How Avowed Reinvents a Classic Video Game Exploration Tradition

Tropes are a fixture in nearly every kind of media that’s stood the test of time, including the video game world. Over the years, certain features have skyrocketed in popularity within the gaming industry. These elements then show up in numerous other games until they become standard fare in whichever genre they appear. Avowed is no exception, boasting a host of both classic and contemporary gaming tropes.

Among these are the familiar sight of damage numbers popping up above enemies’ heads, arrow icons indicating the direction of an enemy’s attack, and puzzles involving breaking walls and flipping elemental levers. Not to forget, there’s a rarity system in place for the loot players can collect. While these are just a few of the tropes present in Avowed, there’s another one deeply rooted in gaming history that’s worth a mention.

### Avowed Embraces a Classic Adventure Game Trope

#### A Brief History of Games Hiding Things Behind Waterfalls

The exact beginnings of the trope that involves hiding secrets behind waterfalls remain a mystery, but it’s been around for at least forty years. One of the earliest instances of this trope was featured in 1986’s The Legend of Zelda, where players could walk into a waterfall to uncover an old woman ready to exchange a hint for some gold.

Since then, waterfalls have served as a recurring motif in adventure games, concealing an array of hidden collectibles, loot, or even entire concealed areas. Notable examples include the waterfall Shrines in The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, the waterfall star in Super Mario 64, and the hidden cave behind the waterfall in Uncharted 4 in Madagascar.

At times, games subvert this trope by placing a joke item behind a waterfall instead of something valuable. A great example is Undertale, where an aged tutu is tucked behind a waterfall. Games often place Easter eggs and media references behind waterfalls too, like in Prince of Persia: The Forgotten Sands, where players discover a potion unlocking a retro costume for the Prince.

#### Avowed Rewards Those Who Go Chasing Waterfalls

In Avowed, this enduring video game trope is fully embraced. Right at the beginning, when players explore Avowed’s tutorial island, they’re greeted by a waterfall with a hidden backpack. While it doesn’t hold anything extraordinary, it’s a delightful nod to the adventure game hallmark.

This initial waterfall nudges players towards thorough exploration, rewarding them with loot throughout their journey in Avowed. For instance, in the Emerald Stair region of Avowed, one waterfall leads to a secret cavern, offering the exclusive Death Knight armor set to those who venture in.

Obsidian, the game’s developer, has nodded to this long-standing trope before. Their 2019 game, The Outer Worlds, also tucked loot behind a waterfall, specifically in Fallbrook.