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[Roberts]

I am absolutely loving this! It's one of the only games I've played in the last couple of years where I put in 3.5 hours and feel sad that I have to switch it off to go to bed. I don't get that much time to play but this game is addictive as hell.

Yes, I've loved tons of games between playing Vampire Survivors and this, but none of them were as addictive as these two games. I knew I had to get up early today and yet I kept on playing well into the night, because I couldn't stop. Despite a few nitpicks, this a near-perfect game for me.

 

[Gonzito]

Played a few hours this week--just because it's Obsidian, on GP, and people are talking about it. And it's the Oblivion* sequel we never got? With a little of the old BioWare personality thrown in? Why was I not told about this earlier?

Absolutely looking forward to putting in more time with this.

*I can't quite make up my mind if it's more like Morrowind or Oblivion, but resembling either one is aces in my book.

Man this game is not like Oblivion. Don't go playing expecting that

 

[VenomousCoffee]

Man this game is not like Oblivion. Don't go playing expecting that

 

[vaibhavpisal]

It has its strengths.

Its different from Oblivion. More closer to BioWare titles.

 

[Gonzito]

This game is like Outer Worlds with a slightly better writing and much better gameplay. I think is the most accurate description for this title

Some people says it's like the first Mass Effect but I say those people need to take their medicines because there is no way in hell this game is like ME. The Mass Effect franchise is miles ahead in terms of writing, story, lore and dialogues. The structure of the game might be similar but the quality is far from it

 

[SEGAvangelist]

This game is like Outer Worlds with a slightly better writing and much better gameplay. I think is the most accurate description for this title

Some people says it's like the first Mass Effect but I say those people need to take their medicines because there is no way in hell this game is like ME. The Mass Effect franchise is miles ahead in terms of writing, story, lore and dialogues. The structure of the game might be similar but the quality is far from it

It's pretty much a BioWare game with platforming, good combat, uneven writing, and no romance. It looks amazing too. I enjoyed it more than The Outer Worlds, but it does some things better and some things worse than that game.

 

[adamsapple]

Alright, using some save scumming, finished what feels like most of the major ending variances.

Some thoughts on them in the spoiler tags:

Spoiler

The biggest choice is how you deal with Sapadel. This choice kind of reminded me how to deal with the Reapers at the end of ME3 but it's somehow worse.

1. Free sapadal.

The game tries to convince you this is the best choice, but the thing is sapadal is a very emotional god so this might end up backfiring.

2. Kill sapadal

Honestly, this seems like the best choice IMO. Ends the scourge and gets rid of a god that can turn on a coin

3. Merge with sapadal

This is kind of like the Synthesis ending in ME3, initially presented as a good middle ground but the final confrontation with Lodwyn pretty much turns this on its head.

During the final convo, you have multiple chances to tell your partners or Lodwyn something that sapadal doesn't want you to say and she basically says "Quiet you" and removes all other dialogue choices from the selection, and she outright says that she has been quiet for too long and the world will know, which basically means you've handed over your body and power to a vengeful god and you're just helplessly watching.

-

The very final decision to either do a last minute swerve and side iwth Lodwyn or fight her as everyone wants is less relevant. Unless you've been friendly with Lodwyn through the entire game, she doesn't trust you and instead beheads you giving the game an instant bad ending.

 

[DownLikeBCPowder]

This game is like Outer Worlds with a slightly better writing and much better gameplay. I think is the most accurate description for this title

Some people says it's like the first Mass Effect but I say those people need to take their medicines because there is no way in hell this game is like ME. The Mass Effect franchise is miles ahead in terms of writing, story, lore and dialogues. The structure of the game might be similar but the quality is far from it

I know that when I compare it to Mass Effect, it's in terms of structure as you say there versus some of these other open world titles that I see people try to compare it to (semi fixed main character, fixed narrative with some choices inbetween, companions have similar feel, etc, etc). But yes, it is a very loose comparison. I guess I banished most memories of Outer Worlds from my mind, so I can't draw a comparison. I'll have to try that again sometime. In general, I just mean it's closer to a Bioware game than a lot of what it's compared to.

 

[SEGAvangelist]

Alright, using some save scumming, finished what feels like most of the major ending variances.

