Compare Avowed vs Starfield

Level design was praised for verticality, density, handcrafted routes, and spaces that felt larger than their footprint.

Level design criticism focuses on repeated arenas and spaces that do not support the scope of the world.

Reviewers noted useful accessibility and comfort controls such as camera, subtitle, difficulty, and arachnophobia-related options, though colorblind support was called out as missing.

Accessibility is a serious weak spot in the most critical take, with one reviewer saying the limited options leave some players shut out rather than merely inconvenienced.

Most reviewers praised the bold, colorful, alien fantasy art direction, though a few disliked the cartoony look or felt presentation was uneven.

Art direction splits opinion, with NASA-punk praised for a distinctive look in some places and dismissed as bland or ineffective in others.

The tutorial was praised for teaching systems naturally and creating meaningful choices early.

Tutorial quality is a complaint when players want more help; several reviews say the game leaves too much unexplained.

World-building was one of Avowed’s clearest strengths, especially its politics, cultures, history, and Eora continuity.

World-building is divisive: some admire the sci-fi scale, while others find the vision of humanity and space underwhelming.

Gameplay mechanics were generally praised as streamlined and flexible, but a few reviewers felt RPG systems lacked depth or reactivity.

General gameplay draws both praise and disappointment: it offers a huge Bethesda-style RPG framework, but some reviewers find the actual moment-to-moment play bland.

Sandbox freedom was limited compared with full open-world RPGs, though some reviewers still appreciated freedom in story choices or builds.

Sandbox freedom is one of Starfield’s main attractions for the right player, with reviewers praising the ability to wander, build, survey, and pursue your own goals.

Onboarding was praised when it taught by doing, though lore-heavy openings could feel steep for newcomers.

Onboarding is a weak spot because important systems can be under-explained, leaving players to figure out menus, building, and progression on their own.

Enemy AI was considered serviceable but not especially smart; later impressions suggested fights remain engaging without feeling brain-dead.

Enemy and security behavior drew sharp complaints, especially where foes seemed easy to exploit or failed to react convincingly.

Exploration was one of the strongest consensus positives, with dense maps, secrets, vertical paths, and constant rewards keeping reviewers engaged.

Exploration is the biggest fault line. Some players love the scale and city discovery, while many criticize empty planets, fast-travel dependency, and repeated points of interest.

Fast travel was viewed as convenient and generous, making it easy to revisit areas without friction.

Fast travel is convenient but also one of the most repeated complaints, with many reviewers saying it fragments the space fantasy.

The Living Lands’ vivid tone, music, and dreamlike spaces were repeatedly praised for creating a distinctive atmosphere.

Atmosphere is uneven. Some players miss the expected Bethesda charm, while others are pulled in by the large sci-fi setting.

Platform-specific support was praised for PS5 performance modes, Sony-platform feel, and PC features such as DLSS.

Platform-specific support is mixed: PS5 features and smoothness are praised, but the physical-disc/download and internet requirements frustrate some buyers.

Menu and ability-wheel usability was mixed; some quality-of-life systems helped, but radial wheels and limited hotkeys disrupted combat for others.

Menus and inventory are repeated pain points, with reviewers calling the UI clunky, slow, or shockingly poor for a game with so much item management.

The core loop was divisive: strong combat and exploration were often undermined for some reviewers by gear-tier repetition and open-zone structure.

The core loop works best for players who enjoy Bethesda-style wandering, looting, and quest chaining, though it can take time to settle in.

UI options such as text sizing and subtitles were appreciated as useful interface support.

Interface design is a regular drawback, especially with maps, menus, and navigation that feel awkward for a game this large.

Writing quality was widely praised for lore, companion dialogue, and sharp prose, but a minority found it wordy, pretentious, or mid.

Writing quality is one of the weaker areas for critical reviewers, especially in main-quest dialogue and characterizations.

Character development split reviewers: some found companions distinct and engaging, while others thought characters were bland or hard to care about.

Companions and character arcs are a relative strength when reviewers spend time with them, though the broader cast is not universally loved.

Open-zone design split reviewers: many liked curated, dense hubs, while others found the world restrictive, lifeless, or not interactive enough.

The open-world structure disappoints reviewers who expected seamless discovery, with empty terrain and repeated outposts undercutting the sense of a living galaxy.

Crash stability varied by platform and version: some reviewers reported no crashes, while another had severe startup crashes before fixes.

Stability is inconsistent. Some players report only rare crashes, while others describe freezing, repeated restarts, or crashes serious enough to interrupt progress.

Learning support was helped by reference and lore systems that made Eora’s terminology easier to understand.

The learning curve is steep. Several reviewers say Starfield has many systems and does not explain enough up front.

Companion combat AI was mixed: some found companions self-sufficient or improved by patches, while others called them weak or unnecessary in fights.

Companions are divisive. Some reviewers enjoy their stories and usefulness, while others complain about chatty behavior, getting stuck, or interrupting the flow.

