Summary
Avowed,Obsidian Entertainment’s latest FPS action-RPG, was recently released after first being revealed all the way back in 2020. Taking fans to the world of Eora created by the developer for its priorPillars of Eternityseries,Avowedis rooted within that wider universe while serving as its own standalone entry and gateway to it for newcomers to the franchise. Fans take on the role of an Imperial Envoy sent to the wild Living Lands to unravel the cause of its spiritual sickness while untangling thorny cultural and political issues along the way.
Avowedcontains a number of Obsidian’s trademarks, such as a heavier focus on strong writing and character development. And like many of the studio’s past games,Avowedfeatures an assortment of companions that join the journey, weaving their stories and interjecting their thoughts about the Envoy’s actions into the grander tale.
But between delving into ancient ruins and negotiating with imposing wizards, players will also spend some time atAvowed’s camps. And the camaraderie that companions display while resting at them closely resembles the varied and intimate interactions of Dutch Van der Linde’s gang seen in Rockstar Games' opus,Red Dead Redemption 2.
Rockstar’s work onRed Dead Redemption 2is a feat that remains impressive. Thanks to its extremely detailed and reactive Old West world, fans have continued to discoverhidden interactions inRed Dead Redemption 2that add to its already incredible levels of realism. Arthur Morgan and his motley crew are a tight community, which each one portrayed as a rounded individual that has their own dynamic with the rest and the group as a whole. This is apparent not only in major narrative beats and missions, but true in the quieter moments when Arthur takes a break at one of the gang’s camps.
As they spend some downtime in them, players can witness and overhear a breadth of exchanges in camps, some quite rare and specific, but all of which build upon the rich world and characters to impart even more believability to them.Avowed’s companions also interact in similar ways, giving them the same sense of realization and personability.
Avowed’s RDR2-Style Campfire Companion Chats Are Equally Endearing
While adventuring through the Living Lands and solving the mystery of the Dreamscourge inAvowed, players recruit a band of four companions to assist with their efforts:
All are specialized in their field of expertise, and a few of them already have a history with each other within the setting. As the plot thickens and discoveries are unearthed, they form a bond with each other and the Envoy, never hesitating to discuss the consequences of thevarious choices thatAvowedlets fans make.
And though each will speak directly with the Envoy, they will also have extensive conversations between themselves while resting at camp. Swapping war stories, personal ambitions, ghost tales, and taking playful jibes at each other,Avowed’s companions are personableand lively, particularly at campfires. They come across as real people with varied opinions, issues, and principles, and feel alive and invested in the action as much as the player character is.
Also likeRDR2, players can meet characters while out exploring who are not linked to any quests or side tasks, but will have an interesting, albeit brief, story to tell.
Though it’s not necessary to engage with these conversions, and fans may only visit camps quickly to upgrade items, their inclusion goes a long way towards organically fleshing outAvowed’s companions. In some titles, companions can feel disconnected from the player, each other, and the overarching tale, coming off as flat or detached.Avowedexpertly averts this, and in the same vein as some ofRed Dead Redemption 2’s easily missable moments, rewards players who take the time to listen to them with an appreciable added depth and flavor.