Some thoughts on them in the spoiler tags:

Spoiler

The biggest choice is how you deal with Sapadel. This choice kind of reminded me how to deal with the Reapers at the end of ME3 but it's somehow worse.

1. Free sapadal.

The game tries to convince you this is the best choice, but the thing is sapadal is a very emotional god so this might end up backfiring.

2. Kill sapadal

Honestly, this seems like the best choice IMO. Ends the scourge and gets rid of a god that can turn on a coin

3. Merge with sapadal

This is kind of like the Synthesis ending in ME3, initially presented as a good middle ground but the final confrontation with Lodwyn pretty much turns this on its head.

During the final convo, you have multiple chances to tell your partners or Lodwyn something that sapadal doesn't want you to say and she basically says "Quiet you" and removes all other dialogue choices from the selection, and she outright says that she has been quiet for too long and the world will know, which basically means you've handed over your body and power to a vengeful god and you're just helplessly watching.

-

The very final decision to either do a last minute swerve and side iwth Lodwyn or fight her as everyone wants is less relevant. Unless you've been friendly with Lodwyn through the entire game, she doesn't trust you and instead beheads you giving the game an instant bad ending.

You think it's worse? I think it actually makes sense in this case.

 

[DownLikeBCPowder]

Yeah, definitely don't know what's going on anymore.. got that premium outfit upgrade yesterday, now GamePass is still working for me despite my subscription "expiring" on 2/27/2028. No idea what's going on.. but guess it's fine...

But definitely still able to launch and play games.. it IS the 28th.. right..?!

 

[I collect VHS tapes]

I'm over 30 hours in second zone with a ton left to do

I don't get how some of the reviewers beat this game in 20 hours

This is going to become one of those underrated titles. We will get several threads in a few years about how everyone slept on this game

 

[DownLikeBCPowder]

I'm over 30 hours in second zone with a ton left to do

I don't get how some of the reviewers beat this game in 20 hours

They probably didn't. If they did, they skipped almost everything and simply did main quest, that's for sure.

This is going to become one of those underrated titles. We will get several threads in a few years about how everyone slept on this game

Completely agree.

 

[Bumblebeetuna]

To those who have beat the game, I'm wondering how much I have left.

Spoiler

I just finished the part where I find the Steel Garrote all eaten up with Dreamscourge and fought Ghost Rider for what I assume is the first time

I am wondering because I think I'm level 26, doesn't seem like there is enough game left for me to reach max level. But I have done all of the side quests except a bugged one in Dawnshore and the star metal or whatever quest. I guess I have to find all of the star metal in the game to finish that one? I've also done all bounties and all totems. I guess I still have however many treasure map quests are in area four but yeah I'm not sure how I am getting to 30 but we'll see.

 

[adamsapple]

Yeah, definitely don't know what's going on anymore.. got that premium outfit upgrade yesterday, now GamePass is still working for me despite my subscription "expiring" on 2/27/2028. No idea what's going on.. but guess it's fine...

But definitely still able to launch and play games.. it IS the 28th.. right..?!

You are the chosen one.

 

[adamsapple]

You think it's worse? I think it actually makes sense in this case.

Worse as in ...

Spoiler

Merging souls with Sapadal? Yeah I think that might be the worst of the 3 options, especially if you start having doubts about it in the final confrontations, all of your party mambers are kinda against the decision too.

And if you choose any of the doubting type choices or not the one's Sapadal explicitly wants you to, she takes the player agency away and removes all the dialogue choices leaving only one option.

I think it's the worst ending where sure you 'cured' the scourge by releasing sapadal from her prison, but she's still vengeful and she's taken over the player's body and making all the decisions now.

Clearly Sapadal is not all the way right in the head, various actions through the game show that, including her just popping the volcano and killing a bunch of people in the final area. I don't see Sapadal as being a sensible god for long.

 

[SEGAvangelist]

Worse as in ...

Spoiler

Merging souls with Sapadal? Yeah I think that might be the worst of the 3 options, especially if you start having doubts about it in the final confrontations, all of your party mambers are kinda against the decision too.

And if you choose any of the doubting type choices or not the one's Sapadal explicitly wants you to, she takes the player agency away and removes all the dialogue choices leaving only one option.

