In an era where new IPs are scarce due to the escalating costs of production, Immortals of Aveum stands as a noteworthy exception that merits attention. This game is among the few to harness the capabilities of Unreal Engine 5 on both consoles and PCs, making it a visual spectacle. But does it offer an equally compelling gameplay experience?
Immortals of Aveum is a first-person game that primarily focuses on the casting of intricate magic spells. The game offers an array of more than two dozen spells, encompassing both offensive and defensive capabilities. The innovative use of magic in a first-person perspective is commendable, providing a unique gameplay experience. Engaging in spell-based combat, where spells are literally at your fingertips, remains consistently exhilarating.
The game organizes its spells into three distinct categories, represented by color-coded slots: close-range, long-range, and rapid-fire. By strategically deploying your available sigils, you can achieve a balanced arsenal of offensive and defensive spells. Throughout its roughly 20-hour main campaign, the game continually introduces new sets of sigils, keeping the gameplay fresh. While the narrative may lack originality, the gameplay more than compensates for it.
The storyline of Immortals of Aveum centers on a war as experienced by Jak, a character endowed with the ability to wield three different types of magic. He joins an elite order of battlemages to avert an impending apocalypse. Although the plot may seem familiar and its execution leaves much to be desired, it serves as a backdrop for the game’s standout features. Both the main and supporting characters struggle to evoke emotional investment, and the dialogue often resorts to clichéd tropes that come across as uninspired.
As for the game’s difficulty, it is fairly manageable for those well-versed in first-person shooters. The game is generous with cutscenes, although their non-skippable nature can be tiresome for those uninterested in the narrative. Jak’s character is overly clichéd, diminishing his appeal as the protagonist. However, the gameplay remains engaging, even if it occasionally becomes overwhelming due to the profusion of on-screen effects. The game allows for creative use of powers, encouraging players to exploit the level design to efficiently dispatch enemies.
The high-fantasy elements in Immortals of Aveum are captivating, making the lore of the game’s world a subject of keen interest. While the dialogue may leave much to be desired—especially when compared to games like “Forspoken”—the shooter mechanics are solid. The gameplay evokes the adrenaline-pumping experience of playing 2016’s DOOM, albeit with magic spells replacing guns and demons. Each spell in the game has a unique feel, often mimicking the types of firearms commonly encountered in other games.
The game eases players into its core mechanics at a measured pace, but the intensity ratchets up significantly by the midway point. A plethora of optional content, including boss fights and arena challenges, enriches the main campaign. The game offers a well-balanced mix of both offensive and defensive abilities, such as dashing to dodge attacks or deploying a shield for protection. While enemies can be somewhat time-consuming to defeat, the key to success lies in the creative combination and application of one’s abilities.
However, the pacing of Immortals of Aveum could be improved. While the game does eventually pick up, the slow start may deter some players from reaching the more engaging sections. In my view, a game should be consistently compelling from start to finish. On a positive note, the game features exceptional level design and set pieces, although these elements are not without their flaws. The campaign includes numerous confined spaces that limit exploration, leading me to wish for a shorter, more focused narrative rather than one that feels artificially extended.
On the technical front, Immortals of Aveum is somewhat disappointing. While it runs at 60 FPS on the PS5, the lack of options for adjusting graphical settings is a drawback. Players are confined to a default preset that seems to prioritize frame rate over resolution. This may not be an issue on smaller screens, but on a larger OLED display, the visual experience falls short of the polish expected from a AAA title.
Immortals of Aveum stands out in the crowded world of sequels with its stunning visuals powered by Unreal Engine 5. The game’s standout feature is its intricate magic system, allowing players to cast different spells from a first-person perspective. While the character development and storyline may lack depth, the gameplay mechanics are solid, offering a balanced mix of offensive and defensive strategies. The level design and set pieces are impressive, although they do have some limitations. Technically, the game performs well on next-gen consoles, but it lacks customization options for graphical settings. Overall, Immortals of Aveum delivers an engaging gaming experience, with room for improvement in storytelling and technical optimization.
Immortals of Aveum Game Information
- Price: $69.99
- Publisher: Electronic Arts
- Developer: Ascendant Studios
- Platform: PS5 (Reviewed)
- Disclaimer: A review code was given by the publisher
