Summary
In many ways, Obsidian Entertainment’sAvowedis a unique experience among modern RPGs. With a colorful and vibrant world, a strong emphasis on player choice, and a combat system that is incredibly engaging for a first-person RPG,Avowedoffers a worthwhile experience for any fan ofgames likeThe Elder Scrolls 5: SkyrimandThe Outer Worlds. However, as worthwhile as that experience may be, it’s a one-way road in a lot of ways, especially when it comes to its lack of an increasingly popular game mode in RPGs with the depth potential and size ofAvowed.
Avowedmay give players a considerable number of paths to take in its story and side quests, and it might boast a skill system that calls for experimentation with diverse playstyles, but its lack of a New Game Plus mode ultimately works against both of these features by not giving players a longer road to experiment on. As such, while it will likely see numerous updates that intend to polish and refine its many systems,Avowed’s first major post-launch addition feels clear as day — it needs a New Game Plus mode, and it needs one sooner rather than later.
Avowed Needs a New Game Plus Mode
Avowed’s Best Features Are Its Potential for Build Diversity and Its Emphasis on Player Choice
Avowedhas a lot of things working for it, but its two best features are arguably its potential for build diversity and its strong emphasis on player choice. Obsidian is no stranger tochoice-driven games, as that has proven in the past to be a significant characteristic of its work. The same is very true ofAvowed, which puts the player in a unique position to be fully in charge of their destiny, to the point that the game’s companions often encourage the player to be confident in the decisions they make, regardless of who they may disappoint in the process.
By the end ofAvowed, players get to see the impact of all the major choices they made throughout the story, thereby even further emphasizing the role that their decisions play in the game’s story.
Avowedalso holds massive potential for build diversity in its skill system by allowing players to choose any combination of abilities from its three class trees — Fighter, Ranger, and Wizard. Rather than locking players down to one class,Avowedallows them to create a multiclass characterif they so desire, making combat as engaging and as personal as they want it to be.
New Game Plus Can Only Benefit Avowed’s Best Features
Unfortunately, thelack of a New Game Plus mode inAvowedultimately works against its desire for build diversity and its emphasis on player choice. By the time players reach the end ofAvowed’s story, even after doing most or all of its optional content, they will only have acquired a handful of skill points that is somewhat meeger in comparison to the sheer number of available ways to spend skill points. A New Game Plus mode would effectively allow them to continue building on top of what they’ve already built in a character, and an even greater opportunity to experiment with playstyles that are truly diverse.
Avowedhas a lot of things working for it, but its two best features are arguably its potential for build diversity and its strong emphasis on player choice.
A New Game Plus mode would also complementAvowed’s emphasis on player choice, as it would allow players to complete the story again with the character they’ve already invested in, all while making different choices during subsequent playthroughs. A New Game Plus mode would allow players to focus less on the strength of their character (unless enemies were made to be more difficult) and more on the choices they make. In short,Avowedreally does need a New Game Plus mode added soon, as its best systems are ultimately dampened by the lack of one.
