The realm of first-person shooters consists primarily of military and sci-fi themed games. In recent years, his FPS games on other themes (especially fantasy) have gone somewhat astray. Enter Immortals of Aveum, a big, bright, beautiful techno-fantasy shooter from EA and San Rafael-based developer Ascendant Studios. Focusing on his single-player campaign in a carefully crafted lore-rich world, Immortals of Aveum seeks to give this beloved genre a magical jolt of new life. Having seen the game and having the opportunity to speak with the game’s director, we were enthralled and returned.
You may not be familiar with Ascendant Studios, but you may be familiar with some of the past games the staff has made. CEO of Ascendant and director of Immortals of Aveum, Bret Robbins has worked on numerous titles, including the Legacy of Kain series, the original his Dead Space, and several Call of Duty titles. The idea for Immortals was born while developing CoD. Levels of CoD When he saw his design, he instead thought about what a scene would look like in a bombastic fantasy setting.
fantasy world
The world of Aveum features a land literally torn apart by 1,000 years of Everwar to control magical leylines. As the conflict continues, a bottomless chasm called The Wound grows larger, with a mystical statue at its center seemingly overlooking it all. Here you control Jack, an aspiring Immortal who was plucked from his life as an orphan in the slums and became a battlemage for Magnus. He has the rare ability to wield all three of his “colors” of magic. With these skills, he battles the all-powerful magical forces of Rashaan, a superpower vying for control of Jack’s homeworld of Lucium and Leylines. But what are the long-buried mysteries and secrets this Everwar shrouds?
What exactly is immortality? Despite traditional definitions, these Immortals do not have eternal life. It’s a name meant to strike fear into the hearts of its enemies. After all, who doesn’t fear death more than those who don’t fit that notion?
“Basically, they are like the Navy SEALs of our wizarding world,” says Robbins. They battle the forces of his Rasharn, but human soldiers aren’t the only threats they face: elementals, magically powered constructs, and terrifyingly resilient Archons. But some of the most memorable encounters are battles with other skilled spellslingers.According to Robbins, “When there is a wizard vs. wizard battle, it’s TRUE go crazy “
tool of immortality
Aveum’s set pieces stand out for their visual and gameplay intensity. You’re not going to be a back row wizard and hurl spells behind his units with a bigger buffer. You must approach and personally approach waves of ferocious enemies eager to attack the enemy Magnus. Though the fantasy setting differs from genre standards, longtime FPS players will find many familiar skills in Jak’s magical arsenal. for example:
- Breachfire works like a shotgun.
- The Storm Shard is a fast-firing, homing projectile.
- Javelins are rechargeable projectiles that can be thrown at enemies.
“The more you play with it and understand how it works, the more depth, surprise, and fun you get,” says Robbins. “The[design]challenge was to make sure these spells felt like shooting a gun or better.”
As Robbins explains, Jak also has many ways to move around with grace. “You can double jump, hover over enemies, hook onto anchors in the arena, use rush spells that can pull enemies towards you, and even teleport to dodge.” Jak needs extra protection. “I didn’t want to make a cover shooter where you shoot from cover. I want players to feel more powerful, like Gunslinger,” continues Robbins. “You can walk into the arena and really appreciate and own it.”
depth of magic
Enhancing these magical abilities is a meticulous gear and character enhancement system. Jack can find or buy sigils, which are the key focus of his magical powers. These sigils can also grant stat boosts and buffs and alter the behavior of certain spells, effectively altering your loadout. Totem is another magical kit of his that applies various boosts, but focuses more on movement abilities. The Magic Ring enhances and transforms Fury spells like grenades. Finally, there are Bracers, gauntlets that increase Jack’s defensive abilities. Combining all this gear with his tree of talents and powering up different magic colors allows for a fair amount of customization.
But finding them all requires careful exploration. The stages are full of secrets, puzzles and hidden areas, so take your time and look around. Robbins enthusiastically tells us about Aevum’s hidden treasures. “Once you get new spells, you can return to previous areas to unlock new ones. We have some great gear.”
Ultimately, all elements of gameplay and story help create a one-of-a-kind fantasy gaming experience. “We want players to be immersed in the world,” says Robbins. “We created a great story and a great combat system, all under the umbrella of Aveum. We hope players will enjoy this world and the stories and characters we have written.” .”
We can’t wait to see Immortals of Aveum become the most clever spellcaster when it launches on PlayStation 5 on July 20th.
