Immortal: Unchained
- September 7, 2018
- Toadman Interactive
- 9h median play time
An ambitious venture for a low-budget indie studio, but one that manages to stand out in the crowd despite its flaws.
Immortal: Unchained is a challenging souls-like RPG set in a dark, sci-fi universe. As a mercenary with the power to wield the powers of fallen gods, players must navigate a war-torn world and uncover the truth behind their own nature. With intricate combat mechanics and a vast, interconnected world, Immortal: Unchained offers a deep and engaging experience for players who seeking a challenge.
Reviews
- Unique blend of Souls-like mechanics with gunplay, offering a fresh take on the genre.
- Engaging level design with interconnected worlds and rewarding exploration.
- Challenging gameplay that encourages strategic thinking and adaptation.
- Unbalanced difficulty, with some enemies being overly punishing and frustrating to fight.
- Clunky controls and camera issues that detract from the overall experience.
- Limited character customization and weapon variety, leading to repetitive gameplay.
- gameplay247 mentions
- 26 % positive mentions
- 67 % neutral mentions
- 7 % negative mentions
The gameplay of *Immortal: Unchained* is a mixed bag, with some players appreciating its unique blend of third-person shooting and souls-like mechanics, while others criticize it for janky controls, frustrating mechanics, and unbalanced difficulty. While the game features interesting weapon mechanics and a solid upgrade system, many reviewers found the overall execution lacking, leading to a tedious experience marred by technical issues and poor enemy design. Ultimately, the game shows potential but struggles to deliver a polished and enjoyable gameplay experience.
“It's a third-person shooter that puts a souls-like spin on gameplay: guns have statistics and handling that will punish spray-and-pray behavior that is further than breathing distance from enemies, there is armor penetration to account for depending on the enemies you face, elemental damage that can deal more/less against enemies, and a dodge mechanic with i-frames; you roll when not aiming and dash while aiming-down-sights (which is nice so it doesn't interrupt your aiming).”
“The gameplay is very solid, everything works smoothly from the rolling to even shooting.”
“That being said, the gameplay is superb and well-balanced, the boss fights are fun, and the enemy designs are distinct enough that you can immediately understand how they work, and how to best approach them, the areas and general art design are superb, the soundtrack is fantastic, and the weapon variety is nothing to scoff at.”
“Interesting lore and art style, but awesome aesthetics isn't enough to carry bad gameplay.”
“I tried a lot to forgo the jank the game has because I found it interesting and unique, but it's just unfair and broken gameplay.”
“Immortal: Unchained is a rather poor execution of the souls-like formula with frustrating gameplay mechanics such as slow reload times, clunky controls, terrible level design, and unfair balancing that is not an enjoyable experience in the slightest.”
- story189 mentions
- 23 % positive mentions
- 72 % neutral mentions
- 5 % negative mentions
The story of *Immortal: Unchained* is described as convoluted and often difficult to follow, with a mix of intriguing lore and predictable elements. While some players appreciate the atmospheric setting and unexpected twists, many criticize the presentation, which relies heavily on lengthy cutscenes and item descriptions, making it less accessible. Overall, the narrative is seen as a blend of generic tropes and unique ideas, leaving players divided on its effectiveness and engagement.
“I thought the game was small, but it's actually very big, so much to explore, so much lore if you're interested, and a cool story to go along with it.”
“It has an unexpectedly interesting story and lore (which pays off very well in the ending), a ton of content, replay value, enemy variety, location diversity, satisfyingly unique combat, striking art design, and deep, meaningful RPG mechanics.”
“I enjoyed the atmosphere, the setting and the lore (what there was of it) and the story has a couple of twists at the end that I didn't see coming.”
“However, I do wish that the story was presented in a more digestible way rather than dumping most of it into long expository cutscenes and coarse flavor text.”
“The plot is overly intricate and too convoluted to casually enjoy.”
“The story has so many dots you don't know which ones connect or why you should care.”
- graphics137 mentions
- 41 % positive mentions
- 47 % neutral mentions
- 12 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with some praising the art style and overall aesthetic as interesting and immersive, while others criticize it as drab or outdated. Many players note that while the visuals can be appealing, they are often marred by minor glitches and performance issues, particularly on lower-end systems. Overall, the graphics are considered decent but not on par with high-budget titles, leading to a consensus that they are a highlight in an otherwise flawed experience.
