After the more generous presentation of Avowed, Obsidian Entertainment took part in the interview game. The opportunity to learn a little more about the next big RPG for the Xbox Series.
Xbox was particularly expected at the turn with its Developer Direct. Where its competitor’s calendar is very vague, the green brand took the time to present its next four in-house exclusives. Indiana Jones and the Ancient Circle has obviously been at the heart of all the conversations, but RPG lovers have been waiting with great curiosity for Avowed. A sort of Skyrim-like signed Obsidian Entertainment taking place in the universe of Pillars of Eternity, which seems to be in line with what the studio had already offered with The Outer Worlds. The combat seems at first glance weak in the knees, but the game should more than compensate in the narrative part and the writing. Obsidian has just delivered new details on its Xbox Series exclusivity.
New details on Avowed’s companions
In recent years, Obsidian has established itself as one of the tenors of RPGs. Fallout New Vegas, Pillars of Eternity, the studio knows how to do it. With Avowed, it will return to the first-person view and a semi-open world with large, fully explorable interconnected areas. On the gameplay side, the game promises various offensive and defensive approaches, but a large part of the players expect it more from the narrative side. During an interview with PCGamer, Carrie Patel (game director) and Gabe Paramo (gameplay director) gave more details about Avowed and in particular the companions. We’ll stop you right away, don’t expect Baldur’s Gate 3.
It’s confirmed, there will be no approval system. In other words, unlike BioWare or Larian games, to name a few, your comrades will not leave the group depending on the choices you make. So it seems that the kindest character will stay by your side even if you commit the worst atrocities. On the other hand, it will influence their own decisions and their stories. “ We didn’t want players to feel like they had to choose a “good” option to keep their companions with them. So, it will not be a question of maintaining an approval gauge, but of getting to know them, of building a relationship with them […] and discover their perspective on the world “Obsidian explained.
No romance?
An approach which, put like that, does not receive the warmest reception. There are many people who enjoy developing relationships with their fellow travelers and especially seeing them react to their decisions, for good or bad, and make it known everywhere on social networks. “It’s part of the characters’ personality, they risk being flat and tasteless,” comments an RPG fan, for example, not without a touch of disappointment.
If this remains to be confirmed, it also seems that no romance is planned in Avowed according to what the PCGamer journalist has understood. This remains only an interpretation on his part following his interview with the team, but it also did not fail to provoke a reaction. Unsurprisingly, the balance again leans towards the negative side, with many players enjoying little romances with their comrades. So much for your waifu.
Obsidian also took the opportunity to confirm that we can be accompanied in combat by two characters that we will be able to choose. On rare occasions, however, Avowed will require certain individuals to be selected in particular because of their knowledge and expertise that lends itself to the mission or story in progress. Otherwise, you have the king’s choice. However, we still do not know how many companions can be recruited in total. On the combat side, it will be possible to give them orders, but Obsidian is tempering: it will be very basic and there will be no dimension of micromanagement. This should reassure some.
People from all over the Web are all well and good, but you? What do you think of this approach for companions?