Highlights
- The 2023 TennoCon event showcased Soulframe and Avowed, two upcoming RPGs that both feature protagonists combating corruption in fantasy worlds.
- Avowed takes place in the Living Lands, offering a late Middle Ages setting with open zones for exploration and diverse combat options, including melee weapons, ranged choices, and magic.
- Soulframe is set in the Arthurian realm of Midrath Island, with lush forests, a nature-centric focus, deliberate and methodical combat, and a three-stat RPG system emphasizing character strength, magic, or stealth.
The 2023 TennoCon event brought excitement to RPG enthusiasts as Digital Extremes unveiled an approximately 30-minute demo of Soulframe, the sister game of Warframe. This gameplay preview delved into a grimdark medieval realm plagued by contamination, where the protagonist confronts a malevolent organization. Concurrently, fans of action RPGs eagerly await Avowed, and a recent gameplay trailer featured during the Xbox Game Showcase revealed a noticeable shift in the game's setting compared to the 2020 teaser. It transitioned from a gritty and dark ambiance to a more vibrant, action-packed tone, resembling The Outer Worlds and classic RPGs, diverging from Obsidian's original Skyrim-inspired vision. Upon seeing the latest footage from both games, fans can discern intriguing resemblances between these two new RPG experiences.
Both games share the common theme of protagonists assuming the roles of envoys striving to combat a world tainted by corruption. They embark on journeys of restoration and exploration, each with its unique narrative. In Avowed, players can choose between an Elvian or a Human character and are dispatched by the Aedry Empire to the Living Lands. On a mission to investigate rumors surrounding a mysterious plague that corrupts souls on the Island. On the other hand, Soulframe's gameplay narrative centers around The Envoy, a former Ode'n—a conquering force driven solely by resource exploitation. The Envoy's quest is rejuvenating the natural world on Midrath Island and reestablishing the connections with the past that the Ode'n have severed.
Avowed and Soulframe's Setting and Combat Systems Have Some Points of Intersection
Both games share a high-fantasy setting inspired by the Middle Ages. Avowed unfolds in a period reminiscent of the late Middle Ages in the Living Lands, a secluded region within the same world as Pillars of Eternity. This locale features arid mountains, captivating biomes with colorful mushrooms, and mysterious halls, offering an enticing backdrop for RPG fans. While not fully open-world, Avowed includes sizable open zones for exploration. Soulframe shares a nature-centric setting with Avowed but adds an enchanting and cinematic touch. It unfolds in the Arthurian realm of Midrath Island, a vast open world in Alca featuring lush forests, flora-covered landscapes, villages, and procedural dungeons.
The game also has a personal hub, the Nightfold Tent, similar to Warframe's Orbiter. Initially a lone tent in the Silvered Sea's fog, it transforms into a bustling village of ancestor souls as the game progresses. While the gameplay in Avowed and Soulframe differ in some respects, they share a commonality in their varied combat systems and playstyles. Avowed adopts a first-person perspective and offers gamers various combat options, from melee weapons like swords to ranged choices such as bows, arrows, and pistols. Magic also plays a central role, with abilities spanning fireballs to freezing spells and even what appears to be summoning a black hole.
The world is systemic, enabling interactions between different magic elements and allowing gamers to seamlessly switch combat styles, whether dual-wielding weapons or combining magic and weaponry. As players progress and level up, the game focuses on unlocking new abilities rather than enhancing specific stats. The game also relies on companions, allowing players to adventure alongside two companions simultaneously. Soulframe brings a fresh perspective to combat, unlike the fast-paced gameplay in Warframe and Avowed. It introduces a deliberate and methodical combat style akin to games like Elden Ring and Ghost of Tsushima.
This approach emphasizes tactical swordplay infused with magic, demanding precision in dodges and parries for strategic openings. Gamers have a bionic arm and can even throw their swords at enemies and summon them back effortlessly. Soulframe employs a three-stat RPG system, focusing on Courage, Grace, or Spirit, which enhances character strength, magic, or stealth. Avowed and Soulframe, despite sharing thematic elements, distinguish themselves in their multiplayer approach, graphics, and overall presentation. However, their shared commitment to delivering rich narrative experiences with player-driven stories suggests that both titles hold the potential to captivate players seeking engaging fantasy RPG worlds.
Avowed releases in 2024 for PC and Xbox Series X/S.