The Ascent
Game Pass of the Week
Developer: Neon Giant
Game Pass Launch: July 29th, 2021
This week it is all about The Ascent, a cyberpunk, twin-stick shooter that is absolutely oozing with style.
The Esthetic
This game is worth installing if only just to marvel at the esthetic and execution of its visually stunning dystopian landscape. I spent so much time just starring at backdrops that you could just tell a team poured their heart and soul into. This game is a case study in how visuals can have an enormous impact on the enjoyment of a game.
Game Play
To be terse, you will know almost instantly after starting if this game play loop is appealing to you. It is simple, satisfying, and you will have access to everything you will be able to do within a short time of starting. Additionally, you will be able to make adjustments to your tools, including weapons, armor, activatable items, and passive upgrades at a suitable pace.
Be sure to pay attention to those pop-up tutorials though, as you can easily find yourself missing out on how something works and the game does not hold your hand in reminding you that it exists. For example, the game has two fast travel mechanics, and if you close the dialogue box explaining how they work, nothing is going to prompt you to use them ever again.
There is some chunkiness to certain aspects, in particular the usage of the map and managing quests but these feel like minor inconveniences more than major encumbrances.
Length
The game is fun, and actually shorter than I might have expected. I completed the game in far less than twenty hours, but notably with a lot of meat left on the bone; there were numerous side quests I left undone. This length is a boon for the game as its charm and the game play are engrossing, but it is light in mechanical depth. As such, I feel I may have grown weary if they game had continued much longer than it did.
We should give props to the developers for knowing when to cut the game off. I feel length is still one of the trickiest aspects of game design to master, especially in terms of the trade offs between it and content saturation, mechanical depth, and the discrete quality of specific aspects. The Ascent strikes the balance brilliantly and you can see there is a massive amount of artistic and design talent at Neon Giant. I am excited to see what they do next, whether it is more in this world or something new, they have proved to me that they are filled with potential for great games.
