A Review After Playing on Xbox Game Pass

[Weezer]

I purchased Xbox game pass for a month ~$16 CAD. Here are my thoughts after finishing Avowed using that platform.

1. I am torn between a 6.5 or 7/10
2. Really only enough content to have 1 play-through. I really don't see the allure for multiple play-throughs, especially when you can fully rebuild your character from level 1 at any point by just paying the respec fee. If they had more classes and abilities available, then sure, maybe. But, my reason is also expanded in point 3.
3. While there is choice in the game, it is not as complex as BG3, which is the standard now. The choices feel linear, and not as nuanced or complex as past POE games, or games of the current CRPG genre landscape. Therefore, the game doesn't really have lasting value after one play-through. You have pretty much seen and experienced everything the game has to offer in 50 hours of play.
4. Not worth $90+. Probably $50 or $60. Unsure about added content. If there is any to be released, and it is paid content, then $90 is not justifiable. Also, not worth $90+ because there is only 50 hours of play. I recommend to play on Xbox game pass in its current form.
5. I do like how they expanded on the lore, but that is also because I have good knowledge of past games. People who have not played POE 1 or 2 will not pick-up on some the connections to previous lore, or pick-up on some the the Easter Eggs linked to the previous games.
6. The companions were meh. Ranking: Giatta, Yahtzee, Kai, Marius. These are based on their abilities, not personal stories. Though, I disliked Marius' character and abilities, and barely used him. Also, not being able to fully customise them is a missed opportunity, and just lazy development.
7. The ability and spell balancing was as bad as the original games. For instance, Poison has always been a difficult build in the original games, because everything is immune or resistant to it. It's the same for this game. The best status effects are Fire>Cold>Elec. Plus, compared to the original games, there are a lot of spells and abilities missing.
8. Enemy variability is non-existent. After the first two areas you have seen all the enemy types in the game. And there are enemies missing from the content that were in the original POE games.
9. Enemy composition in fights makes not sense at time. For instance, having a boss bear fight, and random skeletons spawn makes no sense. Especially when a skeleton cleric spawns and fully heals the boss, after you have them at 50% or less health. It extends a fight that did not need to be extended. If you want to make a more difficult encounter, give the boss more abilities to use, aside from rushing you will power attacks all the time.
10. AI for both enemies and your companions is bad. Half the time the AI will only attack you and not your companions, and your companions will be just standing there looking at what is happening and not reacting, instead of actually making any contributions to the fight, unless told to do so through their abilities. I do believe that the game should have be a solo main character adventure, w/o companions, especially how they designed the interaction and customisation of your companions. They really are just an extension of abilities that you could unlock with more ability points.
11. Also, the loot is not worth the adventure to find it. 95% of the time it is just crafting materials, instead of something useful or cool.
12. Having to go to camp to craft and talk to companions is a chore. They could have crafting benches in towns, and have the ability to talk to companions whenever you want about whatever they need at that point.
13. Only having companions quests for two companions is lazy development. Just take it out if you don't want to have quests for everyone. Or, as I mentioned above, get rid of the companions altogether.

Overall, I did enjoy the game, but not as much as POE 1 and 2. If you want to buy the game on Steam, I would wait until it goes on sale. If you want to play it now, play it through Xbox game pass.