Astria Ascending

Astria Ascending is a jRPG, enriched with some adventure and platforming elements. The game was developed by the Artisan Studio team, while its release was handled by Dear Villagers. The project was led by industry veterans, headed by screenwriter Kazushige Nojima (who has worked on Final Fantasy X and Final Fantasy VII Remake, among other games) and composer Hitoshi Sakimoto (creator of the music for Final Fantasy XII and Vagrant Story).

Plot

Astria Ascending takes us to the fantasy world of Orcanon. The guardians of balance are the so called demigods - heroes recruited from ordinary people and representatives of fantastic races, who during their three-year service must face all the dangers threatening the land. During the game we play as one of these brave warriors, and our task is to organize a team and save Orcanon from chaos. Along the way, we learn about the fates of each of our wards and observe the emerging relationships between them.

Mechanics

Astria Ascending is a side-scrolling action game. Before starting the game we choose one of eight characters representing different races and professions and having various skills.

The adventure leads us through a vast land, in which we find five large cities and more than twenty underground dungeons. Especially in the dungeons we often come across platformer-like fragments, where we have to show our dexterity, as well as environmental puzzles that require creativity (though not too complicated). The game is driven by the tasks which push the plot forward, but apart from them there are a lot of side missions waiting to be completed. The gameplay is also varied by optional activities, such as mini-games, which include, among others, card games.

Of course, saving Orcanon from danger is tied with fighting with enemies. Among more than two hundred adversaries we can find both those who are easy to defeat and much more powerful individuals, led by powerful bosses. Battles take place in turn-based mode, and during them we use the combat skills of the hero and the adventurers who join him on his journey.

As you progress, you develop your characters, so over time your team can face more challenges. In addition, during the game we catch legendary beasts, which we can summon on the arenas to support us in battle.

Game length

The developers ensure that completing Astria Ascending takes around thirty hours. Players who want to see everything the game has to offer, on the other hand, need to spend about fifty hours playing.

Technical aspects

Astria Ascending features colourful, hand-drawn graphics maintained in a manga style. The game allows to play with both English and Japanese dubbing.

Last updated on 28 September 2021