The Ascent
7.58
Storyline
7.0/10
"Cyber Heist"
Set in the dystopian city of Veles, players assume the role of an indentured worker caught in the midst of a power struggle between megacorporations.
As they navigate the neon-lit streets and towering skyscrapers of the city, players uncover a tangled web of corruption, betrayal, and intrigue that threatens to consume the city from within. With each mission, you delve deeper into the dark underbelly, forging alliances, unraveling conspiracies, and ultimately fighting for their freedom in a world where survival is the only law.
Feel and Mechanics
7.9/10
The Ascent surprised us with its take on the top-down twin-stick shooter genre by emphasising patience and teamwork amidst sprawling battles covering vast surface areas.
In a gaming market where top-down games typically struggle to find their feet, the Ascent provided us a refreshing feeling of relief and control.
Each firefight demands careful planning and communication as players navigate through expansive urban environments, engaging enemies on multiple fronts. With battles spanning large surface areas, players must employ tactics such as flanking manoeuvres and coordinated suppressive fire.
Challenge and Entertainment
7.0/10
In the cybernetic world of the Ascent, where neon-lit streets pulse with life and danger lurks around every corner, players are thrust into the heart of the action, navigating treacherous environments.
The cyber overtones add an extra layer of intensity to the gameplay, immersing players in a world of futuristic technology and dark conspiracies. Challenges like the boss known as "Papa Feral" further test players' mettle, pushing them to their limits.
We felt The Ascent had a good crack at incorporating challenge and team work. However it fell short on allowing the player to be creative in how they took on individual challenges. We found this rather funnelled and forced.
Build and Development
8.5/10
The Ascent brought a new sense of storytelling to the gaming scene with very interesting and well thought out NPC inclusions. We often found ourselves in environments that resembled Bladerunner and Cyberpunk bars, talking with an alien with an eyepatch looking like the head of a gang.
This narrative gave us some fantastic moments of comedy, thrill, uncertainty and lore.
The world and character builds made sense, complimented each other, and didn't take hours of practise to navigate.
Loot and Extras
7.5/10
Amidst the chaos of combat, players can customise the aesthetic of their character, from their cybernetic enhancements to their armour and clothing. This allows for a personalised gameplay experience, where players can tailor their appearance to reflect their individual tastes and preferences. With its cinematic storytelling, diverse arsenal of weapons and explosives, and adrenaline-fuelled combat encounters.
The guns and loot system was exciting. Affording players both the time and space to learn and adapt to their new weaponry. Often it was as easy as attaching or equipping your new piece and then going and slaughtering.