Avowed's character creator allows players to explore their identities by choosing between distinctive features of the envoy class, inspired by Pillars of Eternity, and more conventional character traits. The envoy class includes unique features like whimsical fungal growths and earthy accents, but players can opt to downplay these traits for a more ordinary appearance. This option aims to appeal to a broader audience, though it raises questions about individuality versus conformity in character design. Players must decide whether to embrace their unique traits or blend in with traditional fantasy archetypes, impacting their narrative experience in the game.
Avowed is a role-playing game set in the Pillars of Eternity universe, allowing players to engage without prior lore knowledge. Players assume the role of a "Godlike" character on a quest in the "Living Lands" to confront the Dreamscourge, a blight affecting the landscape and its creatures. The game features a small party of companions with unique abilities, including a fish man, a rabbit girl, and a human healer. Avowed consists of interconnected zones with distinct environments, encouraging exploration and discovery. The main story and side quests take approximately 30 hours to complete, offering a fulfilling experience without the lengthy commitment typical of other RPGs. Combat is engaging, with various build options available, and meaningful choices impact the narrative, enhancing player agency. The game simplifies some RPG mechanics, which can be both a strength and a weakness. The writing quality compensates for less complex character interactions. The game received a score of 9/10.
Steam has released a new selection of free games for download, available starting February 5. The titles include:
1. Mystical Mushrooms: An interactive-fiction RPG where players control Cyne, a pink mushroom girl, navigating the world of Bhokniva to gather resources and fend off creatures.
2. Cat Rescue: A psychological thriller where players help a woman rescue her cat from a paranoid streamer, solving twisted puzzles along the way.
3. Dodgy Deliveries: A cooperative horror game where players team up to complete deliveries in a city that becomes dangerous after dark.
4. Scary Teacher 3D: A 3D puzzle-stealth game where players prank a character named Miss T while avoiding her detection through clever strategies.
- In 2024, the author's favorite games included Pocket Necromancer, Yolk Heroes: A Long Tamago, Bella Wants Blood, Guncho, A Little to the Left, Pokemon Go, and Vampire Survivors.
- The author enjoys opening packs in Pokemon TCG Pocket and playing games that evoke nostalgia.
- The author dislikes clutter and enjoys playing games that are perfect for short bursts of play.
- The author is looking forward to adding Dredge and Last Spartan: Glory of Madness to their collection in 2025.
Eyeblossom flowers in Minecraft come in two variants: Open and Closed. Closed Eyeblossoms appear gray and upright during the day, while at night they bloom to reveal a glowing orange eye. Players can craft suspicious stews from these flowers, with the Open variant producing a stew that causes Blindness and the Closed variant causing Nausea. Eyeblossoms can also be used to create dyes: Open Eyeblossoms yield Orange dye and Closed Eyeblossoms yield Gray dye. Additionally, Eyeblossoms can communicate with each other when within a 3-block radius, sending out orange particles to signal blooming or closing. In bee-friendly environments, Open Eyeblossoms attract bees at night, which become poisoned upon contact for 1.25 seconds, although they can still pollinate the flowers.
The Eyeblossom is a new flower introduced in the Winter Update of Minecraft, native to the Pale Garden biome. Players can cultivate Eyeblossoms using bone meal on pale grass. There are two types: Closed and Open. Eyeblossoms can be harvested by hand, with water flow, or using pistons. They can be transformed into suspicious stews, dyes (Gray from Closed and Orange from Open), or composted for bone meal. Eyeblossoms are found in the Pale Garden biome, near Dark Forests, and are more visible at night due to their bright orange centers. The Wandering Trader occasionally offers Open Eyeblossoms for one emerald. Closed Eyeblossom stews induce Nausea, while Open Eyeblossom stews grant blindness. Eyeblossoms have a 65% chance to fill a composter by one level.
Obsidian Entertainment is developing the fantasy RPG Avowed, which is not an expansive open-world game like Skyrim. The game features firearms, diverging from traditional fantasy tropes. Director Carrie Patel highlights the series' blend of political intrigue with philosophical and metaphysical elements. The game aims for a scope similar to The Outer Worlds while focusing on expansive role-playing and action-heavy combat. Players can purchase firearms and use a classless system to combine melee and magic, which is uncommon in RPGs. Combat includes a responsive dodge mechanic and a stun meter for special attacks, with a balance between agility and weight. The game encourages exploration with climbable surfaces and hidden rewards, and player agency is emphasized. Avowed includes tutorials and customizable user interface controls. While the gameplay is engaging, some elements feel artificial, and the writing may not resonate as deeply as other titles.
Aries aligns with the strider, which thrives in lava and serves as a mount. Taurus corresponds to the mooshroom, enjoying a peaceful existence in the Mushroom Fields. Gemini is represented by the enderman, known for its teleportation abilities. Cancer resonates with the armadillo, which has a protective shell. Leo finds a kindred spirit in the fox, known for its playful nature. Virgo aligns with the bee, dedicated to collecting pollen. Libra corresponds to the allay, which helps others. Scorpio is matched with the warden, a formidable guardian. Sagittarius resonates with the glow squid, a controversial mob. Capricorn is represented by the creeper, known for its explosive nature. Aquarius aligns with the shulker, known for its elusive behavior. Pisces is represented by the bat, embodying simplicity and charm.
- Folli's Dirt House features a living roof made of greenery.
- Bradmall’s Ultimate Survival House includes cozy living spaces and areas for animals.
- MrMattRanger's Ultimate Japanese House is crafted from wooden blocks, blending beauty and functionality.
- Croissant Cat’s Aesthetic Cottagecore House uses Oak and Spruce blocks for a cozy design.
- Lex The Builder's Dark Oak House has a turret and is made from Dark Oak blocks.
- Polar Cat’s Cherry Blossom House features pink accents and Cherry Blossoms.
- WiederDude's Multistory Modern House is sleek and spacious.
- Seicraft's Dark Fantasy House is constructed from Deepslate with a gothic aesthetic.
- ManDooMiN’s Three Floor White Container House has three interconnected levels.
- Zaypixel's Underwater Mountain House is submerged underwater and offers scenic views.
- IrieGenie's Underground Base has glass roofs and ample space.
- FlyingCow’s Modern Mansion is large and symmetrical.
- Mia Bloom's Treehouse features two pods among branches.
- Ekjoy Craft's Ultimate Underwater Base includes a cabin entrance and panoramic views.
- LubovLC’s Epic Water House is half-underwater and serves survival needs.
- DiddiHD's Steampunk Airship includes rigging and a sky bridge.
- SheepGG's Hanging House is suspended over a canyon.
- Twin Saw's Floating Castle has an ethereal design and vibrant lighting.
- BlueNerd’s Mushroom House has bright red caps and a spacious interior.
- Shovel241’s Moon House features a mystical atmosphere and colorful design.
