Avowed Cant Afford to Pull Punches With One Playstyle

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Avowed Cant Afford to Pull Punches With One Playstyle

Key Takeaways

  • Avowed should improve its melee combat to match its ranged combat.
  • Avowed should provide players with plenty of unique melee weapons and abilities to make the playstyle more attractive.
  • Avowed could make enemies more aggressive to justify the use of melee weapons in combat.

As a seasoned gamer with over two decades of experience under my belt, I can confidently say that Obsidian Entertainment’s upcoming masterpiece, Avowed, has caught my eye (and sword) for all the right reasons. However, after watching numerous gameplay previews and reading up on its combat mechanics, it seems there’s a slight imbalance between its ranged and melee combat.

Although Obsidian Entertainment’s game Avowed offers diverse methods for engaging in combat, early previews suggest that its melee combat could use refinement, as it currently falls short of expectations. Even those who haven’t played the game might lean towards favoring its ranged combat, as it delivers a more visually striking display with an emphasis on lights, colors, and action. With Avowed‘s release now scheduled for February 2025, there’s still ample time to enhance the melee combat to match the excitement of its ranged counterpart if it is indeed underwhelming.

It’s quite possible that Avowed could enhance its melee combat in several manners. Yet, I would highlight two primary approaches: firstly, offering an array of distinct melee weapons and skills for players to use; secondly, designing enemies that are sufficiently aggressive to necessitate a melee approach to gameplay.

Avowed Needs to Make Sure Its Melee Combat Is on Par With Its Ranged Combat

Avowed Needs Plenty of Unique Melee Weapons and Abilities to Increase the Playstyle‘s Appeal

To encourage a significant number of Avowed’s players to engage with its melee combat, it could initially focus on offering an array of distinctive melee weapons and skills that might captivate more players. At present, the combat in Avowed seems more visually impressive when played from a distance, with wands for casting magic at enemies and grimoires allowing players to summon spells directly from their hands. Compared to this, Avowed’s melee currently appears rather simple. However, it does provide a satisfying sensation upon landing a hit.

In the game “Avowed“, players are offered the chance to empower their non-special melee weapons, such as turning a two-handed sword into one that deals fire damage. While this could make a sword preferable to a pistol or spell in some instances, it might not be sufficient to fully convince players to opt for melee combat over other options. To truly entice players, “Avowed” should offer a wide range of distinctive melee weapons, each with its own unique passive traits. Additionally, the game could introduce an assortment of abilities that would enable melee weapons to extend beyond close-quarter battles. For instance, players might be granted the ability to hurl a one-handed axe in “Avowed” and then reclaim it from enemies. Such special abilities could make players feel they have greater flexibility when choosing melee combat, making the experience more engaging and diverse.

Avowed’s Bosses Need to Be Aggressive Enough to Merit the Use of Melee Weapons

One method to motivate players to use melee combat in Avowed could be to ensure that enemies and bosses are aggressive enough to warrant the employment of melee weapons. If adversaries aren’t particularly aggressive, they may not engage players closely enough for a melee attack, making it more convenient to handle them from a distance with a wand or bow. However, this could make the game excessively simple for players and diminish the value of the rewards they obtain from overcoming Avowed’s toughest foes.

Initial glimpses of the gameplay suggest that some bosses in Avowed may be quite hostile, however, this doesn’t automatically indicate the entire gaming experience. It’s not compulsory for every adversary within Avowed to behave this way, but it should be common enough that carrying melee weapons becomes beneficial.

Even then, however, there might need to be plenty of melee weapon types and abilities to make the playstyle attractive enough to players.

So far, the melee combat in Avowed appears exciting, but it might only keep players hooked for a brief time. Similar to Skyrim’s melee combat, there’s a risk that it could become overly repetitive and lose player interest over a prolonged period. Luckily, Avowed’s skill trees provide options for players to blend various playstyles, minimizing the chance of getting stuck in a monotonous routine. However, those who favor melee combat over ranged might require some adjustments within Avowed before they feel ready to wield their swords again.

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2024-09-06 15:04