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Ashen (2018 video game)

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Ashen
Developer(s)A44
Publisher(s)Annapurna Interactive
EngineUnreal Engine 4[1][2]
Platform(s)Microsoft Windows
Xbox One
Nintendo Switch
PlayStation 4
Release
  • Windows, Xbox One
  • December 7, 2018
  • Nintendo Switch
  • December 9, 2019
  • PlayStation 4
  • December 12, 2019
Genre(s)Action role-playing
Mode(s)Single-player, multiplayer

Ashen is an action role-playing game developed by New Zealand studio A44 and published by Annapurna Interactive.

Gameplay

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The game is set in a sunless world and tells the story of a character seeking a home. Gameplay is described as including open-world exploration, co-operation or competition with other players, and combat with in-world monsters.[3] The game is presented in a third-person view, with a muted cel-shaded graphics presentation.[4]

The game follows the Dark Souls-style mechanics and combat. Both combat and exploration in an open world were key design elements of the game. Multiplayer elements include interactions with other players, which are incorporated into the game as providing traditional RPG elements such as crafting.[5] Combat includes ranged and melee weapons.[6]

Character growth is primarily dominated by equipment, rather than player 'stats';[7] "Talismans", either found or crafted, are used to upgrade character abilities or provide other in-game perks.[8]

Development

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Initial publicity material for the game was released mid-2014.[9] During Microsoft's E3 2015 press conference, Ashen was revealed as an Xbox console launch exclusive being developed by Aurora44 (now A44) under the ID@Xbox independent developer program.[10] Initially released 2014 design elements of the game included survivalist elements and elemental effects, such as the wind as a help or hindrance. The world's geography and ecosystems were intended to be realistically modeled, to play into intelligent play styles within survival mechanisms; additionally, natural geography was intended to be based on an underlying geology. One in-world game element is an enemy known as the "Gnaw", which has the ability to erode the environment "like a searing acid". Much of the background, setting, and feel of the world was influenced by Cormac McCarthy's novel The Road.[11] Combat was described as similar to the Dark Souls series, being high risk, with stamina being a major factor in combat.[11]

Multiplayer elements were described as 'passive', meaning that playing with a partner(s) is not mandated, and entirely optional, though certain situations require cooperative play; AI (computer controlled) allies were also to be implemented. The 'passive' multiplayer element included the conversion of a human player companion into an AI controlled non-player character (NPC)s if they could be escorted to the home town of the main adventurer; however such AI controlled NPCs were not guaranteed to be entirely benign.[11] Art style influences were cited as initially including Superbrothers: Sword & Sworcery EP, Shadow of the Colossus, and The Legend of Zelda series.[12] Developers also stated they had been influenced by the emergent multiplayer storytelling found in the video game DayZ.[13]

Release

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While initially listed on Steam, Ashen was later announced as an Epic Games Store timed exclusive but was also later listed as a Microsoft Store and an Xbox One title as a timed exclusive as well.[14]

Reception

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Ashen was rated 9/10 by GameSpot,[26] and 4/5 by GamesRadar+.[27] Eurogamer also praised the game, awarding it the "Eurogamer Recommended" mark.[28] The game was noted through multiple reviews to hold similarities to the Dark Souls series, specifically Dark Souls.

Awards

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Year Award Category Result Ref
2017 Game Critics Awards Best Independent Game Nominated [29]
2019 National Academy of Video Game Trade Reviewers Awards Game, Original Role Playing Nominated [30]
Original Light Mix Score, New IP Nominated
SXSW Gaming Awards Most Promising New Intellectual Property Nominated [31]
Golden Joystick Awards Xbox Game of the Year Nominated [32]

