Immortals Fenyx Rising Review (NSW/PS5)

Written by Alexander O. Cuaycong and Anthony L. Cuaycong

Title: Immortals Fenyx Rising (PS5/NSW)
Developer: Ubisoft Quebec
Publisher: Ubisoft
Genre: Action
Price: $59.99

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If there's one thing Ubisoft is known for, it's the design of open world games. Whether you're trudging through the forests of Far Cry or traipsing through the medieval cities of Assassin's Creed, the familiar sandbox formula of the French developer and publisher is one you're not likely to miss, and within this formula lies a plethora of side activities to engage in. Tons of collectibles to pick up and a lot of land to cover blend together to make for an experience designed to hold your attention for hours to come.

This sandbox formula is one that Immortals Fenyx Rising seems to have taken to heart. And, while much of what it does is formulaic, its own sense of style pushes through in a way that makes it hard to forget, as very few games manage to pull off what it does with its jokes, its visuals, and its gameplay. In Ubisoft’s latest offering, you play as Fenyx, off to save the world from mad Typhon's grasp. After the latter has locked away the gods and turned to stone all who oppose him, it's up to you to undo the chaos and restore order back to the land, no matter the cost.

What this means for you is navigating Fenyx through the land and rescuing the four main gods from their confinement. However, travel is not a mundane experience in Immortals Fenyx Rising, as unlike other adventure games, you don't just walk. You glide. This is one of the more charming ideas implemented in an engaging way, and while it's hardly an original idea, it does keep you immersed as you swoop across the skies and explore the land at your leisure. Being open world, the game offers you more than enough locations, and whether it's the dried-out wastelands or lush forests and rivers, you’ll be steeped in exploration.

But that's not all you do in Immortals Fenyx Rising. Finding treasure is only half the fun. After all, Typhon has twisted the land and its denizens to his will. Now, mythical creatures are out for blood, and you'll have to use every trick in the book to beat them. From hacking them down with your sword and axe to throwing parts of the environment at them to knock them flat on their behinds, combat is fast, fluid, and responsive, with your heavier hits capable of stunning opponents and leaving them vulnerable. And that's not even mentioning the wide variety of skills available for you to unlock in order to complement your fighting style, letting you play much more aggressively than you would otherwise have been able to.

There's also the many dungeons in Immortals Fenyx Rising to explore. Each of these Vaults is unique, testing particular skills in platforming, combat, and puzzle-solving, and each rewards players with valuable equipment and loot. What's more, exploration also nets you power-ups, giving important boosts to your health and stamina that allow you to take more punishment, climb higher objects, and use your skills more often.

All of these positives – the exploration, the story, the combat – hit hard, mainly because of one thing; the game's unique brand of humor emanating even from its unique art style and design, which fit perfectly with its story and themes. Its Greek motif stands strong, with the enemies you face pulled straight from the annals of Greek mythology. Minotaurs, cyclopses, and harpies roam the land. The shades of fallen soldiers haunt graves, shipwrecks, and tombs long forgotten, and Typhon's corruption seeps through the terrain and causes it fester and break out into rubble. It's a sight to see, and when its good traits are combined with its constant references to Greek mythology, it's hard not to fall in love with it outright.

If Immortals Fenyx Rising does have a flaw, it's that the jokes fall flat if you aren't too familiar with Greek mythology. Much of its dialogue and story segments rely on prior knowledge of how these Greek myths were told. Without it, much of the game's humor goes by unnoticed, and the jokes feel more irritating than witty. The game relies heavily on its charm to keep its foundation strong, and without it, Immortals Fenyx Rising feels wobbly at best.

Still, what Immortals Fenyx Rising manages to accomplish is truly surprising. It's not as gritty, or as dark, or as dramatic as Ubisoft's other open world titles, but it's just as captivating, if not more so. It's a title that's hard to put down, and while it doesn't tread new ground, the path it walks is certainly one worth choosing.

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THE GOOD

• Great sense of atmosphere, design, and pacing
• Simple but robust combat mechanics revolving around hitting, parrying, stunning and dodging
• Tons of areas to explore, challenges to face, and puzzles to solve

THE BAD

• Story can be hit or miss depending on degree of familiarity with Greek Mythology
• Can at times feel grindy due to its open world nature

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RATING: 9.5/10

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