Software:Ashen (2018 video game)
| Ashen | |
|---|---|
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| Developer(s) | A44 |
| Publisher(s) | Annapurna Interactive |
| Engine | Unreal Engine[1] |
| Platform(s) | Microsoft Windows Xbox One Nintendo Switch PlayStation 4 |
| Release |
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| 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
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.[2] The game is presented in a third-person view, with a muted cel-shaded graphics presentation.[3]
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.[4] Combat includes ranged and melee weapons.[5]
Character growth is primarily dominated by equipment, rather than player 'stats';[6] "Talismans", either found or crafted, are used to upgrade character abilities or provide other in-game perks.[7]
Development
Initial publicity material for the game was released mid-2014.[8] 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.[9] 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.[10] Combat was described as similar to the Dark Souls series, being high risk, with stamina being a major factor in combat.[10]
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.[10] Art style influences were cited as initially including Superbrothers: Sword & Sworcery EP, Shadow of the Colossus, and The Legend of Zelda series.[11] Developers also stated they had been influenced by the emergent multiplayer storytelling found in the video game DayZ.[12]
Release
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.[13]
Reception
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Ashen was rated 9/10 by GameSpot,[25] and 4/5 by GamesRadar+.[26] Eurogamer also praised the game, awarding it the "Eurogamer Recommended" mark.[27] The game was noted through multiple reviews to hold similarities to the Dark Souls series, specifically Dark Souls.
On the contrary, some parts and areas of the game were heavily criticized by critics and players for being tedious or hard, especially Seat of the Matriach and being compared to Blighttown from Dark Souls.[citation needed] Gamecritics.com listed this area as being the lowest point in the game.[citation needed]
Awards
| Year | Award | Category | Result | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | Game Critics Awards | Best Independent Game | Nominated | [28] |
| 2019 | National Academy of Video Game Trade Reviewers Awards | Game, Original Role Playing | Nominated | [29] |
| Original Light Mix Score, New IP | Nominated | |||
| SXSW Gaming Awards | Most Promising New Intellectual Property | Nominated | [30] | |
| Golden Joystick Awards | Xbox Game of the Year | Nominated | [31] |
References
- ↑ North, Dale (June 19, 2015), "The best Unreal Engine games of E3, selected by GamesBeat", VentureBeat, https://venturebeat.com/2015/06/19/unreal-e3-awards-by-gamesbeat-winners-announced/
- ↑ Blake, Boston (June 2015), "E3 2015: 'Ashen' Revealed for Xbox One With Debut Trailer", Gamerant, http://gamerant.com/ashen-xbox-one-trailer-e3-2015/
- ↑ Ogilvie, Tristan (June 15, 2014), "E3 2015: Ashen Announced for Xbox One", IGN, http://uk.ign.com/articles/2015/06/15/e3-2015-ashen-announced-for-xbox-one
- ↑ "Ashen on Xbox Daily", YouTube, June 26, 2015
- ↑ 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?.
- ↑ Billcliffe 2015.
- ↑ Corden 2016, Q. Jez: How does Ashen handle character progression?.
- ↑ Smith, Graham (July 8, 2014), "Ashen Looks Beautiful: An Open World RPG About Friends", Rock Paper Shotgun, http://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2014/07/08/ashen/
- ↑ McWhertor, Michael (June 15, 2015), "Ashen is a new open-world role-playing game for Xbox One", Polygon, http://www.polygon.com/2015/6/15/8783415/ashen-xbox-one-aurora44-id-xbox
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 10.2 Priestman 2014
- ↑ Tic Podcast 2015, 14min04sec - 15min15sec.
- ↑ Shoptaw 2015.
- ↑ Corden, Jez (December 7, 2018). "'Ashen' will still hit Xbox Play Anywhere for PC and 'other platforms' in the future". https://www.windowscentral.com/despite-epic-game-store-exclusivity-ashen-still-coming-xbox-play-anywhere.
- ↑ "Ashen for PC Reviews". CBS Interactive. https://www.metacritic.com/game/ashen/critic-reviews/?platform=pc.
- ↑ "Ashen for Xbox One Reviews". CBS Interactive. https://www.metacritic.com/game/ashen/critic-reviews/?platform=xbox-one.
