Move over, Hogwarts Legacy and Dragon’s Dogma 2 – Avowed’s magic combat might be my favorite in RPG history

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One spell that I often rely on as a wizard is called Jolting Touch. Seeing a series of enemies being electrified by this spell brings joy to the heart of my character, especially when compared to the tediousness of using a shortsword or mace. Despite only being at level 8 and just entering the game’s second location, Emerald Stair, I feel stronger than I might actually be due to focusing on magic.

Among the many delightful aspects of playing a wizard in Avowed, what truly captivates me is the richness of gameplay style it provides. In just 15 hours of gameplay, it has surpassed Hogwarts Legacy and Dragon’s Dogma 2 for me in terms of versatility in character building. The ability to select from a variety of spells and grimoires not only deepens my immersion into the high-fantasy world of Avowed but also offers endless possibilities for character development, leaving me puzzled as to why anyone would opt for any other game.

Caster’s folly

You know there are many different builds available for RPGs, but since I love magic so much, I’m excited to use it in Obsidian’s newest game. When I saw that I could switch between two loadouts, I initially thought about a hybrid melee-spellcasting style. However, after swinging my sword around like the awkward, bumbling Noble Scion character, I realized I needed to focus more on just one playstyle.

Thank goodness, using the sword wasn’t necessary – instead, I opted to keep it as a backup, focusing primarily on my wizard skills from the get-go, once I obtained my initial Common Wand. You have the ability to combine perks from all Avowed skill trees to create a unique hybrid class, but I chose to specialize in wizard abilities. The wand, quicker than a bow and arrow, more entertaining than blunt or edged weapons, made me feel almost invincible with a worn-out grimoire in one hand and a humble wooden stick in the other. It’s almost amusing how powerful I felt.

In simpler terms, I’ve never felt this self-assured about mastering a game’s spellcasting system so rapidly, not even with Dragon’s Dogma 2. The intuitive nature of Hogwarts Legacy often makes combat overly straightforward. Compared to Dragon’s Dogma 2, where the sorcerer class required more intricate handling after progression, the mage characters in DD2 were initially fragile and better suited for support roles. Consequently, I quickly changed my character from a mage to a damage-dealing rogue in DD2.

Avowed’s wizard combat feels both dense and simple, expansive yet effortless…

Instead of being easily broken in the game Avowed due to my character being more fragile than powerful, the game has continued to offer enchanting magical experiences. Perhaps it’s because the possibility of specializing as an elemental wizard, such as a storm or fire mage, lies ahead as I progress, thanks to my new Grimoire of Embers. Maybe I simply appreciate the convenience of the tool wheel, where spells can be quickly assigned to slots for specific types of battles. Or perhaps it’s truly the fluidity and pleasure of spellcasting that I find in Avowed, a feeling I don’t think I could part with. All these elements contribute to the sensation that combat for wizards in Avowed is both complex yet intuitive, extensive yet easy to grasp. Moreover, it’s comforting to only concentrate on enhancing my wand, robes, and grimoires since I don’t need a secondary loadout.

The delight of mastering magic appears to escalate further, as I recently encountered trainee animancer Giatta at Emerald Stair. I’m endeavoring to win her alliance, and the alluring magical artifacts marketed throughout the lush city have piqued my curiosity. Perhaps I’ll experiment with soul magic, a discipline frowned upon by my noble peers in Aedyr. Let’s see where this leads! The wizardry journey continues to be an endless source of excitement in Avowed, and I eagerly anticipate witnessing the potential power that lies ahead.

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2025-02-26 20:43