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[I collect VHS tapes]

I beat this game a week or so ago after 72 hours. I've had a lot of time to think about the experience, and I'm still a bit blown away by how good certain aspects of this game are.

In particular, the combat is exceptionally good. I feel this is thread worthy due to all the negativity surrounding this game at release. As a result of that, I think a lot of people are totally unaware how significant of an improvement Obsidian made here when it comes to combat.

Avowed has easily the best first person combat I've ever experienced in an RPG. I have a strong feeling in a few years we are going to have a ton of threads about how underrated this game is.

The combat excels for a variety of reasons. Combat is tactical and requires you to strategize, encouraging you to use the environment to give you an advantage.

It is extremely fluid and dynamic, animations look great and hits feel significant, regardless of whether you're using melee, guns or magic. When it comes to magic, this is the most fun I've had casting spells.

Build diversity is great. You can mix and match any weapons and have a blast.

For those of you who decided to avoid this game due to the reception around release, I think it is at the very least worth checking out for the combat.

I am very excited to see where Obsidian goes from here.

EDIT: I should probably include some footage. Courtesy of Buggy Loop :

 

[Team Andromeda]

I inclined to agree

 

[bender]

What's the competition outside of Dark Messiah?

The combat in Avowed doesn't make the best first impression and wasn't strong enough for me to clear the hurdle that is the writing/voice acting.

 

[Mortisfacio]

Agreed. That and exploration are the reasons I finished it.

I'd love to see Obsidian put this combat into a game with better writing and itemization. That aspect was incredibly poor in this game.

 

[Hudo]

Is it even remotely close to the absolute perfection that is the combat in Dark Messiah?

 

[TintoConCasera]

I don't support racism, sorry.

Plus, there isn't much competition when it comes to FPS melee-combat in RPG games and yet I doubt it's any better than Dark Messiah.

 

[GHG]

Is it even remotely close to the absolute perfection that is the combat in Dark Messiah?

No.

 

[Hawk The Slayer]

Nah

 

[RagnarokIV]

 

[anyasok]

I hated every aspect of the game. The dead world, the shit story, the lack of any true rpg mechanics, the repetitive enemies, the reduced scope. The very definition of bleh in my book

 

[TintoConCasera]

No.

Avowed combat seems like Skyrim's but with hitstop and slightly better animations. Dark Messiah is still the king.

 

[Hudo]

No.

Only a bit into the video and I already see the main problem: The enemies in Avowed have health bars, so Avowed seems to take a much more grounded "RPGish" approach. Dark Messiah feels more fluid & fast because it takes a more action-oriented approach; you are expected to finish enemies (except bosses) quickly. Avowed seems to draw combat out and make it more "long-term".

It's two different philosophies, basically. I vastly prefer Dark Messiah's take on it.

 

[Markio128]

No.

I’ve never played Dark Messiah, but it does look like a lot of fun in that video. Avowed combat looks pathetic in comparison.

 

[GymWolf]

If we don't consider the dying lights, dead island and some other games as rpgs, then yes.

The level is so fucking low that just some weighty and well tuned ragdoll is enough to be on top in the first person rpg genre.

Because let's be real, if the game had precanned death animations and no decent hit reactions, nobody would call it good or anything.

-very basic weapon choices
-very basic weapon moveset
-bad enemy variety with mostly boring design, wow a bear, wow a ghost, wow a lizardman, wow a bandit.
-Boring ass skill, wow a taunt scream, wow a parry, wow 15% more attack speed...
-no elaborate or hard to avoid enemy attack pattern, they dismantle you because you are underlevelled or because they are like 20 vs 1 and the companions die immediately, not because their attack patterns are hard to learn, pretty sure that the longest enemy melee combo streak is like 3 hits form the vegetable dudes with mister fantastic arms, i bailed out before the finale so maybe the final boss is a bit better, but it doesn't change the other 99% of the game.

The game doesn't even has mark on enemies or any type of gore, that alone is a huge malus, that stuff is kinda crucial in first person.


The game in a sense make me happy because i love ragdoll more than most people and this game show how fucking important it is to have well tuned ragdoll in a game where you bash mofos and send them flying to seel how weighty a combat is.

