The bow is too effective at taking out early enemies from afar. Credit: Obsidian/Microsoft
The tedium of the bow isn't really broken until you come across your first spellbook, which you can hold in your left hand while grabbing the dagger with the other. Flame throws, icy icicles, and lightning bolts come standard with the basic spellbook, along with learnable spells like an elemental blast that tracks the enemy and a powerful bull charge that can stun even charging enemies.
Even early on, the wide variety of spells available, all with relatively fast cooldowns, can make for some pretty dynamic fights. In an early boss battle with a large, infected bear, I was able to continuously attack the beast with every spell available while also landing a few quick hits with the dagger when it was stunned or immobilized. By the time I was done with the last spell in my repertoire, my first spell was ready to be used again, leading to a satisfying cycle of magical attacks that lasted as long as my mana. Although you have a prominent stamina meter to manage during these battles, the game seems to be generous enough that it's not a very pressing issue (at least for my combat-heavy character).
DeclaredAllies are surprisingly useful in combat. Credit: Obsidian / Microsoft
Throughout it all, there are usually also one or two computer-controlled companions fighting alongside you. In many games like this, these types of partners feel more like a chore to manage than an ally to help you. In DeclaredHowever, your companions do a good job of distracting large groups of enemies from joining you while also dealing significant damage – one of them dealt the killing blow to a boss while I was recovering from an attack. lost. While you can issue commands and get specific upgrades to fine-tune how your allies function, I'm perfectly content letting their default assistance complete my battles.
The small preview portion of Declared We were only given tap access to a deep, multi-branched skill tree suitable for both melee combat and longer-range magic users. We can't wait to explore more when the game arrives on Windows and Xbox consoles on February 18.