Robin Bhuyan
Since the game’s official release on 18th February, Avowed has faced a wave of criticism, despite being among the most awaited games of the year. Many players comparing it to Skyrim— but angry because the game is not meeting their expectations! This is quite hilarious as this comparison doesn’t hold up beyond the most surface-level aspects. Yes, both games are first-person fantasy RPGs where you can switch to third person, but that’s where the similarities end. The story, characters, combat, and overall experience are completely different from Skyrim. However, it has more in common with Jade Empire as well as Greedfall, both fantasy RPGs that were released years ago.
The negativity surrounding Avowed feels largely unnecessary. Is it a masterpiece? No. But it’s also not the disaster some players are making out to be. So far, we can say that the game is fun. Unlike games like Witcher 3 and Skyrim, the game doesn’t revolutionize its genre, but Avowed delivers an enjoyable experience. Dismissing it outright just because it isn’t Skyrim 2.0 is a mistake. Maybe the problem today is that gamers have too many expectations from big budget AAA titles. Well, the game is overpriced definitely, even more so if you are in India, but you can definitely play it cheaper with an Xbox gamepass.
The Strong Parallels with Jade Empire
(Minor Spoilers Ahead)
Ironically, Avowed has far more in common with Jade Empire, a 2005 RPG rather than with Skyrim. In Jade Empire, which is set in China, you play as a young student who is on a quest to find and rescue their master, while in Avowed, you are an envoy sent to a distant land to investigate a plague. Though the overall plot might not sound same, if we look deeper, the resemblance is almost too much in some areas, making it feel like a spiritual successor in many ways. You could even say the game is 60 percent inspired by Jade Empire, if we talk about the story.
Silent Protagonist & Dialogue System – Like Jade Empire, the protagonist in Avowed isn’t voiced, and the conversation system operates in a similar way. However, their voice can be heard during combat in both the games.
Companions/Party Members– In Avowed, your party members follow you around, chime in during conversations, and contribute their perspectives—just like in Jade Empire. You can regroup with your companions wherever you choose to set up your camp, just like in Jade Empire, though in the latter one, your camp is always in a fixed location.
The Crash-Landing Setup – In Avowed, your ship crashes at the beginning of the game, forcing you to navigate on foot. In Jade Empire, your flyer crashes in the second chapter, leading to a similar scenario.
A Town Burning – In Avowed, the town Fior mes Ivèrno can burn depending on player choices, much like the Spirit Monk’s hometown being attacked and burned in Jade Empire, propelling the protagonist into their journey. While in Jade Empire, the task is carried out by Grand Inquisitor Jia, in Avowed, it is done by Inquisitor Lodwyn- both female “Inquisitors”!
A Blue Spirit in Your Head – Both games feature a mystical blue entity that speaks to the protagonist in their heads, at times, and sometimes this gets annoying! The protagonist is revived from death, by this very spirit. In both games, this entity isn’t just any spirit but a dying god, who pleads for help in a similar way. Even the way both entities talk is a lot similar!
The Last of Your Kind – The protagonist in Avowed is one of the last remaining of the godlike, just as the protagonist in Jade Empire is the last remaining Spirit Monk.
A More Contained, Story-Driven RPG – Unlike massive open-world RPGs, both games focus on smaller areas as filled with meaningful encounters. In both games, you need to walk from one area to the other, and horses are not available.
These are only some of the similarities we mentioned. There might be more!
The Greedfall Connection
While Avowed leans heavily into Jade Empire’s structure, it also borrows a few elements from the 2019 RPG Greedfall:
Investigating a Disease– In Greedfall, the protagonist is the governor’s cousin investigating a new land where a disease is spreading. Similarly, in Avowed, the protagonist is an envoy investigating a distant land plagued by an unknown affliction. It is also to be noted that even in Jade Empire, there is a major quest where you need to investigate a disease affecting a forest, though the game doesn’t revolve around it.
Fantasy with a Colonial-Era Vibe – Avowed carries the same colonial aesthetic that defined Greedfall’s setting. In both games, you go to a far off fantasy land on behalf of your ruler, and you are offered impactful decisions that shape your standing with different groups and the ending of the game.
Jade Empire Remains Criminally Underrated
If Avowed proves anything, it’s that Jade Empire was way ahead of its time. Despite being nearly 20 years old, it is still influencing modern fantasy RPGs—even ones that don’t openly acknowledge it. Yet, Jade Empire remains overlooked, while newer games struggle to capture the same magic.
Even with all the advancements in technology, Avowed feels emptier compared to Jade Empire. The world in Jade Empire feels more alive, its characters are more engaging, the music is better, and the game has more replay value, though it is shorter. If Avowed is a 6/10, then Jade Empire is a solid 9.5/10—a game that modern RPGs could still learn from!
If anything, the developers and publishers of Avowed should not shy away from admitting that their game is inspired by Jade Empire. But they should instead push more people to revisit Jade Empire and recognize just how exceptional it was.
As for players, those who loved Jade Empire, but was disappointed by its short length, Avowed might give them a more fulfilling experience!
