WGAME REVIEWS
ome people will argue the
‘Soulslike’ label needs to die.
They’ll tell you it’s overused,
hackneyed, and that there are
other catch-all terms to describe
hybrid ARPGs, which don’t rely on
comparison. I think these people are
wrong. Ashen, a low-fantasy action
roleplayer, closely echoes many
of the ideas and systems found in
FromSoftware’s Dark Souls series. It
knows exactly who its audience is,
and, for all intents and purposes, is a
Soulslike game.
In place of Estus Flasks, for example,
Ashen gives players sap-filled Crimson
Gourds that deliver health boosts in
limited supply. In the absence of Souls,
Ashen trades in Scoria — a currency
farmed from fallen enemies that helps
facilitate progression. Gathered Scoria
is lost upon death, and can only be
regained in your immediate next life.
Ashen’s enemies are tough, its bosses
are blockbuster, and its gorgeous
handcrafted world is littered with lore
and odd but charming NPCs.
So similar to the Soulsborne series
is Ashen that these comparisons will
inevitably attract or avert players from
the outset. This reflects the polarising
nature of this style of game, but, by
setting out its stall with precision and
conviction, Ashen never feels cynical.
Ashen also leaves little room for learning
curves during its 20-ish hours runtime.
But I reckon it’s all the better for it.
In the wake of the game’s titular
‘Ashen’ rebirth, Ashen paints a
familiar tale of light versus dark,
which ultimately boils down to: all the
goodies in the world want the light
to survive, and all the baddies want it
extinguished.
Ashen regularly switches from openworld to claustrophobic grotto during
the game’s scores of quests, requiring
you to adapt your playstyle accordingly.
Early on, I found myself fumbling around
the Restless Knoll; a large wooded area
filled with spear-wielding enemies.
Encountering two foes at the foot of a
hill, I let my AI-controlled NPC partner
Jokell engage them from the front as
I snuck back around and got the drop
from above. It was a markedly different
style of play to when we later plumbed
the depths of a Tomb of the Giants-style
dungeon, brimming with traps, winding
corridors and shadow monsters.
OBSERVE AND OVERCOME
In any fight, understanding the lay of
the land is crucial, and while conflictsWHY
SHOULD
I CARE?+ MORE DARK
SOULS
+ You too want to
save the light
+ You think
everything is
better with a
buddy.Ashen
A thoughtful, engrossing Soulslike that wears its inspirations on its blood-stained sleeve.
DEVELOPERMODE7GAMES• PUBLISHERIN-HOUSE
http://www.frozensynapse2.comA double-handed
weapon will make
short work of
shield users.VERDICT:
Ashen’s slant on Souls
isn’t revolutionary, but
is a wonderful example
of the familiar formula
executed well. 8out in the field can be judged in
advance, battles indoors often unfold in
tight, dimly-lit areas. Different weapons
have different stamina demands, and
shrewd use of light and heavy attacks is
essential for survival. Do you steam in
with an RMB double-handed axe smash
and hope for the best, or do you offload
a flurry of LMB light attacks and Shift
dodge your way to success?
And speaking of friends, Ashen’s
co-op is wonderful. AI companions
offer sidequests and will often tag
along for the journey, while you can
band together with real-world players
for specific missions and part ways
whenever you so choose. Here the
‘Soulslike’ label is a compliment not a
pejorative. Yes, Ashen echoes the core
mechanics of Dark Souls, but it does so
with such finesse that it hardly matters.
JOE DONNELLYGEAR
Ashen’s‘Gear’menuisreminiscentofDarkSouls,
withitscyclableweapons,outfits,consumables,
andbuffs.ARTIFACTS
Likewise,Ashen’s ‘Artifacts’ tab houses special
items—eachofwhichhasitsownsuggestive
loresnippet.JOURNEY
The‘Journey’menu,however,providesmap
information,andreflectsthelikesofSkyrim.DOPPELGANKER COMPARE AND CONTRAST ASHEN’S SOULSLIKE SYSTEMS