- Publisher: Dear Villagers
- Release Date: Sep 30, 2021
- Also On: PC, PlayStation 4, Switch, Xbox One, Xbox Series X
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Oct 4, 2021Astria Ascending is a gorgeous, very ambitious and at the same time flawed experience. It has deep mechanics, but their implementation could have used some more attention. The graphics are as gorgeous as some tracks are memorable, but sometimes they are out of sync. The background story is rich, yet the game fails to use it, making you do to the very same actions in different locations. If you like old school JRPGs you will overlook the shortcomings and have a good time with the game. If you never had a soft spot for the game best represented by Final Fantasy, Astria Ascending will not make you fall in love with the genre.
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Sep 28, 2021For a game with so many valid criticisms, a recommendation might not seem forthcoming, but Astria Ascending rises above all of these issues as a total experience, with the art alone making worth the price of admission. The character customization gives a feeling of constant, incremental progress that fulfills the effort put in. There’s always a new skill to learn, a new strategy to try. It would have been nice if the story was better and if the dungeon exploration was less frustrating, but this is a game that’s well worth the time for any fan of JRPGs, especially since it’s being sold at a lower price than most new titles. So long as the player knows what they’re getting into, then there’s too much superlative stuff in this package to ignore.
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Sep 27, 2021Thanks to the beauty of its graphics and music, Astria Ascending has an undeniable charm. Far from being content to be a beautiful postcard, the title does not forget to offer solid RPG mechanics to offer a tough challenge to fans of the genre. Unfortunately, its overly classic course and ergonomic concerns make the adventure at times laborious, at least to detract from the enjoyment of the player. Nonetheless, it remains a nice title which, behind its flaws, has an atmosphere that will delight those nostalgic for old-fashioned J-RPGs.
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Sep 29, 2021Astria Ascending is not a great JRPG. I would hesitate to label it a good one. In a year of winners, it's not a complete outlier but it's no contemporary classic. Despite a few flirtations with intrigue, the story is generally vacant of anything compelling enough to stick around until the credits. Poor writing compounds the problem and unlikable characters can't overcome it. Gameplay ranges from strong to stale, with just enough gumption and innovation to keep things lively. Pound for pound and for all its pedigree, this is a disappointing experience I'm not inclined to recommend.
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Sep 28, 2021Astria Ascending is a beautifully hand-drawn game with an old school JRPG feel. It tries to keep the experience modern with some much needed quality of life improvements, but annoying bugs hold it back. It’s a bit of a shame that the story is fairly forgettable but the fun combat system does help alleviate this to an extent. With a very detailed job system and plenty of optional side content to get involved with, there is entertainment to be found here if don’t mind the grind — but as an overall role-playing adventure, Astria Ascending has clear flaws.