Ashen Reviews
A44's Ashen is as much about building community as it is defeating challenging enemies, reinforcing the triumph of victory with concrete examples of how you're improving its world.
A moody, well-wrought action role-player with striking, desolate landscapes and a couple of great dungeons.
Ashen contributes more hits than misses to the Souls formula, though the overall experience may feel too familiar to fans of FromSoftware's trendsetting series.
Ashen is a hardcore minimalistic RPG that delivers on a calming experience that requires pacing and patience to correctly take on the challenge.
Ashen is unique in that it borrows liberally from the Souls-like genre, but doesn't feel beholden to it. It's clear that A44 was influenced just as much by The Legend of Zelda, and even more niche adventure titles like Shadow of the Colossus, as it was by From Software's seminal Souls trilogy. Adventure game fans and Dark Souls fans alike definitely won't want to miss out on what Ashen offers.
Ashen's handful of new ideas make it a stellar Souls-like with solid combat, a great art style, and an interesting world.
Ashen wears its influences unabashedly, but immaculate execution helps it rise above unoriginality.
Whatever missteps Ashen makes can be mostly overlooked, save for the worlds rarely unforgiving nature. This was a journey that enticed me from start to finish, and I pray to The Lord Bruce Lee that it'll do the same to you.
A good direction for souls like, difficult but not unfair, with a great attention to the the art design.
Review in Italian | Read full review
Short, crunchy soul-like that keeps you entertained for 20 hours. Learning curve and replay value are low.
Review in German | Read full review
Collecting souls is as nerve-wracking and rewarding as ever, but the real joy Ashen brings to this deadly dance is sharing those memories with strangers
Its gameplay is familiar and fun, but its world is like nothing you’ve ever seen. You have to work to see it all, and you’ll want to.
Another Souls-like game which will help you pass the time before the release of a new From Software project.
Review in Russian | Read full review
Like an illegitimate heir to the fire of FromSoftware, Ashen clicks exactly the same notes that made Dark Souls a legend, achieving a challenging, mysterious and visually astonishing experience. We will closely follow the works of A44 from now on.
Review in Spanish | Read full review
Ashen feels like it's trying to be too many things at once, and perhaps because of that, it ends up tasting like a bland pot of soup without any punchy flavors to really catch your attention.
A lighter souls, yes. But not a lesser one.
Ashen's slant on the Soulslike subgenre isn't revolutionary, but is a wonderful example of the familiar formula executed well. It's thoughtful, gorgeous, challenging and a dream to explore.
Ashen is a quality Soulslike with a nice art style and some great ideas about seamless and anonymous online co-op. The dungeons are memorable, the evolving town is awesome, and the increased focus that quests provide is a nice touch.
Ashen manages to take a hardcore genre of games and make it accessible and approachable to those who are not fully experienced.