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Immortals of Aveum, the latest release from EA and Ascendant Studios, offers a unique take on the first-person shooter genre, replacing traditional firearms with spellcasting reminiscent of Ghostwire: Tokyo. Developed by a team led by Bret Robbins, former Creative Director at EA and Sledgehammer Games, and including members from Telltale Games, this debut title promises a thrilling magical experience. But does it live up to the hype?

Magic combat in Immortals of Aveum

A Thrilling Magic-Based Combat System

Immortals of Aveum transports players to Aveum, a world where gifted individuals known as “Magni” wield magic in combat. The Everwar, a millennia-long conflict between the kingdoms of Lucium and Rasharn, fuels the narrative. Players assume the role of Jak, a Magni fighting under Kirkan of Lucium to end this devastating war.

The game’s core gameplay revolves around first-person spellcasting using Sigils, essentially magical gauntlets that project spells. Three primary spell types, each corresponding to a color, form the basis of combat. Red spells function like shotguns, dealing high damage at close range. Green spells resemble automatic rifles, firing rapid bursts of projectiles. Finally, blue spells act as precision rifles, allowing for accurate long-range attacks.

Different spell types in Immortals of Aveum

Unlike most Magni limited to a single color, Jak is a “Triarch,” capable of wielding all three magic types simultaneously. This allows for dynamic combat, switching Sigils on the fly to exploit enemy weaknesses. Shielded foes require blue magic, rapidly regenerating enemies are vulnerable to green, and aggressive melee attackers are best dispatched with red spells. This system encourages strategic spell selection and keeps the combat engaging.

Mastering the rapid Sigil switching is key to enjoying Immortals of Aveum’s fast-paced action. The constant movement and spellcasting create a frenetic experience, akin to Doom but with magic. While focusing on a single spell type is possible, it significantly increases the difficulty.

Combat scenarios in Immortals of Aveum

Beyond the core spells, players can utilize various support abilities like double jumps, aerial dashes, and enemy-pulling chains. As the game progresses, new abilities unlock, expanding combat options and allowing for devastating spell combinations. For example, using Blue Chain to pull an enemy closer before finishing it off with a Blastwave creates a satisfying and effective tactic.

Character using magic in Immortals of Aveum

A robust crafting and upgrade system further enhances combat customization. Players can modify Sigils to create unique effects, such as transforming a blue Sigil into a powerful sniper rifle or a red Sigil into a rapid-fire shotgun.

Steep System Requirements and Repetitive Level Design

Despite its engaging combat, Immortals of Aveum suffers from demanding system requirements and repetitive level design. The recommended specifications include an Intel Core i7-9700, an RTX 2080, and 16GB of RAM for 1080p/60fps. Even on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X, the native resolution is only 720p, upscaled to 4K using FSR 2.1 to maintain 60fps.

Performance issues demonstration in Immortals of Aveum

Playing on lower-end hardware results in a significantly compromised experience. Testing on a system with an Intel Core i5-9300h, a GTX 1660ti, and 16GB of RAM resulted in 30-40fps at low settings with FSR 2.1 enabled. Frequent stuttering, especially in combat and open areas, further hampered the experience. The lack of a motion blur toggle exacerbates the visual issues, resulting in a blurry and unpolished presentation.

Gameplay on lower-end PC in Immortals of Aveum

The level design also falls short. The game primarily relies on a linear progression from point A to point B, punctuated by combat encounters in larger arenas. This formulaic structure becomes repetitive, lacking surprising or engaging scenarios to keep players invested. While occasional puzzles and Leyline traversal sequences offer some variety, they are too infrequent to significantly impact the overall experience.

Repetitive environment in Immortals of Aveum

Conclusion

Immortals of Aveum offers a unique and engaging magic-based combat system. However, its demanding system requirements and repetitive level design detract from the overall experience. While the core gameplay is enjoyable, optimization issues and a lack of level variety prevent the game from reaching its full potential. Players with high-end PCs may find the magic compelling, but those with less powerful hardware should be prepared for a compromised experience.