TEST – Ascendant Studios and Electronic Arts’ trailers for Immortals of Aveum piqued my interest right away. At first it seemed like a complex, chaotic FPS game, but after 25 hours of intense gameplay, I can confidently say that it’s not just about shooting. Although there are still some nitpicks, I’m overall happy with the game, which will be available as a free PS Plus Essentials from tomorrow.
The game masterfully balances lightness with seriousness. Although there are some weaknesses in the story management, the narrative still captivated me and far exceeded my initial expectations. What the trailers don’t reveal is a surprisingly deep and exciting backstory that kept me riveted to the screen almost the entire time, and I couldn’t wait to learn more.
Earth is just a memory, Aveum is the last hope for survival
When launching Immortals of Aveum on PS5, I didn’t expect the immersive depth of the plot. The game is set in Aveum, a magical pair of Earth where global conflict erupts as a result of the discovery of magic. This alternative Earth is a chaos of war that approaches the apocalyptic theme from a new perspective.
Our main character, Jak, takes center stage in a dramatic moment when Sandrak, the antagonist, mercilessly liquidates his friends. Sandrak is a Magnus, meaning a mage who uses his powers for evil purposes. Jak joins the Army of Light and makes it his goal to end the vicious fight and deal with Sandra. Common? Maybe, but the hero’s journey is excellently composed here.
The game presents the world of Aveum with incredible skill. The system of magic, linked to ‘ley lines’, brings an exciting complexity to the game. Jak, as a character, may not be the strongest, but as the story progresses, we end up endearing him more and more, and his character development is also convincing.
The dialogues are generally authentic and the various characters are convincing. The technology of transfer films is also in place, which makes facial expressions and movement even more lifelike. The direction of the story is full of unexpected twists and turns; one moment it’s light, the next it reveals the dark reality of war. The game doesn’t overly punish the player, but the stakes are high enough to make Sandrak’s eventual victory feel threatening.
The only thing that bothered me is that sometimes the game crashes the potentially epic moments many times. The pacing is generally good, but there are places where things move too quickly, and it weakens what could be emotionally charged moments.
Intense and complex combat
In the magical universe of Aveum, battles are centered around tricolor magic: red, blue, and green. The main character, Jak, is exceptional in that he can handle all three colors at once, which is a rare phenomenon in this world. Blue projectiles allow for precision attacks, while red can be used for close combat and green for rapid bursts. However, strategy is not just about bullets; you have to quickly switch between magical tools, adapting to the current combat situations. Your gloves, which you can acquire and upgrade based on the game’s RPG progression system, are designed for these quick tactical changes. Also, attire matters; rings and other accessories can help boost your magic or defend against enemy spells.
In Aveum, there are not only basic magical projectiles, i.e. ‘seals’; you can also use special spells to increase your damage, but this involves energy consumption. All of this creates an exciting dynamic in the fights, which often turn into a luxurious effects show. I experienced occasional graphical glitches and framerate drops on my PS5, but they didn’t significantly interfere with the gaming experience – aside from some gross pixelation, but more on that below.
Arena-style battles
In the world of Immortals of Aveum, arena-like battles add a special unique touch to the gaming experience. The portals that suddenly appear in the various levels unleash such rough enemies that you can hardly get past them. True to the promises of the developers, infected zones full of snake-like enemies await you. Most opponents, however, take human or anthropomorphic forms.
The game really speeds up when you reach the so-called for “hidden arenas”. These spacious areas hide either a boss fight or other serious challenges. The action here is more intense and reminiscent of the intensity seen in previous games such as Doom.
The combat dynamics are complemented by another layer: the various combat tools. The trick, for example, not only adds acrobatic elements, but also provides a quick escape route. The “anchors” in the arenas serve as targets for your hook, which are specially designed for more complex maneuvers.
When it comes to graphics, one small but critical feature is missing: a screen brightness control. Unfortunately, there is no option for this in this version, which means I had to play with my TV’s settings. If the developers fix this shortcoming later, then this is just a small problem, if not, then this could be a very serious shortcoming.
An even more significant problem is the game’s resolution. If you’re experiencing pixelation errors while playing on PS5 on a 4K TV, you’re probably not alone. As of September 1st, there have been no patches to fix this issue, and it’s one of the factors that affects the final rating of the game.
Thanks to the separate PC test code of Also Kft., we also tested the game on Steam Deck and there it ran at around 30 fps, which can be said to be relatively correct for new AAA games on this platform, given that it is not perfect on a better PC anyway. square the game.
