The Ascent: A Lovechild of Cyberpunk 2077 and Alien Shooter. Is it Worth Playing?

Recently, the highly anticipated game, The Ascent, made its debut. The game’s developers are the creators of the acclaimed Wolfenstein series. They promised a cyberpunk atmosphere filled with dynamic and spectacular battles, but did they deliver? Let’s dive into a detailed review of The Ascent after completing the game.

The Emergence of The Ascent

MachineGames, the company behind the game, had gamers excited from the get-go. A single logo displayed at the beginning of the game launch had true shooter fans eagerly anticipating what lay ahead. The Swedish team had previously given life to the outstanding FPS titles, Wolfenstein: The New Order and Wolfenstein 2: The New Colossus.

Wolfenstein 2 was the pinnacle of exceptional shooting gameplay, captivating scenes, and a vibrant storyline. However, despite all its merits, The New Colossus faced commercial failure. After this setback, the MachineGames team split into two factions: some went on to develop the questionable Youngblood, the third installment of Wolfenstein, while others decided to start fresh. The latter group founded Neon Giant.

Naturally, as a newly formed team, their debut had to bring something dynamic and a new classic to the gaming world. Without much hesitation, the creators came up with the idea of The Ascent and started working on it. Meanwhile, fans held their breath.

The announcements and trailers for Neon Giant’s upcoming masterpiece were mesmerizing. A beautiful world, constant battles with dazzling special effects – the anticipation was high. But what did the developers ultimately deliver? Allow me to give you a spoiler: it’s somewhat ambiguous. The action game undoubtedly has its strengths, but the release feels somewhat raw. Many aspects require refinement.

A Few Words About the Story

Naturally, the game is set in the distant future. Humanity has long mastered space exploration, established relations with extraterrestrial beings, and “earthly” cities now exist not only on Earth. The events unfold on a planet called Veles. As is customary, it has a central “evil” corporation, and its name is “Ascent.”

The protagonist at the center of the story is a worker, or rather, a slave of “Ascent.” He has no right to refuse tasks or say “no.” His job involves murder, robbery, and intimidation, and he must continue until his contract with the corporation expires. Those are the rules here. The locals see nothing wrong with it and offer no resistance. After completing the first mission in the game, things take a sinister turn. The corporation’s fortunes take a nosedive, it becomes impossible to contact the board of directors, and the entire system they created begins to crumble. What kind of system is it? The planet’s society is divided into specific classes that require strict and precise control from the “top.”

Initially, the hero’s goal is to save his district. But even for that, he’ll have to work quite a bit. The protagonist will need to search for other “Ascent” employees who have also mysteriously disappeared. In addition, he’ll have to deal with energy and resource deliveries and figure out what went wrong.

Can it be said that the storyline of The Ascent is captivating? Overall, not particularly. It quickly becomes evident that it merely justifies traveling to various locations on the planet, even though it fulfills its initial purpose. Along the way, you’ll encounter various factions and conspiracies, as well as tons of injustices. However, for a seasoned gamer, they may seem unoriginal and somewhat superficial.

On the other hand, the lore in the game is superb. The developers have crafted an interesting narrative that elaborately and engagingly explains how society became the way it is, introducing new technologies, criminal groups, major corporations, and the rules of the universe. The work of the scriptwriters is undoubtedly top-notch.

There are interestingly developed characters as well. There are no complex personalities or deep psychodramas, but each character has their quirks. Some of these characters will impress you, even upon your first encounter.

In conclusion, it can be said that the story of The Ascent is good enough to entice players into a challenging and perilous Journey. There are no glaring plot holes or inconsistencies.

However, let’s be honest; many of us will buy the game for the gunfights, diverse weapons, and abilities. The storyline takes a backseat here. But the action in the game, another spoiler, is well-executed.

Gameplay

The first thing you’ll encounter is a short cutscene, followed by entering the character editor. The choices here are limited: faces, hairstyles, shirts, pants – just ten options for each. In other words, customizing your character to look exactly like you want is quite challenging. If you decide you want to change something about your character later on, the alien surgeons in the game will help you with that!

Regardless of the appearance you choose for your character, they are a killing machine. They solve problems through violence, and you can go it alone or team up with others. The maximum party size is four people.

Did the previews remind you of Alien Shooter? You were absolutely right! There is indeed a resemblance, but with fewer enemies. However, relaxation is not on the menu for this game. Expect constant running, rolling, hiding, and seeking cover. You’ll be firing at the enemy spawn non-stop. There’s no concept of “running out of ammo,” but reloading at the right moment is crucial.

The shooting mechanics conceal a couple of interesting features. The main character can change stances, allowing him to shoot while crouched or with his arm held high. Utilizing all of his abilities is essential, or else he’ll meet a swift demise.

Engaging in a heated battle with enemies? Find cover, raise your hand, and start annihilating them. In this position, you’ll be extremely difficult to reach. Perhaps, the enemies will have to flank you and launch a rocket. Mastering stance changes will require some practice, but soon these actions will become second nature.

Besides stances, you can also switch weapons and the hero’s abilities. You can carry two guns and swapping between them is as easy as pressing a button. Each weapon has different functions and a distinct feel after each shot. Do you have a sharpshooter who doesn’t waste bullets unnecessarily? The revolver is a perfect fit.