“The graphics and 'feel' of the game are great; a bit wonky feeling at first, but as you get 'used' to it, it all of a sudden 'clicks' and you realize how great it all is.”
“Despite not being a AAA title, it has a wonderful aesthetic, runs very smoothly, and has very few bugs and exploits that I can see, after having played through the game twice.”
“The graphics, while perhaps not as polished as AAA titles, are beautiful and very well made, enough so that I feel completely immersed in the world.”
“First off, let's get it out of the way: while the graphics aren't technically all that bad, the game is just ugly.”
“Everything is terrible in this game, level design, story, enemy spawns, shooting, graphics and the list can go on.”
“Even the graphics suck, everywhere looks the same.”
- optimization48 mentions
- 29 % positive mentions
- 42 % neutral mentions
- 29 % negative mentions
The game's optimization has received mixed reviews, with many players reporting significant performance issues, including low framerates and stuttering, particularly on average rigs. While some users have managed to achieve smooth gameplay by adjusting settings, others find the experience frustratingly unplayable in certain areas. Overall, the optimization appears to be inconsistent, with some players experiencing good performance on high-end setups, while others struggle with major issues.
“I haven't played a story-based game in a long time and this game makes me realize why. It's not like it's a bad game; it's well optimized for laptops, which is a massive pro. The 'element' of style used was also aesthetic.”
“Performance is great; the game fully supports arbitrary framerates and resolution, and keyboard and mouse controls are perfect.”
“I'm running the game in resolution 4096x2160 at the highest graphics settings, and so far, no stuttering or frame drops.”
“It has some performance issues; I have a 10700K overclocked and a 3070, and sometimes my game was running at 40 fps.”
“The game is very interesting; unfortunately, performance issues, stuttering, and highly unpredictable framerate make the souls-like-but-with-guns combat sluggish and frustrating to the point of being unplayable.”
“One of the major problems here is the lack of optimization, to the point that several key areas of this release run at around 22-26 fps at 1080p on an i7-6700K/GTX 1080 rig.”
- music41 mentions
- 29 % positive mentions
- 63 % neutral mentions
- 7 % negative mentions
The music in the game receives mixed reviews, with some players praising its atmospheric and moody qualities that enhance the overall experience, while others find it underwhelming or irritating. Many appreciate the soundtrack's ability to create a rich ambiance, though opinions vary on its overall quality, with some describing it as decent but not exceptional. Additionally, the soundtrack is available as a free download with the game, which adds value for those who enjoy it.
“The soundtrack was also fantastic, with a lot of moody atmospheric music that for some reason kept reminding me of ME1's world exploration tracks, like Ilos too, that kind of vibe.”
“The game boasts an interesting and dark sci-fantasy setting, solid sound design, solid voice acting, and outright decent music, responsive controls, and a pretty distinctive art direction.”
“However, the soundtrack is rich and incredible, and it's well worth it to turn down the sound effects just so it can be enjoyed by itself.”
“The soundtrack is irritating, the sound design is odd - the teleporting snipers make a distinct noise when they spawn, but some non-interactive level architecture can produce sounds when the main character is close.”
“Everything in the game is just bleh, the artistry is bleh, the enemy design is bleh, the music is bleh, the story is bleh, the combat is bleh.”
“The soundtrack is kinda underwhelming.”
- grinding35 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The grinding aspect of the game is often described as tedious and repetitive, requiring players to repeatedly defeat enemies to retrieve lost resources and level up. While some players find the grinding satisfying and reminiscent of classic games, many express frustration with the combat mechanics and the excessive time needed to progress, leading to a sense of chore-like gameplay. Overall, the experience can be rewarding for those who enjoy a challenge, but it may deter others due to its unbalanced and clunky nature.
“I would love to say that patience is a virtue in this game, go grind and 'git gud', to use the mind-numbing phrase soulslike elitists love, but the combat mechanics here are so excruciatingly bad and shoddy that even grinding for stats and gear isn't much help in the long run.”