A touch of Metroidvania
Immortals of Aveum cleverly mixes Metroidvania elements, which was a pleasant surprise. The game world is divided into segments, where initially many unattainable goals separate you from the experience of success – until you acquire the necessary skills as the game progresses. Although the game does not contain classic collectibles, the available spells increase the moralizing desire. The 3D map is surprisingly similar to Jedi: Fallen Order, and seemingly simple areas hold many secrets. The highlight is undoubtedly the Temples of Light; these locations offer a variety of challenges, from platforming to archenemies, and are ideal for those looking for optional but rewarding content.
Even though I sometimes missed the map’s unique marking options, the areas aren’t spread out enough to get lost. As you progress through the story, more travel options become available. At the same time, the optional contents are not necessarily fixed; the real attraction is the main narrative. However, if you pay attention during the missions, you can find exciting puzzles and hidden areas.
There are three reward systems during exploration: two types of chests and energy orbs found throughout Aveum. Standard chests glow prominently and often contain gold or essences. Larger chests, on the other hand, require more effort, but you can get more valuable items in return. Energy orbs need to be activated with the appropriate spell, but it’s worth it as they offer essential experience points for leveling up.
Navigating through the menus is intuitive, especially if you’ve played the latest RPGs. No need to worry too much about stats or attributes; the weapon balance here is balanced and focuses on the gameplay. I finished the game with a weapon I found early on, which is a good reflection of the thoughtful design of the game.
This is how we progress in Immortals of Aveum
The RPG elements come into play most during leveling up as you collect experience as Jakk, whether it’s from defeating enemies or collecting XP orbs floating around the world of Aveum. You can organize these points into skill trees to gradually strengthen your abilities.
Three types of spells, three types of skill trees: the choice is yours as to which spell you invest more points in. A tip from the expert: vary your magic points. Although you can switch between different spells in battle, it never hurts to have a specific type of spell that you prioritize for higher damage. Enemies with elemental shields? Use the right type of magic against them and strengthen it for more effectiveness.
Be judicious when spending skill points; some updates can fundamentally change gameplay. Anything that increases spell damage is a good choice, especially as enemies become more and more resistant in the late game.
Your weapons can be upgraded through three tiers, usually with a combination of gold and essence. Each weapon has its own statistical characteristics, and there can be significant differences between two marks of the same type. For example, some red marks give you rapid fire, while others give you more damage. Have you found a weapon that fits your playstyle well? Maximize your performance with the right type of essence.
Of course, the game also has a rarity item system, which usually affects the extras that can be associated with the given weapon.
When I first laid eyes on Immortals of Aveum, my first thought was “it’s just a Doom clone with some magic on top”. The game is surprisingly similar to Shadow Warrior and Ghostwire Tokyo in terms of gameplay. However, it is much deeper than these, especially in terms of historical threads.
If you like intense shooting games like Doom or Shadow Warrior, you will also find something to your liking in Immortals of Aveum. The gameplay is extremely enjoyable, especially in light of the fact that it not only gives you the opportunity, but actually encourages you to experiment with different magical powers and abilities. Don’t be fooled by the superficial shooter nature of the game; Immortals of Aveum boasts true RPG elements and a complex story. If you like complex stories and intense action, you’ve come to the right place.
The game mixes elements of many genres, but is basically a classic video game that doesn’t reinvent the genre, but what it does, it does very well. Even on “Normal” difficulty, I encountered moments where I needed all my skills to execute creative shooting combos. The basic concept of the game is simple: fun. And if you want to dig deeper, there are plenty of opportunities for that too.
So Immortals of Aveum is an exciting first-person shooter that combines elements of various genres and is full of explosions, action, color and tension. All this is spiced up with a surprisingly complex story and varied gameplay. The only major downside is the game’s low resolution and pixelated graphics, especially when playing on a PS5 on a 4K TV, a problem that unfortunately cannot be fixed.
We thank ALSO Kft. for the PC EA Play test code and the PS5 disc version to Konzolkirály!
The game was made available to us by the online store KonzolKirály.hu!
-BadSector-
Pro:
+ Complex and exciting story
+ Varied combat mechanics that encourage experimentation
+ Well-designed gameplay and RPG elements
Against:
– The rhythm of the game is sometimes too fast, which takes away from the epic story moments
– Pixelation and other graphical problems that cannot be fixed
– Side content is not as captivating as the main story
Publisher: Electronic Arts
Developer: Ascendant Studios
Style: FPS shooter with RPG elements
Appearance: August 22, 2023
Gameplay – 8.2
Graphics – 7.2
History – 8.4
Music/sounds – 7.6
Mood – 7.4
7.8
GOOD
Immortals of Aveum is a dynamic first-person shooter full of spectacular magic combat, color and intense action. It combines all this with a surprisingly deep story and challenging gameplay that encourages us to constantly evolve our fighting style. It’s a shame about the pixelated graphics, which detracts from the experience – especially on a 4K TV.
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2024-04-01 03:12:19
#Immortals #Aveum #actionadventure #magical #shooting