I think it's the worst ending where sure you 'cured' the scourge by releasing sapadal from her prison, but she's still vengeful and she's taken over the player's body and making all the decisions now.

Clearly Sapadal is not all the way right in the head, various actions through the game show that, including her just popping the volcano and killing a bunch of people in the final area. I don't see Sapadal as being a sensible god for long.

Got it. I like that we get the option. It's pretty cool.

 

[Stuart360]

I'm over 30 hours in second zone with a ton left to do

I don't get how some of the reviewers beat this game in 20 hours

This is going to become one of those underrated titles. We will get several threads in a few years about how everyone slept on this game

40 hours in and just finished the 3rd area.
There was someone on here who said they beat the game in 14 hours. Even without exploring and loot hunting, that sounds unlikely.

Still each to their own, if they want to blast through games, skipping cutscenes and dialogue etc, well power to them.

 

[Vyse]

This game is like Outer Worlds with a slightly better writing and much better gameplay.

Nicely said. Totally agree. Also as I stated in the sales thread, game has the best ladder mechanics ever!

 

[Fess]

Finally weekend! Time to play!

 

[DownLikeBCPowder]

That's what it seems like.. I definitely didn't buy it, still on the 2 week $1 trial. I saw there was an update, assumed it was a patch and clicked download but when I booted up the game, I got that message. Seems like it's true, because I can change the outfits now. Kind of like this Obsidian one for Giatta. I definitely didn't pay anything. But it also looks like the premium is still purchasable for me in the GamePass shop.. so no idea what's going on.

Now the special outfits are mysteriously gone.. lol wtf. I can no longer access the menu to change the outfits either. So weird. Gamepass still working though.

Though now it actually says my membership is "expired", but I can still launch games.. what!

 

[Aguero9320]

Fully captivated by this now. I'd fallen off Veilguard after this much play time (although I still may go back to that at some point) but this has its hooks in me. That's my weekend sorted.

 

[IntentionalPun]

There is one absolutely terrible mechanic that is driving me nuts, and it's the bleed/fire/shock/whatever damage thing.

Just completely annoying, lasts way too long.. and I do have that trinket that lets me clear it if I drink a potion, but it's a huge pain to switch to it, drink a potion (which exits the menu system) and then switch back to my main necklace.

boo.

 

[IntentionalPun]

Also little pro tip I just figured out about companions / training if you are having trouble.... you gotta converse w/ them about random stuff, outside of the ! stuff. I randomly asked Giatta about our companions and instantly got an option to train with her. Then did the same with Yatzi or whatever, same question worked... still haven't figured out the dwarf guy, probably need to ask him something in the 4th area.

edit: yup., go to the 4th area and ask him how to survive in that area.

 

[DownLikeBCPowder]

Also little pro tip I just figured out about companions / training if you are having trouble.... you gotta converse w/ them about random stuff, outside of the ! stuff. I randomly asked Giatta about our companions and instantly got an option to train with her. Then did the same with Yatzi or whatever, same question worked... still haven't figured out the dwarf guy, probably need to ask him something in the 4th area.

edit: yup., go to the 4th area and ask him how to survive in that area.

Indeed! The dwarf is the only one that hasn't trained me yet - I was able to get Yahtzi and Giatta to do it almost immediately relatively speaking. Very helpful for sure.

 

[vaibhavpisal]

There is one absolutely terrible mechanic that is driving me nuts, and it's the bleed/fire/shock/whatever damage thing.

Just completely annoying, lasts way too long.. and I do have that trinket that lets me clear it if I drink a potion, but it's a huge pain to switch to it, drink a potion (which exits the menu system) and then switch back to my main necklace.

boo.

I just reload the game if I get any ailments.

Or eat some food to see if it can counteract.

 

[Mortisfacio]

This is going to become one of those underrated titles. We will get several threads in a few years about how everyone slept on this game

I'm only about 15 hours in, so there's still room for opinions to change, but mostly agree. So far I'm actually really enjoying the game, but it's more because the gameplay is good. The story is not good and I don't think 2 years of letting it marinate is going to change that opinion, personally. It's just the rest of the game will standout to me in hindsight and I'll probably care less about the story. I don't think the story is as bad as some reviewers have said, maybe it gets worse, but it's just not good.