“After about 5 hours, the gameplay became tedious and a chore.”
“I love the aesthetics and it seems like it would be an interesting world to explore, but the designers are obsessed with making it a soulslike that emphasizes repetition to the point where it is just tedious.”
- atmosphere34 mentions
- 82 % positive mentions
- 15 % neutral mentions
- 3 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its intriguing world and level design, complemented by a fantastic soundtrack that enhances the overall experience. Players find it to be a mix of dark and unsettling elements, reminiscent of titles like Dark Souls, while also noting its unique lore and unexpected story twists. Despite some criticisms regarding level design, the game's atmosphere remains a standout feature that keeps players engaged.
“I just love the atmosphere of this game and setting.”
“- has an awesome atmosphere set through the world/level design, character/enemy design, soundtrack!”
“I enjoyed the atmosphere, the setting and the lore (what there was of it) and the story has a couple of twists at the end that I didn't see coming.”
“The atmosphere was really scary and unsettling.”
- stability25 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The game's stability has received mixed reviews, with some players reporting significant bugs and poor optimization even months after release, including issues like getting stuck in the environment and floaty character movements. Others, however, have experienced minimal glitches and found the game enjoyable despite its imperfections, suggesting that the stability may vary based on individual experiences. Overall, while there are notable stability concerns, some players still recommend the game at a lower price point.
“Not worth the money, no matter the sale price, the game is buggy and poorly optimized.”
“Especially since the game is several months past release, and loads of patches later, it's still a buggy mess.”
“The game is not only very buggy but has not been appropriately patched as time goes on.”
- humor10 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game's humor is highlighted by its absurd character builds, such as playing as a strong character despite low strength points, and the amusing enemy interactions that mock players upon defeat. Players appreciate the unexpected twist at the end, which elicits laughter even in exhaustion, along with the presence of entertaining easter eggs and optional content that enhances the comedic experience. Overall, the humor is a significant draw, making the game a fun way to pass the time.
“You can play as an absolute unit of a character, which is funny because I dumped absolutely no points into strength.”
“I also loved the twist at the end of the game; it made me laugh in the way that you would when you're way past exhausted and will accept anything.”
“Has some backtracking for optional content (which is worth it) and some funny easter eggs.”
- replayability6 mentions
- 67 % positive mentions
- 33 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game offers solid replayability due to its engaging story, diverse content, and unique combat mechanics, all at a reasonable price. Players can enjoy a variety of builds, enemy types, and locations, enhancing the overall experience and encouraging multiple playthroughs.
“It has an unexpectedly interesting story and lore (which pays off very well in the ending), a ton of content, replay value, enemy variety, location diversity, satisfyingly unique combat, striking art design, and deep, meaningful RPG mechanics.”
“+ offers good build variety for replayability.”
“The game is far from perfect but you can have some solid fun and replayability for a really good price.”
- monetization4 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The reviews do not provide relevant information about monetization; instead, they focus on gameplay mechanics related to aiming and enemy weak points. Therefore, no summary regarding monetization can be derived from the provided texts.
- emotional2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -50 % neutral mentions
- 150 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game has been criticized for its lack of engagement, with multiple users describing the story as boring and uninteresting.
“The story was incredibly boring and failed to evoke any emotional response.”
“I found the narrative to be dull and lacking in emotional depth.”
“The emotional aspects of the game were overshadowed by a tedious storyline.”
Critic Reviews
Immortal: Unchained review
An ambitious venture for a low-budget indie studio, but one that manages to stand out in the crowd despite its flaws.
65%The Future is Dark
Immortal Unchained takes elements of From Software titles and successfully incorporates them into a sci-fi shooter. Unfortunately, the other aspects of the game are not as well thought out or executed, leaving one to wonder what could have been. If you're a Souls fan, who also enjoys the occasional shooter, definitely check out Immortal Unchained and absolutely pick it up when it's on sale. At $45 USD this game is a slightly overpriced.
65%Immortal: Unchained PS4 Review
Whilst an admirable attempt at offering a fresh take on what is already becoming a fairly staid genre, Toadman Interactive has unfortunately missed the mark when it comes to one of the most crucial elements of making these games work.
56%