- ↑ "Ashen for Switch Reviews". CBS Interactive. https://www.metacritic.com/game/ashen/critic-reviews/?platform=nintendo-switch.
- ↑ Zawodniak, Matthew (December 24, 2019). "Ashen (Switch) Review". https://www.nintendoworldreport.com/review/52387/ashen-switch-review.
- ↑ O'Reilly, PJ (December 30, 2019). "Ashen Review (Switch eShop)". https://www.nintendolife.com/reviews/switch-eshop/ashen.
- ↑ L'avis de (December 13, 2018). "Test Ashen : plus qu'un clone de Dark Souls ?". https://www.jeuxvideo.com/test/973374/ashen-plus-qu-un-clone-de-dark-souls.htm.
- ↑ Reiner, Andrew (December 15, 2018). "Ashen Review – Turning Strangers Into Friends". Game Informer. https://www.gameinformer.com/review/ashen/ashen-review-turning-strangers-into-friends. Retrieved June 17, 2021.
- ↑ Carter, Chris. "Review: Ashen". https://www.destructoid.com/reviews/review-ashen/.
- ↑ Evans-Thirlwell, Edwin (December 7, 2018). "Ashen review - a soulful journey through a sublime ruined world". https://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2018-12-05-ashen-review.
- ↑ Donnelly, Joe (December 18, 2018). "ASHEN REVIEW". https://www.pcgamer.com/ashen-review/.
- ↑ Petite, Steven (December 11, 2018). "Ashen Review". https://www.ign.com/articles/2018/12/12/ashen-review.
- ↑ Ramée, Jordan (December 6, 2018). "Ashen Review - Relationship Souls". https://www.gamespot.com/reviews/ashen-review-relationship-souls/1900-6417053/.
- ↑ Prell, Sam (December 7, 2018). "Ashen review: "Ashen is a Dark Souls clone - but it's a really good Dark Souls clone"". https://www.gamesradar.com/ashen-review-ashen-is-a-dark-souls-clone-but-its-a-really-good-dark-souls-clone/.
- ↑ Evans-Thirlwell, Edwin (December 7, 2018). "Ashen review - a soulful journey through a sublime ruined world". https://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2018-12-05-ashen-review.
- ↑ "Game Critics Awards: Best of E3 2017 (2017 Nominees)". http://www.gamecriticsawards.com/2017nominees.html.
- ↑ "Winner list for 2018: God of War breaks record". March 23, 2019. https://navgtr.org/2019/03/13/winner-list-for-2018-god-of-war-breaks-record/.
- ↑ Trent, Logan (February 11, 2019). "Here Are Your 2019 SXSW Gaming Awards Finalists!". https://gaming.sxsw.com/news/2019/2019-sxsw-gaming-awards-finalists/.
- ↑ "Golden Joystick Awards 2019". https://www.gamesradar.com/goldenjoystickawards/#xbox-game-of-the-year.
Sources
- Shoptaw, Ryan (July 1, 2015), "Interview: Aurora44 Talks Ashen, Their Influences, and The E3 Experience", GamingConviction.com, http://www.gamingconviction.com/interview-aurora44-talks-ashen-their-influences-and-the-e3-experience/
- Plunket, Luke (July 17, 2015), "Ashen Is A Very Pretty Video Game", Kotaku, http://kotaku.com/ashen-is-a-very-pretty-video-game-1606977580
- Priestman, Chris (July 14, 2014), "Ashen is the sprawling, low-poly Dark Souls of our nightmares", Kill Screen, http://killscreendaily.com/articles/ashen/
- Billcliffe, James (July 15, 2015), "Ashen is Shaping Up to be a Much Darker, and More Ambitious "Journey" on Xbox One and PC", OnlySP, http://www.onlysp.com/explore-volcanic-post-apocalyptic-world-aurora44s-ashen/
- "On The Red Carpet with Ashen", Tic Podcast (YouTube), July 11, 2015, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4TkdaAi6lDE
- Corden, Jez (January 19, 2016), "Q&A: Join us for a look at Ashen's dark RPG world, on its way to Xbox One, Steam and Windows 10", www.windowscentral.com, http://www.windowscentral.com/ashen-interview-survival-rpg-xbox-one
External links
- Ashen, http://www.ashen-game.com/, official website
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