Description
Immortals: Fenyx Rising for PC was originally called Gods and Monsters in its work-in-progress stage, but had to be changed after a legal challenge from an energy drink manufacturer. The game’s premise was announced (under that earlier name) some two years before the finished Fenyx was released. It is a third-person action adventure video game, and features the eponymous Fenyx, a Greek soldier who was stranded on the Golden Isle – an amazing beautiful land populated with the Greek gods of ancient myth.
What’s the Story?
Fenyx’s crew – including his own big brother – are nowhere to be found, and Fenyx soon realises that not only is he trapped by himself on the island, but it is under attack from Typhon, a mighty titan who has escaped his prison in the darkest depths of Tartarus and wants to take over all of Olympus, to which end he has already imprisoned four of the gods who usually live there. Fenyx must find and release them, fighting his way across the island and working to achieve his goals.
Or her goals – Fenyx can be male or female and is fairly well customisable, allowing you to change Fenyx’s hair and skin colours and numerous other details to end up with a personalised figure that is uniquely your own.
The game is narrated by the chief god himself, Zeus, and the human who stole fire from the gods, Prometheus. While the two have a chequered history, for the purposes of this game they are like a pair of mildly antagonistic frenemies, making sweeping claims and then being forced into backtracking it by the other!
Their banter is more than just entertainment (although it is excellent), it can actually affect the game. For example, if Zeus says, ‘That monster is tiny!’ while Fenyx is battling a beast, it becomes tiny, giving Fenyx huge advantage over it – but only until Prometheus chimes in with, ‘No, it’s not, it’s one of the biggest I’ve ever seen!’ with rather alarming results for poor Fenyx!
The Nitty-Gritty
The game is family friendly with no gore following combat, no matter how many mythical beasts and creatures are despatched by Fenyx’s impressive array of weaponry. Slain creatures just dissolve into an unthreatening cloud of dust before vanishing.
Having said that, it is not an easy walk-through for older players and adults. There are plenty of combat techniques, power-ups, and weapons to learn, as well as different ways to attack. Occasionally, in between battling a minotaur or cyclops – or Typhon himself, you will have to solve puzzles that help you advance in your explorations across the island, and these range from easy to satisfying brain-testing.
This makes the game one that is actually perfect for the whole family, challenging and testing older players, amusing and teaching younger ones, and all in an engaging and compulsive world that makes you want to play through the storylines on offer. For example, whenever you meet Achilles, check out his feet. If you know the myth, you’ll get it – if you don’t, it’s not too serious and does not impact on the game play in any way.
There are plenty of such nods to the myths, all told in a fun and engaging way, and each god or goddess reacts and speaks in a way appropriate to their mythic selves – and Zeus, of course, has to muscle in or comment on many of these conversations, allowing for a lively bit of bantering interaction between the gods, while Fenyx watches and listens, wide-eyed!
Good to Know
The island/ archipelago is divided into various regions, with each being dedicated to one particular god that Fenyx must find and restore after Typhon’s capture and imprisonment. You can move around, ride tame animals (having tamed them first!) Once you have mastered the first island, you will have discovered the component parts and instructions for repair of a set of wings, originally designed by Daedalus, of course. This allows you to explore further afield, where you gain the gratitude of the gods who reward you with:
The Sword of Achilles
The Axe of Atalanta
A Power Dash from Athena
A Spear from Ares
A Hammer from Haephestus
The Bow of Odysseus
The Braces of Heracles
You will also gather bits and pieces of Zeus’s lightning bolts to power up and get stronger as you play through this delightfully cartoony but engaging game, with Phosphorus, the magical Phoenix, as your constant companion and aide.
Immortals: Fenyx Rising for PC is available for purchase on Instant Gaming for a fraction of its retail price. You will receive an official key and be able to play the game in seconds. Play smart. Pay less.
