Ashen (2018 video game)

Ashen is an action role-playing game developed by A44 Games and published by Annapurna Interactive. It was released in December 2018 for PC (via Epic Games Store), Xbox One, and later other platforms including PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch, and Steam.

Gameplay:

Ashen is characterized by its Souls-like combat, emphasizing deliberate attacks, stamina management, and precise timing. Players explore an open world environment, facing challenging enemies and bosses. The game features a passive multiplayer system, where players can encounter and optionally cooperate with other players in their world, similar to the Journey or Dark Souls series. A key aspect of the gameplay loop is building a settlement. As the player progresses, they can attract non-player characters (NPCs) to their settlement, unlocking new crafting options, quests, and story elements. The settlement dynamically grows as more NPCs are recruited.

Setting and Story:

The game is set in a low-fantasy world shrouded in perpetual darkness. The story revolves around the search for the Ashen, mythical beings of light that are prophesied to return and bring balance to the world. The player character, known as the Wanderer, embarks on a journey to find the Ashen and restore light to the land, encountering various factions and characters along the way. The narrative is intentionally minimalistic, encouraging players to interpret events and piece together the world's lore through exploration and interaction with NPCs.

Development:

Ashen was developed by A44 Games, an independent studio based in New Zealand. The game's art style is distinctive, featuring a minimalist, polygonal aesthetic. The soundtrack was composed by Erica Mason.

Reception:

Ashen generally received positive reviews upon release, with critics praising its challenging combat, evocative atmosphere, and unique art style. Common criticisms included occasional performance issues and a lack of original ideas, with many reviewers noting its strong similarities to the Dark Souls series.