Unavowed Introduction:

The game showcases 2D pixel art visuals and gameplay reminiscent of classic adventure games. It combines this with an interaction system commonly found in modern adventure games, particularly those developed by BioWare. Players take on the role of a male or female protagonist who, after a series of supernatural events, teams up with an ancient group of paranormal investigators known as the titular "Unavowed." Together, they embark on a journey through a fictionalized version of New York City, solving quests and puzzles across various locations.

Marking Wadjet Eye's first original intellectual property since 2006, Unavowed was initially revealed in 2016. Originally planned with 3D visuals in the Unity engine, the developer eventually opted for the Adventure Game Studio engine, coupled with 2D visuals, due to limitations in Unity programming resources and 3D graphic creation.

Gameplay:

Unavowed garnered favorable reviews from critics, particularly for its compelling story and writing. The art design received praise for creating a believable world with supernatural elements, drawing comparisons to classic adventure games like Sam & Max Hit the Road and the Discworld game. Nonetheless, some reviewers found fault in the game's relatively easy difficulty level and certain underdeveloped characters.

The gameplay in Unavowed follows a classic point-and-click style reminiscent of titles such as the Monkey Island series and Sierra Entertainment's Quest games (like King's Quest and Police Quest). While retaining these traditional aspects, the game incorporates modern elements like team selection for specific missions and a narrative shaped by player choices. Players can choose their character's gender and one of three backgrounds: actor, bartender, or cop. Each background significantly influences interactions and dialogues with other characters. The game's structure unfolds episodically, akin to television shows, where players decide which locations to visit and which team members to bring along for each mission.

During missions, players engage in conversations with non-player characters, analyze clues, and ultimately face confrontations where they must make decisions that carry moral consequences. The game does not involve combat; instead, players defend against enemies by solving puzzles, ranging from code-breaking to preemptive creature handling. While mistakes can lead to setbacks, there's no possibility of player character death or game over. The game's saving system allows saves outside of dialogues, with a maximum of 50 save files.

The choice of companions significantly affects mission dialogues, choices, and puzzle solutions. For example, specific companions provide unique abilities, altering available solutions. Flashbacks during missions provide insights into the protagonist's past actions, guiding players' next steps.

Final Words:

Set in a fictionalized contemporary New York City where magic and demons are real, Unavowed features various city settings like Chinatown, Brooklyn, Staten Island, and Wall Street. The player character, possessed by a demon for a year before the game's events, is exorcised by Eli, a sorcerer from Unavowed. Unable to return to their previous life, the character joins Unavowed to uncover the events of the past year.

Alongside the protagonist, the New York branch of Unavowed includes characters like Kalash, a jinn and the chapter's leader, Mandana, Kalash's half-jinn daughter, Eli, an ageless fire mage, Logan, a recovering alcoholic medium with his spirit guide KayKay, and Vicki, a former police officer who joins if the player chose the cop background.

After joining Unavowed's New York branch following the exorcism, the player character learns of increased supernatural threats within the past year. The team investigates locations of reported supernatural occurrences, leading them to encounter Vicki Santina on Staten Island and Logan in the Bronx, both of whom eventually join Unavowed. Revisiting a previous location, the team faces Galene, a once-banished dryad who reveals the demon's name, Melkhiresa. A conflict with Galene forces the player character to make a fateful decision in the quest to defeat her, resulting in the tragic demise of Kalash.