Immortals of Aveum Review (PS5) | Push Square

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You have to admire Ascendant Studios for confidently diving head first with its debut game, Immortals of Aveum. The fantasy flavoured, magic-based first-person shooter has the appearance of a big summer blockbuster, and in some ways it backs that up, but unfortunately it doesn't quite hold true when you examine it more closely. It's an impressive effort, but one that could've benefitted from a smaller scope.

This is a single-player action adventure that brings you to a world in which wars are waged with magic rather than firearms. The terrible irony is that it's the use of magic in the seemingly endless Everwar that's causing the Wound, an enormous hole in the planet, to gradually grow. As the two warring nations of Aveum battle over control of magic, the floppy-haired Jak discovers a latent and rare ability to control all three types. He's quickly forced to become a soldier and, five years and one haircut later, joins the titular Immortals to stop the war and heal the Wound.

It's a decent premise, and refreshing to play a shooter that eschews guns for something different. There are some likeable characters among the cast, with actors doing a fairly good job with an inconsistent script. The writing and tone put us in mind of Marvel movies, with characters quipping and joking while discussing potentially world-ending events in the war room. There are more serious moments throughout but it feels as though the game doesn't quite get the balance right.

Whether you enjoy the story or not, Immortals is at its most enjoyable when you're put in control. The game has a similar structure to God of War Ragnarok; the main missions are pretty linear excursions, but outside of those, you're free to explore the varied and sizeable