![]() ![]() This all should be intuitive and fun, but I could never quite get into a groove that didn’t leave me exasperated. Fire enemies, for example, are susceptible to ice attacks, so attacking them with ice builds up some points that can be used to spend on stronger attacks later in the battle. The battle system is standard turn-based fare, with a fun mechanic that allows characters to build up extra strong attacks by focusing on the correct elemental attacks for foes. Too many nagging details kept irritating me until I reached the point that I realized the irritants were outweighing my enjoyment of the game.įor example, the balancing of the combat system seems somewhat out of whack. Sure, the scenery is beautiful, and the weather is pleasant, and the conversation is engaging, and you would really enjoy it if…not…for…that…dang.rock.Īs much as I enjoyed the world building and story, the act of actually playing Astria Ascending was problematic and complex. But in practice, something about the way those pieces are put together felt a little off to me, like going on a long walk with a pebble rolling around in your shoe. There is a mystery to be solved, and the team of demigods needs to get to work quickly, because the situation is dire and the clock is ticking.Īstria Ascending has all of the pieces in place to be a fun, engaging RPG. These attacks, which could be coordinated, threaten to disrupt the long-standing peace. Each district is home to a unique race of people, all of whom peacefully co-exist, despite some rather glaring differences. I want to specifically avoid spoilers, but I will say that “noises” (this world’s term for roving monsters) begin attacking various districts in the demigod’s home city. It is against this backdrop that Astria Ascending’s story takes place. The world building is all rather stellar in execution. Astria Ascending drops you into its interesting and unique world without much explanation, allowing the player to slowly glean the details through context. Obviously, the team behind Astria Ascending has completely broken free from the tired “princess with amnesia” tropes that have plagued the genre for 30+ years. But this team seems to be resigned to the fact that they will soon be retired indeed, some of the members seem to look forward to it. Astria Ascending implies that no one wants to be chosen as a demigod, as it is both a glorious honor and a death sentence. Everyone seems to take this as a matter of course. This, of course, means that they all will die simultaneously. The downside? Once you become a Demigod, you only live three years.Īt the beginning of Astria Ascending, your team of demigods is almost done with its term of service – only three months remain before the team is retired to make room for the next group of demigods. Demigods are chosen seemingly randomly, plucked out of ordinary life and imbued with special abilities. At the beginning of the game, the player takes control of the Demigods, a group of regular citizens from all over the world that have been elevated in status and power to become their society’s trusted leaders and protectors. Indeed, the world building in Astria Ascending is so strong that I would love to read fiction (or, you know, play more games) set in this fascinating universe. The characters in the game are unique and interesting, and though you start the game with a veritable gang of eight Demigods already in place, the game makes quick work of making them all feel like individuals. ![]() With a unique, hand-drawn art style, Astria sold me rather quickly on its side-scrolling take on JRPG exploration. Astria Ascending, the new JRPG releasing this week from Artisan Studios and publisher Dear Villagers, is an unbelievably beautiful game. ![]()
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