There’s also the option to upgrade weapons. You need to visit a master, hand over special kits, and voilà, your upgrade is ready. Now, you can eliminate baddies much faster. Be prepared to change weapons throughout the game. Suppose you happen to acquire a weapon from an elite mob. Believe me, it will outperform the gun you’ve upgraded, even if it’s just once.

The main character’s augmentation allows for wave attacks in close combat, marking enemies to explode upon death, slowing down incoming bullets, self-healing, and much more. Passive modules increase HP, there are grenades, and, of course, armor.

Remember to upgrade not only your weapons but also the hero himself. You gain three points with each level up. Use them to increase durability, augmentations, shooting accuracy, critical hits, and other abilities. It may not drastically affect gameplay, but in particularly challenging missions, you’ll be thankful for your past choices.

For each mission, there are recommended character levels, and enemies are marked with numbers. This makes it easier to gauge if it’s the right fit for you. However, no one forbids you from shooting at an enemy regardless of their rank, but be prepared for a swarm of enemies chasing you. Skills won’t help you then.

By the way, there’s no shortage of enemy characters in the game. You’ll experience rushes, grenade throws, shield penetration challenges, and encounter everything from robots to mutants. And each of them has a completely different behavior.

Fortunately or unfortunately, intelligence isn’t their strong suit. All they can come up with is flanking you, and even that’s not a guarantee.

Bosses, on the other hand, are an entirely different story. They are meticulously designed, making each one unique in every aspect. Battling them is no walk in the park, but it’s incredibly engaging.

When it comes to the combat aspect of the game, it’s exceptionally well-executed. Being a true death rider is thrilling both in solo play and with a group. And that’s not even the shooter’s main advantage.

Visuals, Locations, and Game Requirements

The external shell of The Ascent is truly breathtaking. It runs on Unreal Engine 4, and every detail has been finely crafted. Every texture, explosion, and bullet is rendered at the highest level. In terms of graphics, what Neon Giant has created even surpasses the Diablo 2 remaster. The Ascent is undoubtedly the best isometric game.

Yet, the game’s system requirements are not overly demanding. You can enjoy it on a gaming laptop with a GTX 1650 Ti graphics card, 16 GB of RAM, and an AMD Ryzen 5 3550H processor. With this configuration, you can play at maximum settings in FULL HD resolution.

The level designers deserve special praise. The planet where the game unfolds adheres to all the cyberpunk canons. The setting bears some resemblance to Blade Runner, and the streets embody the “high tech — low life” slogan.

Neon, despair, poverty – it’s the classic cyberpunk ambiance. The streets of Veles are teeming with people, mutants, robots, and even aliens. Everyone dreams of a better life. At the same time, you’ll see flying vehicles, important figures protected by top-notch robotic security, and engineering marvels in every production facility.

It’s both good and bad at the same time. The city seems to absorb it all.

The musical accompaniment only enhances the atmosphere described. Ambient notes when there’s no danger, dynamic melodies during skirmishes with enemies.

The cyberpunk graphics and atmosphere can easily compete with the top contenders, but The Ascent’s main issues can easily overshadow this success.

Main Drawbacks

The main issue with The Ascent is its map. The city where your character roams is vast, multi-layered, and diverse. Floors, alleyways, and courtyards are countless, making it easy to get lost in this topographically complex place. Logic would dictate that the developers should have created a comprehensive map to ease the player’s experience, but unfortunately, that didn’t happen.

For instance, your character rushes to a vendor, but they’re not there. They are on a different level. Which level exactly? How do you get there? It can take a lot of time to find answers.

Sometimes missions are located quite far from your current position, and you simply have to run there. It’s a waste of time, and it’s not particularly interesting. Moreover, everyone wants to shoot you along the way. There is a fast travel option, but even then, it’s not always clear where your mission awaits. Understanding the mechanics can be a lengthy and tedious process.

There’s even a special indicator that leads you to your objective, much like a GPS navigator. However, unlike the real thing, the indicator on the map often leads to dead ends.

Another drawback is the presence of bugs. Bugs in The Ascent are a significant problem. You exit the inventory and realize your character can no longer shoot. How do you feel about that? NPCs can simply disappear, including those crucial to the storyline, making you restart the game.

And the list of such “quirks” is long, believe me. We hope that new patches will fix all these issues.

There’s also something that simply hinders the entire gameplay process. Especially disappointing are situations where you encounter enemies of a much higher level in side quests. In such situations, you won’t survive even for a couple of minutes.

This can also happen in story missions. By meeting all the requirements, you’ll encounter a boss-spider and embark on a cycle of deaths and rebirths.

Most of the side quests are dull and unlikely to pique your interest. Yet, you’ll have to complete them when faced with the situations described above.

Despite all its shortcomings, Neon Giant’s cyberpunk creation is quite enjoyable. Stunning visuals, intriguing lore, and dynamic combat save the day. Of course, the issues with bugs and the convoluted and often confusing map can tarnish the experience, but overall, it’s tolerable. We recommend waiting for refinements, updates, and discounts. One and a half thousand rubles is still quite a lot.