Ashen
Release Date: December 7, 2018
RPG, TPP, fantasy, sandbox, indie games, co-op, action RPG, soulslike, Game Pass, multiplayer, singleplayer, internet
Steam
An original role-playing game, in which you traverse a grim, sunless world, where the only source of light are the erupting volcanoes, spitting out ash. The production features a nonlinear plot and an open world, both of which can be shaped freely by your actions. Thanks to a passive multiplayer system, each NPC is based on a character created by another player and has their own distinct characteristics and aspirations.
Ashen is an open-world nonlinear action role-playing game. It was developed by an indie Aurora44 studio from New Zealand founded by experienced members of film-making teams. The founders met while working on such movies as The Hobbit, The Avengers, Iron Man 2, Prometheus and The Planet of the Apes.
Plot
The game is set in a grim, sunless world, where the only source of light are the erupting volcanoes, incessantly spitting out ash. Ashen tells the story of a young wanderer, who traverses this gray world to find a place they could call home. Since all items are sooner or later destroyed by volcanic eruptions, the game focuses on interpersonal relationships with other survivors, represented by other players.
Mechanics
In the game, you often have to decide whom to trust and whom to avoid. Those decisions greatly affect the gameplay, as the characters have their own unique abilities, the use of which may turn out to be really helpful later on. As the game progresses, your camp, tiny at the start, turns into a small village inhabited by various other survivors, relying on each other's abilities to survive. While Ashen is an action role-playing game and the in-game world is also full of various monsters, combat is the last resort, as each fight, even with a seemingly weak opponent, may be deadly. Before each battle, you have to prepare accordingly, and during the fight, you have to use elements of the environment.
What makes Ashen distinct among similar productions is the unusual passive multiplayer mode. During your journey, you encounter various characters, which may be either other players or AI-controlled NPCs, based on the characters created by others. Thanks to this, every character has a personality, goals, and aspirations.
Last updated on June 21, 2018
Videos and Screens
[1:36] Ashen launch trailer
[11:35] Ashen gamescom 2018 gameplay
The main pros of the game
- Atmosphere and Aesthetics: Many users praised the game's atmosphere, art style, and music, describing them as beautiful and immersive.
- Exploration: Players enjoyed the exploration aspect, noting the varied environments and the sense of wonder when discovering new areas.
- Unique Mechanics: The game features a unique approach to character progression, focusing on gear upgrades rather than traditional leveling systems, which some found refreshing.
- Charming World: Some reviews highlighted the charm of the world and its storytelling, despite its simplicity.
- Co-op Elements: The inclusion of AI companions and co-op gameplay was appreciated by some users, who felt it added to the experience.
The main cons of the game
- Combat Issues: A significant number of reviews criticized the combat mechanics, describing them as clunky, slow, and poorly balanced, with many enemies being too difficult or unresponsive.
- Limited Weapon Variety: Users noted a lack of weapon diversity, with many weapons sharing similar movesets, leading to repetitive gameplay.
- AI Companions: The AI companions often performed poorly, dying frequently and failing to assist effectively during combat.
- Inventory Management: Many players expressed frustration with limited inventory space and the need to discard items, which detracted from the exploration experience.
- Technical Issues: Some users reported crashes and bugs, particularly in co-op mode, which hindered their gameplay experience.
The features or elements that are missing from the game according to users
- Improved Combat Mechanics: Many players felt that the combat needed more depth and responsiveness, including better staggering mechanics and more varied enemy attack patterns.
- Fast Travel Options: Some users pointed out a lack of fast travel, making backtracking tedious and frustrating after dying.
- Better Co-op Functionality: Reviews indicated that the co-op system was poorly implemented, with issues in matchmaking and character visibility, leading to confusion during gameplay.
- More Rewarding Loot System: Players desired a more varied loot system that would encourage exploration and provide meaningful rewards beyond just a few items.
- Enhanced Storytelling and Lore: While some appreciated the atmosphere, others felt the lore was underdeveloped and difficult to follow, suggesting a need for clearer storytelling.
Summary
- Overall, while "Ashen" has its strengths in atmosphere and exploration, it suffers from significant gameplay and technical issues that detract from the overall experience.
Summary generated on:
GAMERS Score
Average score from 291 votes. 41 players anticipated the game.
Ashen Summary
Platforms:
PC / Windows December 7, 2018
Switch December 9, 2019
PlayStation 4 December 9, 2019
Xbox One December 7, 2018
Developer: Aurora44/A44
Publisher: Annapurna Interactive
Ashen System Requirements
PC / Windows
Minimum: Intel Core i3-4150 3.5 GHz / AMD FX-4170 4.2 GHz, 4 GB RAM, graphic card 2 GB GeForce GTX 760 / Radeon R7 270X or better, 15 GB HDD, Windows 7 64-bit
Recommended: Intel Core i5-4690 3.5 GHz / AMD FX-6300 3.5 GHz, 8 GB RAM, graphic card 4 GB GeForce GTX 970 / Radeon R9 290X or better, 15 GB HDD, Windows 10 64-bit
First Epic Games Store Exclusives Reach Steam
First exclusivity deals on Epic Games Store are coming to an end. Yesterday the RPG Ashen debuted on Steam and today Hello Neighbor: Hide and Seek and Hades: Battle out of Hell will be released.
video games
Adrian Werner
December 10, 2019