Kinda Funny Gamescast: We Played Avowed! – Detailed Summary

Release Date: November 21, 2024

Introduction

In the November 21, 2024 episode of the Kinda Funny Gamescast, the hosts – Tim Geddes, Greg “GameOverGreggy” Miller, Blessing Adeoye Jr., and guest Angie Hicks – delve into their experiences playing "Avowed", an upcoming action role-playing game (ARPG) developed by Obsidian Entertainment and published by Xbox Game Studios. The episode offers an in-depth discussion covering various aspects of the game, including gameplay mechanics, storytelling, character customization, combat systems, and its positioning within the RPG genre.

Overview of "Avowed"

Tim Geddes introduces "Avowed" as a significant release set in The World of Eora, the same universe as Obsidian's previous title, "Pillars of Eternity". Scheduled for release on February 18, 2025, the game is set to be available on Windows and Xbox Series X and S platforms.

Tim Geddes [03:16]:
"Avowed is an upcoming action role playing game developed by Obsidian Entertainment and published by Xbox Game Studios. Avowed takes place in the same universe as Pillars of Eternity in The World of Eora."

Gameplay and Mechanics

The hosts share their hands-on experiences with the Avowed demo, highlighting the game's emphasis on exploration and combat versatility.

Blessing Adeoye Jr. discusses the immersive experience of exploring off-the-beaten-path areas, praising the game's reward system for exploration.

Blessing Adeoye Jr. [04:07]:
"The common thing that I heard about Avowed was the exploration in it about them giving you, rewarding you for going off the beaten path in this world in these various zones that we'll be visiting in it."

Greg Miller echoes Blessing's sentiments, emphasizing the depth of character creation and the integration of choices that impact gameplay.

Greg Miller [07:43]:
"This is the Pillars Universe and I think this screams Obsidian RPG to me. I enjoyed what I played. I thought it was great."

Story and World Building

The discussion touches upon "Avowed"'s narrative and its connection to the Pillars of Eternity universe. Blessing highlights conversations with Carrie Patel, the game director, revealing insights into the game's depth and lore.

Blessing Adeoye Jr. [07:35]:
"I sat down with various team members from Obsidian... the common thing that I heard about Avowed was the exploration in it... the ridiculous amount of combinations that you're going to be able to put together."

Combat System

A significant portion of the episode is dedicated to dissecting Avowed's combat mechanics. The hosts discuss the flexibility in weapon choices, spellcasting, and the tactical depth offered by the game's combat system.

Angie Hicks praises the responsive and engaging combat, highlighting the seamless integration of melee and ranged weapons.

Angie Hicks [28:47]:
"The combat actually feels really good in this game because that's one thing that I'm always. I think that's the thing that can sometimes keep me away from, like, a first person fantasy rpg."

Greg Miller shares his enthusiasm for the combat's adaptability, comparing it to classics like "Skyrim" while noting areas for improvement.

Greg Miller [28:20]:
"When I get the companion of Kai... I'm enjoying the banter and the way we're all interacting. That's going to be the experience of fighting the mobs of whoever."

Character Design and Customization

The hosts delve into the game's character creation system, noting the unique God-Touched feature that allows for distinctive character appearances.

Greg Miller [15:32]:
"You have to have these godlike touches that are the mushrooms or coral reefs growing off of your head... I got it. It's Dana. Boom. Did that. And it was just like, wow."

Angie Hicks relates this to her experiences in other RPGs, appreciating the aesthetic choices despite some personal aversions.

Angie Hicks [16:12]:
"Yeah. That's like me in the hands in Elder Ring where I'm like, I look at it, I'm like, this just does something to me physiologically that I can't."

Optimization and Performance

Performance issues in the demo build are candidly discussed, with the hosts acknowledging areas needing refinement.

Blessing Adeoye Jr. addresses optimization concerns, referencing discussions with the development team about frame rates and graphical performance.