Puzzles were generally light but appreciated when they used environmental elements, timing, and exploration paths.

Puzzle design receives limited but strong praise through the lockpicking minigame.

Mission design drew criticism when quests felt repetitive, fetchy, or like back-and-forth errands, though some standout missions remained.

Mission design is uneven: some missions and factions are memorable, while others feel short, repetitive, or underdeveloped.

Soundtrack reception was generally positive but often stopped short of calling the music unforgettable.

The soundtrack earns strong praise where discussed, with orchestral and sweeping music fitting the space setting well.

Progression systems were divisive: some liked flexible builds and added points, while others found midgame growth stagnant or too gear-dependent.

Progression is a relative strength, with skill trees, outposts, and build growth giving players multiple ways to shape their playstyle.

Originality was limited; reviewers often described Avowed as familiar comfort-food fantasy rather than a bold genre evolution.

Originality gets some credit for the space RPG ambition, though several reviews also call the formula familiar.

Crafting was mixed to negative, with several reviewers calling it threadbare, expensive, or too tied to gear-tier progression.

Crafting, outposts, mods, and ship-building depth stand out, but the same systems can feel under-explained or tedious when resource handling gets in the way.

Dialogue quality ranged from standout and well acted to overly wordy, forced, or limited in the options it offered.

Dialogue is polarizing: one reviewer calls conversation trees best-in-class, while others find the writing flat, generic, or dated.

Narrative quality was usually a strength thanks to mystery, choices, and world stakes, but some reviewers found the main plot predictable or underwhelming.

The main story is one of the most mixed areas. Some reviewers find it surprisingly interesting or a useful guide, while others call it weak, flat, or forgettable.

Skill trees were praised for flexibility but criticized by others as simple, shallow, or uneven across archetypes.

Skill trees earn praise for meaningful perks and challenge-based progression that gives builds structure.

Replay value improved with choices and post-launch New Game Plus, though some reviewers felt repeated runs changed too little.

Replay value is positive for players who like long RPGs, new game plus, and self-directed builds.

Polish improved over time but remained uneven, with reviewers citing jank, lack of gloss, or presentation limits alongside strong craftsmanship.

Polish is better than many expected for a Bethesda-scale RPG, though it does not eliminate bugs, crashes, or rough UI.

Weapon balance and variety were mostly praised for experimentation and flexible loadouts, but some reviewers felt magic outclassed melee or guns.

Weapon balance is only lightly addressed, with one review saying the combat tools get the job done.

Sound design was praised for impactful effects, combat feedback, and strong weapon audio.

Sound design is a high point in the strongest audio-focused review, especially ship and ambient effects.

Difficulty balance was one of the most debated areas, with some finding it fair and flexible and others criticizing gear checks, sponginess, or uneven scaling.

Difficulty earns limited praise where late missions test combat skill without feeling unfair.

Combat was one of the most consistently praised elements, especially magic, responsiveness, and build variety, despite repetition and gear-gating complaints.

Combat is one of the better-liked systems overall, often described as Bethesda’s strongest gunplay yet, though a few reviewers still find it basic or merely serviceable.

Voice acting was mostly praised as strong or outstanding, though one reviewer found performances unable to save weaker writing.

Voice acting is often praised, sometimes even when the writing or facial presentation gets criticized.

Bug reports varied widely: some reviewers found almost none, while others hit quest bugs, map-edge bugs, or issues that required reloads.

Bug frequency varies widely by version and platform, from almost no issues to repeated freezes, broken interactions, and crash-adjacent problems.

Value for money was mixed: reviewers praised Game Pass or lower pricing but questioned the original premium price for the scope.

Value depends on taste and edition. Fans can get a strong price-to-playtime ratio, while skeptics may find the full-price or DLC value harder to justify.

Resource balance divided reviewers: some liked the meaningful economy, while others felt crafting materials and upgrade resources were too scarce.

The economy and resource balance are recurring frustrations, especially around ship costs, resource pricing, inventory clutter, and limited trading fantasy.

Facial animations were criticized in later impressions as not matching next-generation expectations.

Facial animation and conversation presentation feel dated to several reviewers, even when voice work is praised.

Quest design ranged from excellent side stories and meaningful follow-ups to fetchy, inconsistent, or repetitive tasks.

Side quests and faction quests are among the most praised parts, even when the main story disappoints.

Environmental detail was strongly praised through dense secrets, vistas, caves, and handcrafted spaces, even by some otherwise mixed reviewers.

Environmental detail is often praised, especially city detail, planet presentation, and the sense of visual scale.

Graphics quality was divisive but often positive, with praise for stunning vistas and vivid visuals alongside criticism of poor or compromised visuals on some platforms.

Visuals are usually a strength, with praise for gorgeous graphics and presentation, though some reviewers call the look dated or bland.

Pacing was mixed, with slow starts, downtime, filler quests, and late-game repetition weighing against an otherwise easy-to-follow story.

