Invincible Presents: Atom Eve review – more than a visual novel

The Boys is leading the mainstream pushback against rote superhero narratives, but Prime Video’s Invincible is secretly better.

Many won’t give it a chance because of its Saturday morning cartoon aesthetics, but Invincible is a refreshing take on what it means to have power in a world where morality is messy.

Invincible Presents: Atom Eve is a new visual novel that wraps you in the pink lycra of a young superhero with the power to change matter. She’s pulled between being a daughter, a hero, a friend, and a college student, in events that run parallel to the first season of the Prime Video show.

But there’s more to Invincible Presents: Atom Eve than the usual dialogue options of visual novels. There’s also a turn-based combat system, with three skill trees that allow you to push her powers and personality towards Empath, Creator, or Firebrand. Each skill tree comes with its combat abilities, perks, and additional dialogue options, which gives the story plenty of replay value.

My only criticism of this is how some specialties are far more interesting than others. Sure, you could be an empathetic listener, but how about transforming matter? I’d rather do that, thanks. Atom Eve also has the Superman problem: she’s so powerful that it seems a little daft that you spend so much time punching people in the face – you could just turn them into a statue by altering their clothing and fly off, but the game doesn’t feature any of that.

Combat is a breeze so long as you pay attention to the enemy’s upcoming turn and act accordingly, gluing them in place, putting up a shield, and mitigating or nullifying damage before letting loose with your own.

Outside combat, you choose how Eve should react to whatever the world throws at her – from cheating boyfriends to bigoted fathers, alien invaders, and college applications.

A map and a handful of icons allow you to choose your next course of action, whether you’re investigating a crime, checking in on a friend, or screaming into the void to let off steam.

You can’t always do everything, so you prioritize what you think is important. I’d have appreciated some UI element to let me know when doing one activity would lock me out of another, but the choices here do their job and make you consider how Eve would feel about being pulled in so many directions. If only she could be like Dupli-Kate, capable of being in multiple places at once. Perhaps her boyfriend wouldn’t have cheated.

I also appreciate how your options dwindle as the story goes on. Where most games open up the world as you progress, Eve’s world gets smaller as school ends and relationships break down. Hey, at least there’s always the void.

Even though it’s not the kind of game I usually play, I enjoyed my time with Atom Eve. The dialogue is snappy and funny, the main characters keep you invested, and it’s cool to see the story of Invincible from another perspective. The only thing it’s lacking is the rawness of the Prime Video series.

The stakes here are more personal – nothing will shock or punch you in the gut. Sure, a couple of people are blown into tiny chunks, but you’re not given enough time with them to care. Still, as a fan of the show, I’m glad I played – it’s worth checking out as a fun little curio.

Score: 7/10

Version tested: PC.