References

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  1. ^ North, Dale (June 19, 2015), "The best Unreal Engine games of E3, selected by GamesBeat", VentureBeat
  2. ^ Thang, Jimmy. "A44 Games explains how they designed the beautifully haunting world of Ashen". unrealengine.com. Retrieved July 3, 2024.
  3. ^ Blake, Boston (June 2015), "E3 2015: 'Ashen' Revealed for Xbox One With Debut Trailer", Gamerant
  4. ^ Ogilvie, Tristan (June 15, 2014), "E3 2015: Ashen Announced for Xbox One", IGN
  5. ^ "Ashen on Xbox Daily", YouTube (video interview), June 26, 2015
  6. ^ Corden 2016, Q.Jez: In the trailer, we can see players wielding melee weapons, is Ashen a strict melee combat affair? Can players control their gameplay style in any way?.
  7. ^ Billcliffe 2015.
  8. ^ Corden 2016, Q. Jez: How does Ashen handle character progression?.
  9. ^ Smith, Graham (July 8, 2014), "Ashen Looks Beautiful: An Open World RPG About Friends", Rock Paper Shotgun
  10. ^ McWhertor, Michael (June 15, 2015), "Ashen is a new open-world role-playing game for Xbox One", Polygon
  11. ^ a b c Priestman 2014
  12. ^ Tic Podcast 2015, 14min04sec - 15min15sec.
  13. ^ Shoptaw 2015.
  14. ^ Corden, Jez (December 7, 2018). "'Ashen' will still hit Xbox Play Anywhere for PC and 'other platforms' in the future". Windows Central. Retrieved July 29, 2019.
  15. ^ "Ashen for PC Reviews". Metacritic. CBS Interactive. Retrieved April 25, 2020.
  16. ^ "Ashen for Xbox One Reviews". Metacritic. CBS Interactive. Retrieved May 17, 2019.
  17. ^ "Ashen for Switch Reviews". Metacritic. CBS Interactive. Retrieved April 25, 2020.
  18. ^ Zawodniak, Melanie (December 24, 2019). "Ashen (Switch) Review". Nintendo World Report. Retrieved June 17, 2021.
  19. ^ O'Reilly, PJ (December 30, 2019). "Ashen Review (Switch eShop)". Nintendo Life. Retrieved June 17, 2021.
  20. ^ L'avis de (December 13, 2018). "Test Ashen : plus qu'un clone de Dark Souls ?". Jeuxvideo.com. Retrieved June 17, 2021.
  21. ^ Reiner, Andrew (December 15, 2018). "Ashen Review – Turning Strangers Into Friends". Game Informer. Archived from the original on December 19, 2018. Retrieved June 17, 2021.
  22. ^ Carter, Chris. "Review: Ashen". Destructoid. Retrieved June 17, 2021.
  23. ^ Evans-Thirlwell, Edwin (December 7, 2018). "Ashen review - a soulful journey through a sublime ruined world". Eurogamer. Retrieved June 17, 2021.
  24. ^ Donnelly, Joe (December 18, 2018). "ASHEN REVIEW". PC Gamer. Retrieved June 17, 2021.
  25. ^ Petite, Steven (December 11, 2018). "Ashen Review". IGN. Retrieved June 17, 2021.
  26. ^ Ramée, Jordan (December 6, 2018). "Ashen Review - Relationship Souls". GameSpot. Retrieved December 10, 2018.
  27. ^ Prell, Sam (December 7, 2018). "Ashen review: "Ashen is a Dark Souls clone - but it's a really good Dark Souls clone"". GamesRadar+. Retrieved December 10, 2018.
  28. ^ Evans-Thirlwell, Edwin (December 7, 2018). "Ashen review - a soulful journey through a sublime ruined world". Eurogamer. Retrieved December 10, 2018.
  29. ^ "Game Critics Awards: Best of E3 2017 (2017 Nominees)". Game Critics Awards. Retrieved February 15, 2019.
  30. ^ "Winner list for 2018: God of War breaks record". National Academy of Video Game Trade Reviewers. March 23, 2019. Retrieved November 15, 2019.
  31. ^ Trent, Logan (February 11, 2019). "Here Are Your 2019 SXSW Gaming Awards Finalists!". South by Southwest. Retrieved February 15, 2019.
  32. ^ "Golden Joystick Awards 2019". GamesRadar+. Archived from the original on September 28, 2019. Retrieved September 21, 2019.

Sources

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