A colossal statue of a decaying knight, its armor rusted and adorned with unsettling, realistic mushrooms, has materialized in London. This striking installation, a chilling testament to the plague sweeping Avowed's world, is the work of Xbox. Serving as both artwork and ominous portent, it plunges onlookers into the grim reality of the Dreamscourge infection. Accompanying posters advertising the game for Xbox Series X|S transform a typical London street into a gateway to Avowed's universe.
To showcase the creation of this unsettling display, Xbox has released a behind-the-scenes video on YouTube, offering fans an intimate glimpse into the promotional effort.
The game itself has garnered significant acclaim from Steam users. A remarkable 81% of Deluxe Edition players gave it a thumbs-up even before its official release, generating considerable anticipation for today's Standard Edition launch.
Veteran games journalist Jason Schreier shared his positive impressions of Avowed, highlighting its exceptional world design, compelling narrative, and engaging combat system. However, he singled out the exploration aspect as particularly noteworthy:
"Avowed has completely captivated me. Obsidian's storytelling and combat are, as expected, superb, but the world design is truly exceptional. Every path leads somewhere, every rooftop is accessible, and there's always a hidden detail waiting to be discovered. Even after 40 hours of gameplay, I'm still eager to explore more."
Schreier also acknowledged a disparity in opinions between critics and players, drawing parallels to Fallout: New Vegas:
"Some reviews have taken me by surprise. It's reminiscent of Fallout: New Vegas—critics were divided, yet players elevated it to legendary status. Avowed might follow a similar path."
Fallout: New Vegas, despite an initial Metacritic score of 83, later achieved undisputed classic status. Could Avowed be destined for a comparable journey towards RPG immortality?