Magic seems to be the only standout but i didn't played a mage so i can't speak much about it.

 

[vaibhavpisal]

No.

This video is bullshit.

Lmao, people are too gullible these days.

Just the first comparison at 18 secs, dude doesn’t have enough stamina, isnt using power attack.

In general playing it to look worse.

 

[adamsapple]

I am very excited to see where Obsidian goes from here.

Outer Worlds 2 later this year.

They're workhorses.

 

[Luipadre]

Yeah and only like 6 enemy types to fight againts which is laughable. Dunno whats up with AAA companies and the awful enemy variety in their games.

 

[GHG]

This video is bullshit.

Lmao, people are too gullible these days.

Just the first comparison at 18 secs, dude doesn’t have enough stamina, isnt using power attack.

In general playing it to look worse.

What is this, operation save a studio part 2?

What's gullible is you thinking avowed has good combat in comparison to this game that was made 20 years ago and ensured we had dynamic encounters due to the fact that the environments are not static.

 

[Katatonic]

This game does look fun to me. If it comes to PS5 with Pro enhancements, it might be the first MS game I buy on PS.

 

[TheKratos]

Guess ima have to tried it out now.

 

[vaibhavpisal]

If we don't consider the dying lights, dead island and some other games as rpgs, then yes.

The level is so fucking low that just some weighty and well tuned ragdoll is enough to be on top in the first person rpg genre.

Because let's be real, if the game had precanned death animations and no decent hit reactions, nobody would call it good or anything.

-very basic weapon choices
-very basic weapon moveset
-bad enemy variety
-Boring ass skill, wow a taunt scream, wow a parry, wow 15% more attack speed...
-no elaborate or hard to avoid enemy attack pattern, they dismantle you because you are underlevelled or because they are like 20 vs 1 and the companions die immediately, not because their attack patterns are hard to learn, pretty sure that the longest enemy melee combo streak is like 3 hits form the vegetable dudes with mister fantastic arms, i bailed out before the finale so maybe the final boss is a bit better, but it doesn't change the other 99% of the game.

The game doesn't even has mark on enemies or any type of gore, that alone is a huge malus, that stuff is kinda crucial in first person.


The game in a sense make me happy because i love ragdoll more than most people and this game show how fucking important it is to have well tuned ragdoll in a game where you bash mofos and send them flying to seel how weighty a combat is.

Magic seems to be the only standout but i didn't played a mage so i can't speak much about it.

Its not an action game. You have to approach it like an rpg.

There are plenty of build options with unique weapons that make playing it interesting.

Yeah and only like 6 enemy types to fight againts which is laughable. Dunno whats up with AAA companies and the awful enemy variety in their games.

Enemies have mixed parties of chanters, healers, tanks, necromancers etc.

Encounters are strategic. Its like a CRPG in first person perspective.

What is this, operation save a studio part 2?

What's gullible is you thinking avowed has good combat in comparison to this game that was made 20 years ago and ensured we had dynamic encounters due to the fact that the environments are not static.

Haven’t played Dark Messiah so cant comment on that. Am willing to take anyone’s word on it, its videos look impressive.

Doesn’t change the fact that video is bullshit.

 

[darrylgorn]

Is it even remotely close to the absolute perfection that is the combat in Dark Messiah?

I dunno man. But today's standards it's definitely mcclunky.

 

[anyasok]

Its not an action game. You have to approach it like an rpg.

There are plenty of build options with unique weapons that make playing it interesting.



Enemies have mixed parties of chanters, healers, tanks, necromancers etc.

Encounters are strategic. Its like a CRPG in first person perspective.


Haven’t played Dark Messiah so cant comment on that. Am willing to take anyone’s word on it, its videos look impressive.

Doesn’t change the fact that video is bullshit.

Such a cope. The game is garbage. The loot alone makes me want to shake these mofo devs

 

[DryvBy]

 

[Punished Miku]

Agreed. It's got weight in the magic, melee, and ranged attacks. Just feels good.

If Elder Scrolls 6 can get anywhere near that, then they'll be okay.

