Summary
- Avowed’s magic combat shines brighter than its melee, leading to skepticism.
- Avowed’s melee combat is weighty, impactful, and focuses on hitstop for realism.
- Melee combat in Avowed requires strategy, deliberate actions, and stamina management.
Ahead of its release, Avowed‘s magic combat has shined significantly brighter than its melee, to the point that it would be understandable for there to be skepticism about whether its melee combat is even worth trying. While that might not seem like a fair assessment, in addition to the fact that Avowed‘s magic combat has long looked flashy and fun, very rarely is the melee combat in any first-person RPG satisfying of efficient, as it often lacks the impact and weight necessary to outshine other playstyles that may be present in a game.
As it turns out, Avowed‘s melee combat truly is a rare and refreshing sight among first-person RPGs. It’s entirely possible for players to not get much out of Avowed‘s melee combat if they don’t take advantage of everything that is made available to them, to the point that playing melee in Avowed can feel dull, boring, and monotonous. However, should players utilize every option and mechanic that is available to them with Avowed‘s melee combat, they should find a close-quarters combat system that is more weighty, responsive, and filled with more impact than most first-person RPGs possess in their own melee combat.
Related
Avowed’s first-person combat and respect for player choice make it a journey worth having, but flaws in its story and design make it a one-way road.
Avowed’s Melee Combat Is a Rare and Refreshing Sight Among First-Person RPGs
Avowed’s Meleel Combat Is Weighty, Responsive, and Impactful
Melee combat in first-person RPGs has a tendency to feel very floaty and detached, leaving a lot to be desired in the overall feel of it. Each swing of a sword or an axe generally feels like it’s phasing right through an enemy, leaving any significant damage dealt left up to the imagination of the player or the enemy’s visible health bar. This is largely due to RPGs prioritizing the impact that a melee weapon’s stats have on enemies rather than translating that impact into something players can actually feel.
The Elder Scrolls, Fallout, and even Prey feature melee that lacks the impact of a dedicated action game because they focus more on stat-driven damage and open-world design.
In Avowed, on the other hand, melee combat feels like it packs a punch, with an appropriate and noticeable hitstop each time a weapon lands a blow. This is, of course, a subjective point of view at the end of the day, as some players may still find Avowed‘s melee combat to feel a bit punier than it should. However, it’s difficult to argue that Avowed does implement some key elements into its melee combat that makes it better than most first-person RPGs, with an impact that is not only felt in its reliance on hitstop to reflect that impact, but also heard as each strike with a melee weapon pierces the exterior of an enemy.
Avowed’s Melee Combat Requires Deliberation and Intentionality
Until players get to the later stages of the game in Avowed, melee combat requires more strategy than most other first-person RPGs. Initially, enemies in Avowed can prove to be quite a challenge, especially if players aren’t taking the appropriate measures to ensure their gear is up-to-date with each region’s requirements. This, in addition to the fact that Avowed‘s enemies play very aggressively, means players can’t just run into a fight swinging their sword around mindlessly. Instead, they need to be as deliberate and intentional as possible to ensure they not only survive, but also that they maintain their stamina levels in order to not leave themselves exposed to enemy attacks.
It’s difficult to argue that Avowed does implement some key elements into its melee combat that makes it better than most first-person RPGs, with an impact that is not only felt in its reliance on hitstop to reflect that impact, but also heard as each strike with a melee weapon pierces the exterior of an enemy.
Avowed‘s approach to melee combat effectively goes against the grain when it comes to first-person RPGs, offering a system that rewards deliberation with weighty, satisfying impact. While some players may still gravitate toward the flashier magic combat in Avowed, those who invest in mastering the game’s melee mechanics should find a level of responsiveness and depth that few first-person RPGs possess. It may not completely reinvent the wheel, but it does prove that first-person RPGs can deliver melee combat that feels just as rewarding and engaging as any other playstyle.
- Released
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February 18, 2025
- ESRB
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Mature 17+ // Blood and Gore, Strong Language, Violence
- Publisher(s)
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Xbox Game Studios