After a year of exclusivity, one of 2018's best indie titles has finally had a chance to shine thanks to a glorious PlayStation 4 port. Ashen looks like a soul in every way, but it's one one of the few that comes close to the quality of From Software.
With a beautiful open world to explore and deep, engaging combat mechanics to master, A44 Games has pieced together an experience that's equally enjoyable in single-player and co-op. The game subscribes to the Dark Souls lineage of blocking and attacking when you see an opening more than anything else, but there's room to use a dodge here and there. This will be enough to take on the tough but fair enemies that stand in your way, although it's a completely different story when a boss arrives.
Visually spectacular enemies tower over you with new mechanics to think about and various methods of slaughter to learn, but they're just another hurdle to overcome in your quest to rebuild a village you could call home. Recruiting NPCs to your cause is vital to progress, requiring vendors to purchase items, minifigures to upgrade your gear, and side quests to accept. Together, they are a valid reason to continue traveling through a world rich in traditions and interesting stories.
Bringing a friend might make a fight or two a little too insignificant, but it's worth having someone with you to appreciate the great views Ashen manages to capture. From stunning photos of the sea to subterranean caves illuminated by the crackle of your torch, discovering a new area is a real pleasure. It might be a year late, but Ashen still manages to carve out a place for greatness.
- Enjoyable melee combat
- Beautiful environments
- Impressive boss battles
- Interesting characters and plot
- Co-op can make things too easy
Super 8/10
Scoring policy
Review of copy provided by Annapurna Interactive
