During the Xbox Games Showcase several weeks ago, Obsidian Entertainment revealed a new project calledAvowedthat is currently in development. Apart froma short cinematic trailer, Obsidian didn’t really provide many details about the upcoming game except that it’s going to be a first-person fantasy RPG based on thePillars of Eternityuniverse. Of course, this small piece of information quickly opened up conversations about another similar franchise, which is Bethesda’sThe Elder Scrolls.
The Elder Scrollshas been a household name in first-person RPGs for years now, especially since the 2011 game,Skyrim, is still beloved by many fans. However, with many claiming thatAvowedcould be bigger thanSkyrim, how exactly can Obsidian surpass the success ofThe Elder Scrollsfranchise? Of course, given that there is still basically no info with regards toAvowed’sdirection, it is worth noting that Obsidian has the opportunity to learn a few lessons fromSkyrimand offer an even better experience for RPG fans.
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A More Complex Combat System
Although it continues to captivate players despite it being released almost a decade ago,Skyrim’s combat system to be too simplistic, forcingsome players to use mods likeSekirocombatjust to have a better experience. In the game, combat mostly revolves around players running up to an enemy, hacking them with their weapons, and repeating the process until either the enemy or the player has fallen. To switch it up a bit, players can then cast some spells mid-combat, but that involves the player entering the UI and navigating through a long list of items and spells, which breaks immersion and disrupts the flow of combat.
Additionally,Skyrimrelied less on the player’s character build, making it more in line with a traditional action game than an RPG. During battles, players would rarely find fulfillment in securing a rare item or honing their skills in a certain way because enemies are either too easy to kill or players can just spam potions to survive a difficult encounter. IfAvowedtruly wants to create a more engaging combat system, then Obsidian should design the game in a way that allows players to carefully strategize which skills to grow and what gear or item would perfectly complement their build. Furthermore, it is also important for Obsidian to create a better UI system that would allow players to easily sort through skills and items without disrupting the flow of battle.
A Better User Interface and Inventory System
Out of all the games underThe Elder Scrollsfranchise,Skyrimhas the most user-friendly menuand inventory system. However, this is not to say thatSkyrim’suser interface is not without fault, given that many find it text-heavy and awkward especially when using a keyboard and mouse. Of course, it is apparent thatSkyrim’smenu system favors gamepads for console players, but even those using controllers are sometimes finding it difficult to navigate through Skyrim’s user interface.
Interestingly enough, some players find the user interface to be so unbearable that it forced them to seekuser-created mods just to rectifySkyrim’s UI problem. Of course, this is another avenue that Obsidian can improve on if it wantsAvowedto be a better game thanSkyrim. What the studio can do is to design the user interface in such a way that it will be easy to navigate for both console and PC players. Moreover, it could introduce a user-interface system that efficiently displays what players need to see at any given time.
Unique Experiences for Different Character Types
In previousElder Scrollsgames, Bethesda implemented an emphasis on allowing certain characters to experience the game in unique ways. As an example, in otherElder Scrollsgames, there are buildings that cannot be accessed without using levitation, so only those who have high magic skills could explore them in-depth. While there is still some sort of specialization inSkyrim, players who opt to focus more on melee combat, for example, are also given the chance to effectively use a bow or cast a variety of spells. Sure, this gives each character a more versatile set of skills and abilities, but it somehow makes choosing a preferred style of play unnecessary.
In the end, despite having some shortcomings,Skyrimis still a good game especially withthe way it approached an open-world game. Given the many achievements ofSkyrimin this regard, Obsidian faces the insurmountable task of offering an even bigger experience for players, and it is important to know that this is not limited to just a bigger map and a longer list of quests for players to explore. Instead, Obsidian should focus on how it can improve upon the problems that players encountered inSkyrimby offering unique experiences for players, a better UI, and a more immersive combat system.
Avowedis in development for the PC, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X.
