There are a litany of Ubisoft-developed open-world titles that have become available in recent times, and while most come with a decent amount of hype on release,Immortals Fenyx Risingpassed by with far less recognition than other properties from the Paris-based outfit. It gained a decent following and served as a good alternative toAssassin’s Creed Valhallawhich was the more polarizing experience, and the Greek-inspired setting was at the very heart of its charm. The sequel looks to betaking Fenyx to Polynesia, which is radically different from what came before, and the change in location will have a greater impact than just a change of aesthetics for the franchise.
A Polynesian sequel will takeImmortals Fenyx Risingout of the firing line of one of Nintendo’s greatest feats. There were plenty of concerns that the 2020 release shared visual similarities toThe Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild.This is by no means a negative as the latter is beautiful, but it put the originality of Ubisoft’s project into question. A Polynesian sequel could be the perfect way to uphold the expectations of fans while separating itself from such comparisons. On an environmental, artistic, and gameplay level the change in setting could be exactly what’s needed.
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Polyneasia Has Lots of Water
Breath of the Wild’s Hyrulewasn’t short of diverse landscapes, and there were plenty of water sources for Link to overcome. Lake Hylia, Necluda Sea, and the pond around Tarrey Town all do well to give Hyrule a sense of diversity, but the geography of Polynesia means water will have to be a far greater factor inImmortals Fenyx Rising’s follow-up. There are more than 1,000 islands dotted around the South Pacific, which will take more effort than a quick scamper up a cliff face or jaunt through Hyrule Field to get the better of.
On a gameplay level,Immortals Fenyx Rising’s open-ended designfelt similar toBreath of the Wild, but far less engaging. Skipping across to different land masses in Polynesia would make the sequel feel more likeAssassin’s Creed OdysseythanBreath of the Wild, with much of the map being submerged in the sea. Traversal will have to be different because of the lay of the land, and as Fenyx has more agency over the world than Link does in his game, it could play to their strengths.
Polynesian Culture is Nowhere in Breath of the Wild
There were plenty ofmythologies thatImmortalsFenyx Risingcould have used, but Polynesia has a rich history of fascinating cultures that the follow-up could take advantage of. It’s an underrepresented culture in fiction, and whileMoanadid well to shine a light on the Oceania region,Immortals Fenyx Risingcaters to an entirely different audience. Narratively, it could not just separate itself from other games set in mythology, but also bring new eyes to a culture that is as fascinating as it is diverse.
Breath of the Wildonly exists within its own mythology, so its reach is limited and can’t lean on real-world culture in quite the same way.Immortals Fenyx Rising’s next entry has the luxury of learning from cultures that exist today, and can weave mythological concepts into its fictional story to maximize its narrative potential. It’s the same philosophy thatAssassin’s Creedhas used for years, andGod of Wartaking to Norse myth like a duck to water has revitalized the franchise.Polynesia is perfect forImmortals Fenyx Rising, as it not only uses a tried-and-tested method that’s sure to bring new fans, but it’s also a stress-free way to avoid comparisons to one of Nintendo’s best games.
The sequel toImmortals Fenyx Risingis reportedly in development.
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