Blessing Adeoye Jr. [03:50]:
"The other thing that stood out to me... was the visual upgrade to it. It really popped off the screen from what I got to see."

Greg Miller shares his technical challenges while playing on PC, expressing hope for better performance in the final release.

Greg Miller [24:37]:
"This is the kind of game I want right now, but again, it's early. The build we had, some animatics are still going on there."

Comparisons with Other RPGs

The conversation frequently draws parallels between "Avowed" and other beloved RPGs such as "Baldur's Gate 3", "Skyrim", and "Dragon Age". The hosts express hopes that "Avowed" will capture the same depth and player engagement.

Greg Miller [46:08]:
"I would hope this would be a return to them being like, listen, people do want this kind of game... a nerdy ass RPG."

Angie Hicks positions "Avowed" as a "comfort food" RPG, targeting fans of traditional fantasy RPGs.

Angie Hicks [48:05]:
"I think people who played Baldur's Gate 3 and loved Baldur's Gate 3 should play this game... it's more of that."

Release and Exclusivity Discussion

The discussion covers "Avowed"'s exclusivity to Xbox Game Pass and its potential impact on sales and audience reach.

Blessing Adeoye Jr. touches on the strategic placement of "Avowed" within the Game Pass ecosystem, considering potential PC and PlayStation releases in the future.

Blessing Adeoye Jr. [52:01]:
"I think they're going to listen to the community... Probably putting it on PlayStation a year later."

Tim Geddes and Greg Miller debate whether "Avowed" will stand out amidst other major releases like "Assassin's Creed Shadows" and "Monster Hunter", ultimately agreeing that "Avowed" caters to a specific, passionate RPG audience.

Tim Geddes [40:36]:
"This does seem like it is speaking to a very specific audience... giving them what they're looking for."

Conclusions and Final Thoughts

As the episode wraps up, the hosts share their final impressions and anticipation for "Avowed"'s official release.

Greg Miller expresses a mix of excitement and cautious optimism, hoping the game's final polish lives up to his expectations.

Greg Miller [56:02]:
"My hope is it's really going to fucking hit for me. I'm really going to be all in on it."

Angie Hicks reinforces the notion that "Avowed" is a welcome addition to the RPG landscape, offering a return to beloved genre elements without necessarily aiming to revolutionize it.

Angie Hicks [57:04]:
"I think it's fine for something to come out... I hope they get their flowers."

Blessing Adeoye Jr. encourages listeners to explore more about "Avowed", mentioning an exclusive interview with Carrie Patel available on his YouTube channel.

Blessing Adeoye Jr. [57:18]:
"I've shamelessly plug... I have an interview with Carrie Patel up on my YouTube channel."

Notable Quotes with Timestamps

• Blessing Adeoye Jr. [07:35]:
  "This is the Pillars Universe and I think this screams Obsidian RPG to me. I enjoyed what I played. I thought it was great."

• Angie Hicks [28:47]:
  "The combat actually feels really good in this game because that's one thing that I'm always... can sometimes keep me away from, like, a first person fantasy rpg."

• Greg Miller [46:08]:
  "I would hope this would be a return to them being like, listen, people do want this kind of game... a nerdy ass RPG."

• Angie Hicks [48:05]:
  "I think people who played Baldur's Gate 3 and loved Baldur's Gate 3 should play this game... it's more of that."

Final Remarks

The episode concludes with Tim Geddes encouraging listeners to share their thoughts on "Avowed", highlighting upcoming streams and content related to the game.

Tim Geddes [58:32]:
"Let us know in the comments below if you are hyped for Avowed, if anyone wasn't sold, but now is, please, I'd love to hear from you."

Overall, the Kinda Funny Gamescast provides a comprehensive and enthusiastic examination of "Avowed", balancing praise for its RPG roots and potential with constructive critiques regarding its current state and optimization. The hosts' shared passion for traditional RPG elements positions "Avowed" as a highly anticipated title for fans of the genre.