Formerly known as Gods and Monsters, this new title named Immortals: Fenyx Rising developed by Ubisoft Quebec isn’t what many people were expecting. I was prepared to see a sizable open-world title that combines action and history in a way we have never seen. Indeed, the game has a tint of all that. However, it still stands between the breath of the wild and Hyrule. However, since its release late last year, the game has received several accolades and praises for its amusing stories, design and puzzles. 

Like most other Ubisoft games that centre around Greek history, this title is interspersed with missions that require you to gather objects. You also will engage in combat by using a controller to deliver a wide range of attacks. The game comes with a small map when compared to other titles by famous developers. This feature made me play through the story in half an hour. You will agree that it’s a pretty fast game as the menus are not too engaging and the storyline looks focused. 

Story, gameplay, and weapons

The game requires you to play as Fenyx, a brave warrior and has been swept under the rug by his more talented sibling. In the beginning, you will see Fenyx alongside some warriors on a vessel along some water body off the Greek coast. Suddenly, a big storm will destroy all the ships in your company. You will awake eventually on an island that has strange beasts and objects. At this point, the world will be in turmoil as Typhon, an evil character, will be at your neck, destroying all deities and reconstructing the universe.

His reconstruction will turn everyone around the stone, including your sibling. Hermes, a servant, will meet you at this point and inform you of the state of things and how every deity needs help to return to their former state. Some of them are trapped in trees, and some trapped as chickens. The narrators of the story will be Zeus and Prometheus, two solid Greek characters. You will hear them narrate the game’s story as you play. I noticed this most especially in the introduction, but the narrations begin to fade in the middle when you progress. Mostly, their inputs are comedic rather than game-changing. This submission is because they used modern parlance and slangs rather than godly languages, as you would expect in a Greek-based story. There’s hardly any way you’ll play the game without admiring the hero, Fenyx, who you can play as a male or female. She is not that talented or fabulous, but she is always willing to help set things straight. Her kind heart is what pushes her to do what the game requires. You’ll also notice her cute demeanor when she meets the game’s deities and creatures. Her reactions are nothing short of amusing. The dialogues in the game are limited, enforcing its focused outlook.  

The game also involves some combats with some amusing weapons at your disposal. As you progress, you will gather more resources and items that can help you overcome your enemies. You can also collect weapons and add them to your armory. Swords are my particular favorites and the higher the perks I pick, the more robust they became.

The good in the game

The first thing I appreciated about the game is the fantastic story. Focused and goal-oriented, the dialogues have also been cut short to reduce overall playtime. No wonder I was done in half an hour. The game is also colorful. This style is typical of most first-grade open-world titles, and this game is no exception. You can’t help but notice the blue skies and green environment bleeding right with the universe’s lighted buildings. The forests are well designed and can make you stop mid-game for some dose of admiration. 

Remember that you will solve some puzzles as you progress around the gaming universe. You will see some of them at the back of the mountains or in the bush. Others are well hidden in vaults which are often very challenging. Some of the complicated puzzles will require that you use several elements at a time. You should expect simpler ones outside the vaults and only need you to do basic environmental tasks. Brace yourself for lots of puzzles as you will hardly finish any activity without meeting one. The good news is that most of them are satisfying when you solve them.

The glitches and setbacks I couldn’t ignore

The game has far too many puzzles than you would expect for a title of its caliber. Some of them are very challenging and require complex tasks or physics to get the solution. Also, remember that I mentioned that the game has some combat abilities. You will be disappointed to find out that you do not get past five features that you will unlock initially. This inadequate battle pack makes the subsequent levels less fulfilling as you have the armory from the start. The meaning of this is that the same weapon you used to take down a level one enemy is the same you will use towards the end of the game. 

Also, the main missions are not that creative and demanding. Sometimes, all you need to do to complete a task is to solve little puzzles or find an object. One would expect something complicated like what we are used to in action games. Besides, some of the flying mechanics are faulty, and the dual sense is mostly underutilized. Apart from these, you will hardly find any major bug or glitch. 

Verdict

This game could easily pass as the year’s best as it fulfilled many peoples wish of getting an addictive open-world game. It is enjoyable for those who love exploring and enjoying intermittent comedic narrations. The puzzles and hidden quests are great side attractions that made the game one of the most entertaining titles of the year. Even though the combat is below par and the main missions suck, the remainder of the game is impressive. Ubisoft can take a cue from this success and incorporate it into future titles.