With a broad lineup of games heading into the next few months, Ubisoft has something to appeal to just about everyone. However, Immortals Fenyx Rising is one of the biggest departures from Ubisoft norms. It's a new IP, and while it incorporates elements of newer Assassin's Creed games, it also has a healthy dose of Breath of the Wild that makes it feel different from anything else the company has done. Game Rant got to go hands-on with Immortals at a recent remote preview event.
During our first Immortals Fenyx Rising preview, we walked away impressed with what the game had to offer, and after spending another 4 hours with it, that feeling of excitement hasn't dissipated. If anything, it's grown, as the early hours of Fenyx Rising — which we got to experience during the preview — set up a game that puts an equal emphasis on exploration and narrative.
Starting off, players will get to customize Fenyx however they wish. There were a decent number of options to choose from in our demo, and they can be changed at pretty much anytime in the Hall of the Gods, where Fenyx can also upgrade their abilities, armor, stamina, and health. Players can also brew potions here, which converts lackluster ingredients into stronger buff and restoration items.
Surprisingly, Fenyx isn't initially portrayed as a fierce hero, as some may assume. Instead, they're built-up as something of a bookworm living in the shadow of their brother, a fierce warrior who initially possessed the Sword of Achillies, but has been turned to stone along with just about everyone else by Typhon, the game's antagonist. Fenyx miraculously isn't turned to stone, but is shipwrecked, setting the game's narrative in motion.
Soon after being shipwrecked, Fenyx finds key items that are essential to the narrative and gameplay. The toolset itself is perhaps the most reminiscent of Legend of Zelda, allowing Fenyx to lift heavy objects, glide with a set of wings, and more. Climbing is a central mechanic, and while it could use some refining, it's a solid implementation of the system that simultaneously feels similar and distinguished from Breath of the Wild.
Where the game really separates itself from any Zelda comparisons is its combat system. Immortals Fenyx Rising has one of the most satisfying combat loops of any game released this generation, at least if the previews are any indicator. There are a few core abilities that range from slamming down a giant hammer to shooting swords up from the ground to damage enemies, all of which feel astoundingly fluid.
At its core, it'll feel similar to Assassin's Creed Odyssey, with players dodging in and out of enemy attacks and using abilities when they're available. But the cartoonish nature and god-like abilities mean the game is less grounded as a whole, and therefore, there are far fewer restrictions that the game needs to adhere to in order for it to feel believable, at least within the confines of the world. The result of shrugging off notions of realism and leaning into fun-to-use abilities — without the controversial weapon degradation system in Breath of the Wild — is a combat loop that feels energetic and engaging.
To boil it down, if Breath of the Wild is meant to be improvisational jazz, then Immortals Fenyx Rising would fall along the lines of hard rock, being far more structured and precise in exchange for a more consistently enjoyable experience, with certain flashy elements that give it some more pop.
That's not to say that players can't improvise in Immortals, though. The toolset is a bit limited, and there aren't ways to set the environment ablaze, but players do still have options. For instance, certain larger enemies can rip trees up from the earth and lob them at the player, but they can then grab the tree out of the air and toss it back at enemies for a decent amount of damage. Players can also chop down trees of their own or find large rocks to toss, which accomplishes the same goal. Plus, enemies have a stun gauge that makes them susceptible to damage when full, and the rock-and-tree-tossing method was one of the most effective ways to do that.
The enjoyment derived from the combat pales in comparison to simply exploring the world. There are objective markers that will pull players all around, serving as near-constant distractions from whatever objective players are currently tasking themselves with. There's a decent amount of variety in these, testing players' skills with movement challenges, puzzles, and a giant harp that players must find the correct tune for hidden in a specific region.
In the past, Ubisoft games have been somewhat notorious for their open-world structure, which typically has players climb a tower, unlock a zone, then work at clearing it. Immortals doesn't break free from that criticism, but then again, it doesn't really need to. Each region is visually distinct from the others, and they aren't bad looking, either.
Coupled together, all the pieces fit well, but it would be nice to see some more complexity in the ways players can interact with the world. Touches like fire spreading or a weather system that changes how players approach the world would go a long way here. Immortals is still plenty enjoyable without them, but that extra layer would create one of the most interesting game worlds of the year.
Luckily, it has plenty of personality to make up for it. There's banter between Zeus and Prometheus that serves up a good laugh from time to time, and while not every joke is a side-splitter, it still manages to dish out humor effectively with decent frequency.
Immortals Fenyx Rising probably won't be for everyone at launch, but that's to be expected. Those hoping for a deep, reactive world may walk away a little bit disappointed with what's on offer, but it seems like the world will be easy to get lost in for those that simply want to explore. As a capstone to the chaotic year that is 2020, that may be perfect, though it all depends on how well Immortals sticks the landing.
Immortals Fenyx Rising will release December 3, 2020, for PC, PS4, PS5, Stadia, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X.