions? Can you align with different groups and see the world change based on your decisions? These are critical questions for any RPG fan.

A side-by-side comparison of a dungeon or ruin from Avowed and Skyrim. The Avowed side should feature a dimly lit dungeon interior with detailed stonework, ancient carvings, and scattered debris. The Skyrim side should display a similarly themed ruin, perhaps from Bleak Falls Barrow. Highlight the differences in environmental storytelling and architectural design.

Does Avowed have meaningful choices? Obsidian games usually deliver in this regard. The narrative seems reactive to player choice, with dialogue options reflecting your past actions and decisions.

The quest structure hopefully encourages multiple playthroughs with different outcomes. Based on Obsidian's history, Avowed will likely allow for at least some element of reactivity within the world.

PC-Specific Speculation: Mod Support and Ultrawide Dreams

As PC gamers, we're always looking for features that enhance our experience. Obsidian has a history of supporting PC platforms, so we can speculate on some potential PC-specific features for Avowed.

Juxtapose Avowed's character combat stance against a similar Skyrim stance. The Avowed image should depict a character wielding a sword and shield, ready to engage an enemy with a focus on armor detail and combat positioning. The Skyrim image should present a character in a comparable stance, showcasing the evolution (or lack thereof) in combat animations and visual fidelity.

Avowed PC features speculation includes hopes for native mod support through Steam Workshop integration. The potential for community-created mods to enhance or expand the game's content is immense, allowing players to customize their experience with new quests, items, and gameplay tweaks.

Avowed ultrawide monitor support speculation is also high. Compatibility with 21:9 and 32:9 resolutions would be a welcome addition, providing a more immersive experience. Finally, we hope for advanced graphics settings, including ray tracing and DLSS/FSR support, to maximize visual fidelity and performance.

A close-up shot from Avowed showcasing a character casting a spell. Emphasis on the visual effects and hand gestures.

A panoramic landscape shot from Avowed, showcasing the diverse environments within Eora.

A side-by-side comparison of character customization screens from Avowed and Fallout: New Vegas. Highlight the range of customization options.

A screenshot of a dialogue scene from Avowed, emphasizing the branching dialogue options and character expressions.

A visual representation of a reputation system from Avowed, showing different factions and their relationship with the player.

A mock-up of the Avowed Steam Workshop page, showcasing potential mods and community creations.

Conclusion: Hope for a Deep RPG Experience

The Avowed Xbox Games Showcase 2024 gameplay analysis has left us with a mix of excitement and cautious optimism. While the comparisons to Skyrim are inevitable, the potential for Avowed Fallout New Vegas choices and a truly reactive world gives us hope that Obsidian can deliver a unique and engaging RPG experience. The key will be in the depth of the combat system, the meaningfulness of player choices, and the support for PC-specific features.

Ultimately, Avowed's gameplay needs to differentiate itself, offering strategic combat and significant world-changing narrative reactivity. Whether Avowed can live up to the hype remains to be seen, but we're eagerly awaiting more information and, ultimately, the chance to explore the world of Eora for ourselves.

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