 

[DownLikeBCPowder]

I'm only about 15 hours in, so there's still room for opinions to change, but mostly agree. So far I'm actually really enjoying the game, but it's more because the gameplay is good. The story is not good and I don't think 2 years of letting it marinate is going to change that opinion, personally. It's just the rest of the game will standout to me in hindsight and I'll probably care less about the story. I don't think the story is as bad as some reviewers have said, maybe it gets worse, but it's just not good.

I thought it was fine and became more interesting as I went. Definitely not "bad", but maybe "serviceable" at worst?

 

[balls of snow]

Read about and going for the secret quest in Fior. All my primary equipment are the best it can be for the area and Im just smoking fools with the rifle. So good.

I guess one thing the game doesnt convey well is that loot scales with your highest epuipment level. Once I bought an exceptional rifle from the shop, every unique I found was purple. So everytime I hit a new zone from here on, first thing to do is dropping shellings on a higher tier generic weapon/armor.

 

[vaibhavpisal]

I thought it was fine and became more interesting as I went. Definitely not "bad", but maybe "serviceable" at worst?

I am enjoying general lore and dialogue quite a bit.

There is a lot of stuff that I would say good writing.

As for story, I haven't progressed much. But hopefully there are side quests like their previous games that feed into main narrative. That is how their games are always set IMO.

 

[Bumblebeetuna]

Also little pro tip I just figured out about companions / training if you are having trouble.... you gotta converse w/ them about random stuff, outside of the ! stuff. I randomly asked Giatta about our companions and instantly got an option to train with her. Then did the same with Yatzi or whatever, same question worked... still haven't figured out the dwarf guy, probably need to ask him something in the 4th area.

edit: yup., go to the 4th area and ask him how to survive in that area.

For dwarf guy you have to ask him about every area in that area and then in the fourth area after you ask him, he'll train you.

Just in case anyone else was wondering.

 

[Bumblebeetuna]

I'm only about 15 hours in, so there's still room for opinions to change, but mostly agree. So far I'm actually really enjoying the game, but it's more because the gameplay is good. The story is not good and I don't think 2 years of letting it marinate is going to change that opinion, personally. It's just the rest of the game will standout to me in hindsight and I'll probably care less about the story. I don't think the story is as bad as some reviewers have said, maybe it gets worse, but it's just not good.

I hated the story when I was in the second area but for me it picked back up in the third area and I think it's pretty good now.

 

[Nydius]

Well, my second run through playing as a Aedyr loyalist was fun.

But it also highlighted some shortcomings in the writing. I don't think the writers really expected many players to go down this path. In every companion introduction, I made it clear during dialog choices that I was loyal to Aedyr and all of them were like "we'll see", and then when I would make a choice that was loyal to Aedyr their response would be predictably Pikachu-Shocked-Face.jpg.

My dude was utterly ruthless towards the companions too.
He talked mad trash about animancy to Giatta, for example.

This highlights one of the things I didn't like about the game and wish they could have done better: No matter how much of an asshole my character was, the companions handwaved it away.

Spoiler

I worked with the traitorous ranger in Emerald Stair to help actively destroy Fior with Giatta in the party. I sided with Kostya and helped destroy Solace with Marius in the party. In both cases, they both bitched me out at the next campside chat but that was it -- and then it was forgotten. All four companions were displeased with my choices but they were apparently perfectly fine hanging out with a guy that was destroying every zone he touched. It was only when I decided to side with Lödwyn in the last 10 minutes of the game that they thought I had "crossed the line".

I wish there had been more ramifications for playing a completely evil asshole like the companions bailing on you and basically forcing you to go it alone. That would have been more interesting. And the ending sequence for this really wasn't that much different than the others where you choose to let Aedyr colonize the Living Lands, with exception to a couple slides about Lödwyn and the Envoy ruling over them.

 

[kikkis]

How can I make the combat bit more engaging? I fought some ogre at apothecary and fight lasted forever. Is there away to get lots of health potions? I used grimoire and sprear. Dodging feels more useful than blocking

 

[vaibhavpisal]

How can I make the combat bit more engaging? I fought some ogre at apothecary and fight lasted forever. Is there away to get lots of health potions? I used grimoire and sprear. Dodging feels more useful than blocking

Upgrade your gear.

