Title: Immortals of Aveum: A Visually Stunning but Lacking Originality
Subtitle: Ascendant Studios’ Debut Game Fails to Deliver the Wow Factor
Electronic Arts’ independent game label, EA Originals, has been releasing original and artistic games for several years now, aiming to enhance its reputation and prove that they are not just focused on established franchises. In the past, this prestigious label has been associated with artful games like Sea of Solitude, where players navigate a tearful sea with a transformed protagonist, and It Takes Two, an award-winning platformer about the breakdown of a marriage.
However, Immortals of Aveum, despite carrying this artistic label, falls short in terms of originality. Developed by Ascendant Studios, it presents itself as a classic mainstream game, compensating for its lack of innovative ideas with impressive production values. It feels like a comic book spectacle inspired by Marvel, but without the official license. Nevertheless, it still manages to provide an enjoyable experience.
The game takes place in Aveum, a fantasy world ravaged by a centuries-long magical war. Despite its fantasy setting, the game’s retro-inspired aesthetics could easily be mistaken for a sci-fi universe. Tattooed sorcerers hurl colorful projectiles resembling laser weapons from Star Wars, while massive battleships replace engines with magical crystals. Even the communication devices resemble classic mobile phones.
The graphics are visually appealing but demanding on hardware, and the cluttered user interface detracts from the overall experience. Despite the fantasy backdrop, the core gameplay mechanics do not differ significantly from other genre counterparts, such as the rebooted Doom series. Most battles take place in arenas, where enemies teleport in various combinations, creating unique situations. Some attack from a distance, while others engage in close combat or attempt to flank the player. To succeed, players must utilize their entire arsenal and adapt to different enemy defenses.
The most intriguing aspect of the game is the protagonist’s magical artifacts, which serve as the primary weapons. Instead of a traditional arsenal, players have access to a trio of magical artifacts attached to the protagonist’s right forearm. Each artifact has a different rate of fire and inflicts a specific type of damage. Simplistically speaking, the blue artifact is an alternative to a pistol, the red one resembles a shotgun, and the green one functions like a machine gun. The enemies have various defenses, requiring players to constantly switch between weapons. Additionally, players can use several passive spells to combat larger groups of enemies, as well as special abilities like time manipulation, teleportation, and enemy attraction.
Mastering these abilities and engaging in fast-paced battles requires precise finger dexterity, especially when playing with a gamepad. There is no automatic aim assist, and players must manually collect health potions. However, the satisfaction of overcoming challenges and the ability to upgrade the character’s abilities and equipment using experience points and in-game currency make the effort worthwhile. While players are limited to the same three weapons throughout the game, they can modify them slightly, such as changing the reload speed for increased damage. Although not a full-fledged looter shooter, players who enjoy constant action, like in Doom, may find themselves occasionally delving into the inventory.
The game’s story plays a significant role, revolving around the classic theme of an outsider fighting to save the world. Despite its familiarity, the presence of likable supporting characters adds an enjoyable element to the narrative. The only exception is the main protagonist, who falls into the category of arrogant heroes, reminiscent of Cal Kestis from Jedi: Fallen Order. It almost seems as if Electronic Arts’ marketing department requires these cookie-cutter characters without any trace of charisma from their developers. Surprisingly, the rest of the inhabitants of Aveum are diverse enough that the game could exist without the main characters, possibly even as a Netflix series. Notably, Gina Torres, known for her roles in Firefly and Suits, shines as the protagonist’s mentor.
Immortals of Aveum is a well-crafted game that offers long-lasting gameplay. However, it lacks a certain “wow” factor. While the battles are enjoyable, the disappearance of enemies into magical puffs of nothingness lacks the coolness factor of, for example, tearing apart demonic creatures with a chainsaw in Doom. The mythology of the new world is interesting, but visually, the game feels generic and uninspired.
The issue does not lie in the graphics themselves, as they are impressive from a technological standpoint. On the PS5, the game upscales its resolution from 720p, but it fails to maintain a consistent performance. The occasional frame rate drops and technical hiccups detract from the overall experience.
In conclusion, Immortals of Aveum is a visually stunning game that falls short in terms of originality and fails to deliver a significant wow factor. While it offers enjoyable gameplay and an engaging story, it lacks the uniqueness and visual impact that would set it apart from other mainstream titles.Title: Immortals of Aveum: A Promising Game with Room for Improvement
Subtitle: A Review of Immortals of Aveum, a New Action Game by Ascendant Studios
Date: August 30, 2023
Byline: iDNES.cz
Electronic Arts’ independent game label, EA Originals, has been releasing original and innovative games for several years now. These games have helped the publisher enhance its reputation and prove that they are not just focused on established franchises. Previous EA Originals titles, such as Sea of Solitude and It Takes Two, have received critical acclaim for their unique storytelling and gameplay mechanics.
However, Immortals of Aveum, the latest release from Ascendant Studios, falls into the mainstream category, lacking the artistic label that EA Originals games are known for. Despite this, the game manages to balance its lack of originality with impressive production values. While it may feel like a Marvel-inspired comic book spectacle without an official license, it still offers plenty of entertainment.
The game takes place in Aveum, a fantasy world ravaged by a centuries-long magical war. Despite its fantasy setting, the game’s retro aesthetics give
How does Immortals of Aveum compare to other fantasy universes in terms of originality and innovation?
Riguing, but it feels like a watered-down version of other fantasy universes. The game’s greatest strength lies in its stunning visuals, but it fails to bring anything original or groundbreaking to the table. Overall, Immortals of Aveum is a visually impressive but ultimately lacking experience that falls short of the expectations set by EA Originals’ previous artistic endeavors.