Someone might be able to think of 1 game I can't think of at the moment that may be better, but I can't right now. It's either the best, or tied for the best, or like 2nd place. Great combat system.

 

[adamsapple]

This game does look fun to me. If it comes to PS5 with Pro enhancements, it might be the first MS game I buy on PS.

Guess ima have to tried it out now.

Good. Y'all should give it a try if given the chance.

It's pretty good. Surprisingly good combat mechanics, something I didn't expect going in.

 

[ShadyAcshuns]

Since I haven't played all RPGs, I can't confirm that much, but I do think the combat is great.

 

[coachmcguirk91]

Cyberpunk. Avowed's combat is very good for 1st person RPG, but there are not a ton of 1st person RPGs. Everything outside of combat is quite bad in Avowed. The world is lifeless, enemy NPC's have little variety and bad animations, and the skill tree is way too small. Mediocre story and writing too

 

[fart town usa]

Wrong.

 

[balls of snow]

Cyberpunk is better for the sheer ways you can dominate the battlefield but Avowed is for sure the best first person fantasy-rpg combat.

 

[Topher]

Compared to what?

 

[Orbital2060]

I like how the game has a similar stamina bar system to Dark Souls, as well as a stun meter system which works kind of like posture in Sekiro. Max out the stun meter, and get a finishing blow opening.

And the parry system is really fun to use. Its pretty forgiving and easy to pull off, but it feels great and looks great with how it knocks the enemy into a stagger. Actually kind of how it works in Dark Souls.

 

[Guilty_AI]

I like the Bearzerk mode in Hedon




No stamina bar nor fancy parryjng system (there kind one but you dont need to over-rely on it), just satisfying, fast paced brutality

 

[Buggy Loop]

Its fucking awesome yea. Of course the usual peoples who have not played it have strong opinions ...

 

[Little Chicken]

No.

What a TERRIBLE comparison designed to make Avowed look worse, anybody who just played the game can tell immediately.

OP is correct.

 

[GHG]

What a TERRIBLE comparison designed to make Avowed look worse, anybody who just played the game can tell immediately.

OP is correct.

Ok Phil.

 

[Little Chicken]

Ok Phil.

It's clear you haven't played it otherwise you wouldn't have posted that retarded comparison.

 

[Seomel]

Play more first person rpgs please

 

[LectureMaster]

adamsapple Buggy Loop

 

[Mister Wolf]

It's up there. Better than any of the bullshit Bethesda ever put out.

 

[adamsapple]

It's clear you haven't played it otherwise you wouldn't have posted that retarded comparison.

Spicy Chicken !

 

[Kvally]

In particular, the combat is exceptionally good.

 

[Zacfoldor]

I can acknowledge there may be good things about the game and skip it anyway. The things that guy wrote are just too much. I can't support that.

 

[bender]

I’ve never played Dark Messiah, but it does look like a lot of fun in that video.

Wishlist it and pick it up on Steam during their next sale as it is bound to be $2.49 again. The physics system makes it a fun sandbox/playground. Tons of secrets in it too.

Its fucking awesome yea. Of course the usual peoples who have not played it have strong opinions ...

The gunplay reminds me a lot of COJ: Gunslinger.

 

[GHG]

It's clear you haven't played it otherwise you wouldn't have posted that retarded comparison.

Can you share a video where you can use the environment to your advantage in Avowed during combat?

Or are we just going to get more videos where you spam skills from your ability bar?

Spicy Chicken !

A spicy chicken is a dead chicken.

 

[Topher]

It's clear you haven't played it otherwise you wouldn't have posted that retarded comparison.

It's clear you haven't played it otherwise you wouldn't have posted that retarded comparison.

 

[adamsapple]

A spicy chicken is a dead chicken.

 

[Vyse]

Just finished Avowed and loved the combat as well. Made a difference when I respected my build. Went for a frost/fighter. Freeze those bad boys, shield bash then spin that shield. So rewarding.

 

[GymWolf]

Yeah forgot cyberpunk, that one also has better combat.

 

[kevboard]

let's be real, that is not a high bar to clear.

basically all first person ARPGs have god awful combat. the horrendously shit attack animations of all the Elder Scrolls games say hi