Immortals of Aveum emerges as a highly captivating AAA first-person shooter in recent times. It presents a colossal magical realm within Aveum, blending ancient superstructures with elemental anomalies. This world is in a state of turmoil as warring nations deplete its limited magical resources, causing a growing void at its center. While certain intriguing world-building elements are confined to text logs, the environmental storytelling showcases a level of artistry that goes beyond mere visual appeal. While I won’t reminisce about my hours in Aveum during awards season, it was indeed a thrilling long-weekend escapade.
Meet Jak, our less-than-likable protagonist, a mystical Unforeseen—a magic wielder with untapped potential, representing the ordinary folk. This battlemage mainly offers sarcastic commentary while others instruct him to be quiet. Fortunately, Jak’s grating personality is primarily reserved for cutscenes in this first-person adventure. After witnessing a tragic event as a teenager and discovering his latent magical prowess, Jak is conscripted into his nation’s military. He ascends the ranks, becoming part of the Immortals of Aveum—a paradoxically mortal special forces unit perpetuating a seemingly endless war between Lucians and Rashanians. These two warring factions inhabit grand floating palaces while exploiting a balanced conflict to maintain the status quo. Beneath Jak’s shortcomings, the game beckons you to delve further and consider whether it might satisfy your cravings.
Immortals of Aveum consistently surprises and engages players when Jak isn’t at the forefront. While individual combat and narrative elements might not endure in memory, the game excels in delivering sustained entertainment. The world of Aveum is both compact and expansively explorable, equipped with fast travel options. Those with curiosity can discover diverse equippable gear, currency, hidden bosses, and challenges. You might traverse an open-zone forest teeming with secrets, venture into a shape-shifting mystical void, and then find yourself amidst snow-capped mountains and intricate cave systems. The first-person perspective offers a fantastic traversal experience, featuring double jumps, grapples, hovers, and dashes for accessing concealed rewards. The grandeur of the visuals and the imaginative portrayal epitomize the essence of power fantasy. Majestic battle mechs preside over shattered ancient battlegrounds, while vibrant magic leylines weave through the skies. Amidst this enchanting landscape, you double-jump, seamlessly navigating a blend of nature and magical architecture. While the game mostly runs smoothly, occasional instances of blurriness and texture pop-in might interrupt the otherwise captivating illusion.
Combat in Immortals of Aveum is unrelenting, tailored to challenge players throughout the game. Reminiscent of games like Doom Eternal, it demands constant agility as you balance ranged attacks with swift movement against encroaching foes. Combat outside missions occurs in scripted encounters, making it easy to evade them during exploration. As you progress, your arsenal evolves, augmented by a variety of spells, RPG gear, and skill trees. To overcome escalating challenges, mastering these tools, especially the three-pronged skill tree, is crucial. Rather than crumbling under the weight of new additions, combat in Aveum expects you to engage with a creative flair, limited only by your imagination. The satisfaction of dashing, hovering, blocking, and attacking in seamless succession is heightened when employing a controller with back paddles. The platforming element pleasantly surprises, adopting a Metroidvania approach that combines environment manipulation, combat, and puzzles. Each new ability opens doors to fresh puzzles, reminiscent of Destiny 2’s platforming and The Talos Principle’s intricate challenges.
By the sixth chapter, my fascination with Immortals of Aveum had deepened. The game’s breadth and the continual surprises it offered left me in awe. I questioned whether it could introduce a significant gameplay twist with each subsequent chapter, and it consistently exceeded my expectations. Immortals of Aveum stands as an impressive addition to the first-person shooter genre, drawing inspiration from its predecessors. Despite certain shortcomings in the story’s emotional depth and character development, the game’s allure remains undiminished.
