Avowed Does Skyrim Combat Better

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In Skyrim, we all seem to prefer the role of stealth archers, not because they’re captivating, but due to a lack of satisfying combat experiences in The Elder Scrolls series. For instance, Oblivion feels like sparring with oversized rubber swords in a bouncy castle, and Morrowind’s dice rolls can be infuriatingly harsh and unfair. As for Skyrim, increase the challenge level to witness its true combat nature.

As enemies grow tougher with each level increase, many battles transform into a monotonous rhythm of attacking, retreating, advancing, and repeating. To escape this repetitive melee combat, most players eventually opt for the stealthy archer role, preferring to stay hidden in the shadows and quickly eliminate targets rather than engage in close-quarters combat. It’s a more enjoyable approach, after all.

Although Avowed is a spin-off from Pillars of Eternity, it shares similarities with The Outer Worlds, which in turn has roots in Fallout: New Vegas, both being derived from The Elder Scrolls series. Essentially, Avowed can be seen as a version of The Elder Scrolls game, filtered through the lens of Obsidian Entertainment.

The combat in this game sometimes feels reminiscent of Oblivion, as I strike enemies who then float unnaturally in the air like lightweight goblins on the moon. The peculiar way my character wields their weapons, as if they were a waiter at an overcrowded tavern trying to juggle too many drinks, has a strange sense of nostalgia. Yet, I can sense remnants of Bethesda within Avowed’s structure, but Obsidian managed to infuse The Elder Scrolls’ combat with more fluidity and interactivity, offering a more enjoyable experience than the awkwardness we endured in Bethesda’s games.

Magic Finally Feels… Magic

One captivating aspect of Avowed sets it apart is its unique approach to magical abilities. Unlike Skyrim where you learn spells by reading books and store them in a menu categorized by each magic school, similar to weapons and potions, this game allows you to favorite specific spells and assign hotkeys for quick access during combat. However, switching spells mid-fight requires navigating through menus to find the desired one, which can be tedious, especially for a game that promises an exhilarating magic experience – something less than ideal for a power fantasy. Menus might detract from the excitement magic should bring.

In Avowed, it feels like I’m just expanding my repertoire of magical abilities, but there’s a twist: as I level up, new spells are automatically added to my hot bar. This means I can effortlessly combine my powers to deal crushing blows to my enemies. No more scrolling through lists or panicking over which key does what – I can simply unleash icy shards on an assailant, freezing them in their tracks just as they’re about to strike, then swiftly electrify their entire group, leaping from one to the next while my comrades rain down steel. And all this without ever needing to pause and consult a menu.

Magic is also fairly weak in Skyrim, and doesn’t scale in the same way melee combat does.

The most impressive aspect isn’t just what you see; there are also ancient spellbooks found throughout the Living Lands, old and dusty domes filled with magic spells waiting to be summoned from their pages. Creating a fireball from a bound book of leather is quite thrilling. It’s as straightforward as that.

Dodging Makes Combat Less Tedious

In The Elder Scrolls games, avoiding attacks isn’t an option like it is in some other games. Modders have attempted to incorporate rolling and side-stepping, but these mechanics are typically modeled after Dark Souls, which can be disorienting in first-person perspective. Additionally, the invincibility frames (I-frames) and hotkeys for these actions are frequently unresponsive or inconsistent, making the entire feature feel clunky and unreliable, so many players choose to avoid using it altogether.

The new feature, named Avowed, introduces a specific dodge key that lets you swerve or retreat based on your aiming direction. Moreover, you can activate slow motion for successful dodges, making it simpler to strike your adversary when they’re exposed. This is much more user-friendly than the clumsy sidestep required in Skyrim to evade attacks, and yet retains a sense of familiarity reminiscent of The Elder Scrolls series – the process of stepping back and stepping forward has been streamlined into a single button.

As a devoted fan, I’m thrilled to declare that Avowed isn’t just rehashing the past (yippee!), it’s The Elder Scrolls, but with a more polished and refined touch. Now, let me be honest, I’ve had my gripes with the combat in Oblivion and Skyrim, seeing them as relics from the ’90s dungeon crawler era, reluctantly adapting to the modern day. But if you delve deep enough into the past, you can trace Avowed and Starfield back to Arena, a game born from an era that was much rougher around the edges. Back then, standing still and swinging a sword repetitively, occasionally shifting left and right, was the epitome of RPG combat.

However, we’ve come a long way since those days, and Avowed brings a fresh breath of life to that style of combat, making it feel natural and engaging. Bethesda, take note!

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2025-02-23 01:04