The Enigmatic World of Immortals in Aveum's Nocea: Delve into the Untapped Potential
Immortals of Aveum's Nocea mission disappoints, failing to live up to its promise of an exhilarating adventure Set midway through the game, it feels out of sync with the overall storyline, lacking the excitement and thrill it could have delivered
Immortals of Aveum, the magical shooter developed by Ascendant Studios, embodies the essence of the FPS genre in its bombastic storyline and fast-paced action. The game features exhilarating set-piece sequences that have become a staple of shooters, creating an immersive experience reminiscent of Call of Duty and Doctor Strange. However, amidst this constant high-octane gameplay, the Nocea mission in Immortals of Aveum feels oddly subdued.
Taking place just before the midway point of the game, the Nocea mission serves to advance the story in important ways but fails to deliver in terms of action. By this stage, players have unlocked a wider range of the protagonist, Triarch Magus Jak's, magical abilities, and it seems as though Ascendant Studios is building up to a grand confrontation with the primary antagonist, Sandrakk. Disappointingly, the Nocea mission not only feels out of place in terms of narrative progression but also squanders an opportunity to create an epic set-piece sequence.
Spoilers below for the story of Immortals of Aveum!
Immortals of Aveum’s Nocea Mission Feels Out of Step With the Game’s Story
Taking place just after players complete the Pale Forest mission in Immortals of Aveum, Nocea marks the midway point of the game. By this stage, players have learned that Sandrakk, who has become even more powerful after absorbing one of Aveum's magical leylines, was once a member of the Order of the Immortals and served alongside General Kirkan. In a surprising twist, the typically composed and strategic Kirkan decides to have the Immortals launch an ambush on Sandrakk during a meeting where the antagonist expects the order's surrender.
Nocea’s Unwinnable Battle Would Have Made For An Exciting Set Piece
Despite Kirkan's inadequate strategic approach in planning to overthrow Sandrakk with a limited number of soldiers, Nocea's introduction sets the stage for an exciting, albeit reckless, mission. However, rather than allowing players to engage in a thrilling, albeit doomed, battle against Sandrakk and the Order of the Masks, they are presented with a brief cutscene where Jak is swiftly incapacitated by a falling debris. Resolving the conflict through a cinematic sequence is a disappointing choice in an otherwise action-packed game, missing the opportunity for an engaging action sequence.
Missed opportunity: The primary players in Immortals of Aveum’s Everwar finally face each other, only to quickly dismiss the conflict with a cutscene. However, rather than leaving the confrontation with Sandrakk without a clear path to victory for the Immortals, it would have been more engaging and entertaining to allow players to confront and ultimately be overwhelmed by the villain’s forces for narrative reasons.
In a game full of exaggerated action scenes, a magical battle in Nocea, with Sandrakk destroying the ancient city bit by bit around players, would have been a perfect match. After investing countless hours mastering Jak's magical abilities and facing truly overwhelming challenges, failing in Nocea could have motivated players to fight even harder in the second half of the story. However, by resolving the conflict through a cutscene, Immortals of Aveum denies players the chance to participate in what could have been an amazing and unforgettable sequence.
Immortals of Aveum, developed by Ascendant Studios, offers plenty of intense action throughout its gameplay, making the Nocea segment feel disconnected in comparison. By giving players a task that seems out of place in the story and then resolving it with a cutscene, this mid-game mission represents a missed opportunity for Immortals of Aveum to deliver something truly extraordinary.
Immortals of Aveum is available for PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X/S.