Should not need health potions. If you are properly leveled for the fight, they dont last too long.

 

[Fess]

This game is way too good for the harsh talks it gets online.
That's all.
Breakfast done! Time to play!

 

[I collect VHS tapes]

How can I make the combat bit more engaging? I fought some ogre at apothecary and fight lasted forever. Is there away to get lots of health potions? I used grimoire and sprear. Dodging feels more useful than blocking

Upgrading gear makes an insane difference, but I would wait until you find something you like before going all in

Materials aren't super common

 

[vaibhavpisal]

Recently finished Yellowbands bounty in first area.

Pretty challenging. Must've tried 5-6 times. Tried to finish off with stealth as many as possible. Then one of the tricks worked where I sent Kai ahead. He died but I could take them out one by one.

Felt like some games I used to play in early 2000s with difficulty and no of tries needed. Back then entire games used to feel like this.

 

[Orbital2060]

Is it just me or do the graphics get better and better the longer you play

 

[DownLikeBCPowder]

Darn, after the outfits disappeared, a calendar day later they finally revoked my free trial.. but other things worked out very timely for me in the end, so back to it I go!

 

[Orbital2060]

It looks like the graphics in the game are not that far from what was shown in the Unreal 5 showcase from 2020?



Im pretty sure you can see a lot of the potential in that showcase being realised in Avowed.

fx (Series X)

 

[adamsapple]

Is it just me or do the graphics get better and better the longer you play

I think it's because the more you go in, the more the areas become imaginative with the funky scourge taking over places.

 

[Mattyp]

This game is way too good for the harsh talks it gets online.
That's all.
Breakfast done! Time to play!

It's really just the same people in threads beating on about CCU and Steam sales they haven't actually played the game.

This thread is a different beast of actual game enjoyment.

 

[Orbital2060]

I think it's because the more you go in, the more the areas become imaginative with the funky scourge taking over places.

Im seriously impressed by the scale of the areas and how you can see for miles and miles and it still maintains this level of fidelity. I wasnt expecting it, but I think its one of the best looking games this gen, taking the scale of levels into account. Also the game design and artwork is phenomenal.

 

[Gonzito]

One thing that I wished this game had is more enemy variety. It becomes boring to fight always the same enemies

 

[Orbital2060]

Im still in the middle of second zone so enemy variety hasnt become an issue but I can see that.

I would actiually like a mount because the areas are just about big enough to need one.

 

[Fess]

It's really just the same people in threads beating on about CCU and Steam sales they haven't actually played the game.

This thread is a different beast of actual game enjoyment.

Just clocked in another 4 hours today, did the final bounty quests and side quests and travelled to the second zone and been doing some quests there now. Pause to eat a semla. Back to playing! And it's just getting better!

I just wish there was more interactivity. And reactions from npcs. I looted someone's backpack that was just beside them and they commented on it but nothing happened. Would've been good enough if there was a "Don't touch my stuff!" cutscene that cancelled the action. Nothing happening is weird.

Enemy variety could be better too, there are too many spiders, same types, made the bounty quest to kill the spider queen disappointing because you had already seen spiders so many times that it wasn't scary.

But anyway, when it's great it's great! Leaning on a solid 8 right now but there is lots more to see for me.

 

[Ywap]

I thought Outer Worlds was really boring so i'm surprised how good Avowed really is. Like said by many others: Great combat and exploration with awesome graphics and a mediocre story

 

[adamsapple]

I thought Outer Worlds was really boring so i'm surprised how good Avowed really is. Like said by many others: Great combat and exploration with awesome graphics and a mediocre story

It's interesting that one of the biggest complaints at the first trailers was about how the combat looked, but post-release, the combat seems to be unanimously one of the best regarded things about the game.

 

[I collect VHS tapes]

42 hours in and just made it to zone 3

Already in love with the look of this zone

This game just continues to impress me

 

[I collect VHS tapes]

also spoiler for end of zone 2, but apparently your actions can have HUGE consequences

Spoiler

I had a chance to stop the Steel Garrot but took a bribe instead...they ended up burning the entire village down. to be fair, I visited the governor and told him they were holed up in a cave, this is kinda on him

at least it made for a cool visual in the game, exiting the cave to see the entire village in flames was bonkers