Immortals of Aveum Review

2023 has felt like several years in gaming because of the sheer number of releases. One game I was excited about was Immortals of Aveum, developed by a new studio, Ascendant, led by Bret Robbins. Robbins has been a creative director for big titles like the original Dead Space and several Call of Duty games. With his experience in shooters, a new project from him is worth the excitement.

The promotional material showed a classic, story-driven shooter with a twist: magic replaces guns. The story unfolds in the kingdom of Aveum, divided into five realms waging a massive magical war called the Ever War. The war has caused environmental destruction, leaving behind a dangerous phenomenon called “The Wound,” which harms plants and wildlife.

The protagonist, Jak, grows up in the impoverished city of Seren before discovering his rare ability to wield all three types of magic: red, blue, and green. This makes him a Triarch Magnus, a unique type of mage. Recruited by the Immortals, an elite army, Jak must lead them to end the war through victory or peace.

While the story has the potential for depth, such as the conflict between using magic as a weapon and its environmental impact, it misses opportunities for deeper discussions. The game’s tone often feels like a Marvel movie, with frequent humor during dark moments, which can be distracting.

The gameplay is classic and focuses on three magic types that mimic traditional shooter weapons. Green magic acts like a machine gun, red like a shotgun, and blue like a sniper. The combat is enjoyable but becomes repetitive due to limited enemy variety and weapon upgrades that don’t change gameplay significantly.

Environmental puzzles that utilize magic are well-designed, and the semi-open level design encourages exploration. However, backtracking with new tools doesn’t feel rewarding compared to games like God of War or Star Wars Jedi. For me, the linear story was more engaging than the side content.

Graphically, the game looks good but not groundbreaking. On a high-end PC with an RTX 3070, I averaged 50 FPS on Ultra settings, but performance dips occurred. The visuals seem downgraded compared to the trailers.

Despite its flaws, Immortals of Aveum is an enjoyable and fast-paced experience. As part of EA Originals, it’s a refreshing new IP amid sequels and remakes. Priced at $60, it’s worth considering if you want a story-driven shooter, but don’t expect a Game of the Year contender.

Final Rating

8/10