Pacing is uneven. Reviewers describe slow openings, rushed-feeling story beats, and stronger stretches once the game finally clicks.

Fun factor leaned positive overall, especially for combat and exploration, though some reviewers found the experience merely solid or underwhelming.

Overall fun is sharply split. Many players are hooked or having a blast, while others find the game boring, underwhelming, or only fun for a narrow sandbox audience.

Character creation was generally praised as solid or deep, with later updates adding more races and appearance options.

Character creation earns praise for depth, with reviewers liking how far customization and background setup can go.

Frame-rate stability varied: some reviewers saw stable performance, while others reported hitches, drops, screen tearing, or stuttering.

Frame rate impressions depend on platform. PS5 and PS5 Pro comments range from smoother performance to fluctuating modes that still need work.

Returning Eora fans often felt Avowed was faithful to the Pillars of Eternity world, while still accessible to newcomers.

Fans of space RPGs and Mass Effect-style adventures may feel at home, but this is not framed as faithful to an existing Starfield franchise.

Reviewers liked the dense zones and amount of side content, although some felt the scope was restrained rather than sprawling.

Content volume is a major selling point, with reviewers pointing to many quests, systems, updates, and activities that can keep players busy for a long time.

Performance optimization varied sharply across versions, from stable and improved after patches to demanding, stuttery, or poorly optimized on some PCs.

Performance varies by hardware and mode, from smooth PS5 impressions to inconsistent PS5 Pro behavior and demanding PC requirements.

One reviewer specifically framed Avowed as more appropriate for older teens and adults because of its complex themes and mature material.

Aiming and first-person spell placement drew criticism when ground-targeted abilities were hard to place precisely.

Animation feedback was mixed, with stiff NPCs and less impressive presentation keeping the game from feeling fully modern.

Boss design was criticized as disappointing, with bosses feeling like tougher versions of regular enemies rather than unique encounters.

Camera-related options were appreciated, especially the ability to adjust head bob and camera shake for comfort.

The companion roster was often seen as small or limited, though some reviewers still liked the four supporting characters.

Build and class flexibility was praised because Avowed lets players mix archetypes freely, though balance sometimes favored magic or specific styles.

Controls and combat feel were commonly praised for responsiveness, impact, and keybind flexibility, with a few targeting frustrations.

DLC and expansion value is mixed. Some reviews like the added content, while others call specific expansions dull or worth waiting on sale for patches.

Emotional impact came mostly from moral choices, consequences, and companion moments, though some endings or fallout felt muted to critics.

Endgame content was criticized because the original experience did not allow continued post-story play and lacked New Game Plus at launch.

Enemy variety was a recurring concern; many reviewers felt the same bears, spiders, skeletons, and humanoids appeared too often.

The gifting comments are positive, but the reviews do not give a detailed family-suitability analysis.

Ship flight and space combat can be fun, especially after updates, but several reviewers say travel still feels limited or merely good enough.

Grind level was a common complaint tied to gear upgrades, resource hunting, and spongy combat loops.

Steam Deck suitability was considered playable and verified, but the visual tradeoff was significant.

Haptic support was platform-dependent: one PS5 review praised DualSense vibration, while another noted missing haptic and trigger use.

HUD clarity improved through options to reduce clutter, adjust opacity, and toggle display elements.

Immersion was helped by dense worldbuilding and atmosphere but hurt for some by static NPCs and limited world reactivity.

Innovation was usually described as limited; reviewers saw Avowed as confident and enjoyable rather than genre-changing.

Post-launch support was viewed positively, with free updates improving stability, customization, build options, and quality-of-life features.

Loading screens are one of the most consistent complaints. A few note short load times, but many say frequent transitions and menus make the universe feel chopped up.

Loot opinions were mixed: unique items and progression could be satisfying, but many chests and rewards felt predictable or unexciting.

Lore depth was consistently praised, especially the in-game books, history, politics, and reference systems that made Eora feel rich.

Map and navigation design was mixed, with missing custom markers criticized before later updates added them.

Mods and Creations are a meaningful plus for some reviewers because they can improve rough edges and deepen the experience.

Movement feel and parkour were strongly praised for making exploration fluid, vertical, and enjoyable.

Platforming precision was a pleasant surprise, with simple mantling and vertical puzzles adding a welcome exploration layer.

Save reliability was a concern for at least one reviewer who needed more careful saving because of bugs.

Side characters and companions were highly divisive: some found them memorable and heartfelt, while others thought they were shallow or uninspired.

Stealth was criticized as underdeveloped or nearly useless, with little support for stealth-focused play.

Upgrade systems were sharply divisive, with some liking gear longevity and many others criticizing tiers, scarcity, or number-go-up design.

The REV-8/vehicle addition helps planet traversal, but user reports also connect surface driving with freezes.

Visual effects, especially magic, were repeatedly praised for impact, color, and satisfying feedback.

World interactivity was one of the most common criticisms, with many reviewers finding NPCs, theft, objects, and systems too static.