Avowed is nothing like Bethesda’s RPGs, but The Elder Scrolls 6 should take inspiration from its combat

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According to our in-depth assessment in the review, Obsidian Entertainment’s newest offering is quite impressive, but it caters more to those who prefer a scaled-back open-world RPG experience that emphasizes narrative and characters over expansive Bethesda-style open-ended journeys. Despite potential differences in approach towards the genre, one aspect of Avowed that The Elder Scrolls 6 could learn from is its engaging and impactful combat system.

For quite some time now, Bethesda’s flagship series, other than Fallout, has drawn in millions of players eager to immerse themselves in the diverse realms of Tamriel. Whether you’re hooked on Skyrim or devour every expansion for The Elder Scrolls Online, it’s rare to find a gaming world as captivating as The Elder Scrolls. However, not many would dispute that one of its strengths isn’t its combat system. In fact, the general consensus is that it’s adequate at best, unless you modify it.

It’s not just a Skyrim issue that the combat in most Elder Scrolls games, with perhaps The Elder Scrolls Online being an exception, has struggled to impress. Each installment, from Morrowind to Skyrim, has faced challenges. For instance, the random number generators in Morrowind often felt off-balance, while Oblivion’s vanilla enemy scaling diminished the main character’s growth in power. Skyrim addressed scaling issues but fell short on providing adequate weight and feedback for many melee weapons, not to mention its underdeveloped magic system. So, what sets Avowed apart in terms of combat?

Lost might and magic

In the first ten minutes of Avowed, it’s evident that the developers at Obsidian Entertainment have mastered an essential aspect of creating satisfying real-time combat – the seamless integration of camera movement, weapon animations, and sound effects. Removing the ‘leveling up’ system from weapons, gear, and enemies wouldn’t detract from the gameplay experience during intense moments. Cyberpunk 2077 came close to achieving this, but Avowed could potentially offer the best real-time combat I’ve encountered in a western RPG in quite some time.

In a simpler and more natural way of expression,

Bones crackle. Steel collides convincingly against shields. Swinging around large axes makes them feel massive. And the magic! It’s like Obsidian decided to add some of Dragon’s Dogma’s over-the-top late-game spells into their medium-sized first-person RPG, and it paid off. Magic users aren’t weak individuals who prefer to keep their distance from enemy mobs. Instead, they’re powerhouses akin to Diablo characters, but in first-person view and brandishing wands and grimoires. It all looks incredibly stylish. Compared to The Outer Worlds’ approach to Fallout-style combat, which is generally safe, Avowed’s non-peaceful interactions seem bold (though it might just be the result of additional development time and resources).

Considering the frequent instances of ‘ragdoll moments’, it’s tough not to draw comparisons with Arkane Studios’ 2006 hit Dark Messiah of Might & Magic, a game primarily focused on action. Avowed shares a similar quality of providing an exhilarating and gratifying experience when combat ensues, which happens quite frequently. Despite the (in my opinion) somewhat underdeveloped equipment and leveling systems, they don’t detract from the enjoyment. Instead, strategic depth is demonstrated not through additional mechanics but by requiring players to choose their targets wisely and utilize their surroundings effectively. Unfortunately, a large number of enemies alone won’t guarantee your survival in tough situations.

Helping relatives out

In the realm of gaming, swapping ideas with fellow developers is a regular event, especially in the RPG genre. I can’t stress enough that creativity doesn’t just pop up out of nowhere; it requires inspiration and something to build upon. As I delve into exploring Avowed, I find myself drawing parallels with other RPGs I’ve played before. It seems Obsidian isn’t set on starting from scratch but rather blending familiar elements and the undeniable flair of their team. This blend could very well shape the future landscape of gaming, not just for Obsidian, but potentially for other veteran studios nestled under Xbox’s vast umbrella.

We’ve been given very little information about The Elder Scrolls 6 so far, and it seems we may have to wait longer for updates. However, with Starfield now released (and more DLC and updates on the way), let’s speculate about Bethesda’s upcoming project in Tamriel. With id Software playing a smaller role in Fallout 4 and Starfield’s development, could it be possible that a joint effort between Obsidian Entertainment and Bethesda Game Studios is being planned to make sword combat feel more realistic, like actually cutting through meat and bones instead of just butter?

Even though Fallout: New Vegas 2 may never materialize, given that Xbox holds the rights to the IP and all the necessary powers, Obsidian could potentially enhance The Elder Scrolls series without developing a direct spinoff for Bethesda. In essence, they could contribute in a way that’s similar to how families support each other.

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2025-02-22 17:09