ASHEN, by Aurora44 games, is an action RPG about a wanderer in search of a place to call home. The game is heavily influenced by Dark Souls, with the story of a Phoenix like bird that at one time died and covered the world in ash. There was an age of darkness but the Phoenix is trying to resurrect and come back to life and bring light back into the world, but there are forces that are trying to prevent that from happening. The game can be played in single player or in online multiplayer but unlike most multiplayer games, this game is intended to be played as PvE multiplayer. Working together is the key to surviving and it’s a welcome change from the trolly aspects of souls-like games where some players just want to kill you all the time.
KEY FEATURES
• PASSIVE MULTIPLAYER – People you meet out in the world are players with their own
agendas. It will be up to you to decide how to deal with them.
• NON-LINEAR PROGRESSION – No two games will ever be the same. This is a world that
moves on without you. Simply being in a different place at a certain time will alter the
story in dramatic ways.
• OPEN WORLD EXPLORATION – Your settlement is nestled in the mountains, surrounded
by handcrafted environments as far as the eye can see.
• HIGH RISK COMBAT – Each encounter, no matter how trivial seeming, has the potential to
end in disaster. Knowing the land and being patient are some of the most valuable
weapons available to a lone wanderer in Ashen. Sometimes it is best to turn and run.
• CREATURES – The creatures of Ashen include rare, lonely giants and hungry, twisted
inhabitants of the night. Despite the perils of the darkness, life always finds a way. This is
a land teeming with a diverse array of flora and fauna.
• THE TOWN – The town will be cobbled together from survivors you choose to bring to
your settlement. They might provide you with help ranging from blacksmithing to
foraging expertise.
I enjoyed my time with the game and really liked the cooperative aspect to it. I’m looking forward to seeing more about Ashen. Right not the game is slated to be released on Steam and XBOX One in 2018.