Ashen

 Switch
User Score
6.7

Mixed or average reviews- based on 34 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 20 out of 34
  2. Mixed: 3 out of 34
  3. Negative: 11 out of 34

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  1. alyoska
    Dec 10, 2019
    10
    Soooo good! I love it! The art style of the game is absolutely an amazing experience.
  2. SigmaEldritch
    Jan 20, 2022
    3
    At least not on NS.

    I read reviews before choosing which platform to get it on, and based on those reviews I figured it would be fine to get it on the NS. No. You get 20-30 fps at most throughout the game but probably every five minutes or so you get a massive drop in framerate to < 10 fps all while docked. Honestly, the game probably would have been fine if it consistently ran at 20    At least not on NS.

    I read reviews before choosing which platform to get it on, and based on those reviews I figured it would be fine to get it on the NS. No. You get 20-30 fps at most throughout the game but probably every five minutes or so you get a massive drop in framerate to < 10 fps all while docked. Honestly, the game probably would have been fine if it consistently ran at 20 fps, it's the wild fluctuations between 10 fps and 30 fps that make it such a terrible experience for me. If that sounds like something you'd **happily** put up with, go ahead. Just remember, Nintendo doesn't offer refunds. If the game ever goes on sale on PC or something like that I'd be happy to try it out, since it still sounds like a good game. But as of right now, I would recommend people stay away from the NS version of the game.    … Expand
  3. Mostly-Nintendo
    Apr 12, 2021
    6
    I was enjoying the combat and world, hit a point (seat of matriarch) that it became unenjoyable. The experience relies heavily on a partner that is often not there, small platforms with lots of enemies can make dodging not practical and the need to hold a lantern also voids blocking. I enjoy souls combat usually but deaths in this specific dungeon often feel cheap and unavoidable.
  4. Ughhh
    Aug 23, 2020
    6
    I was really hoping (and expecting) this to be good, as I really needed to scratch the souls / metroidvania itch that some reviews indicated it would. I suppose for some people it does hit the right notes, but for me is surely didnt. About 5 hours in I just bitterly quit as I never really felt the immersion or thrill. While there is some decent tension in the exploration, and the art styleI was really hoping (and expecting) this to be good, as I really needed to scratch the souls / metroidvania itch that some reviews indicated it would. I suppose for some people it does hit the right notes, but for me is surely didnt. About 5 hours in I just bitterly quit as I never really felt the immersion or thrill. While there is some decent tension in the exploration, and the art style is pretty cool, everthing just feels clunky and off. Also several times had AI companion suddenly leave (in full health, just poof...) which would be ok if you didnt need it to open some doors and climb some walls. Might be nice if you do co-op, but if you're looking for a single player souls like immersion, I cant recommend this.… Expand
  5. minsok
    Sep 6, 2020
    2
    Hard, but not in a fun way.

    As a Souls fan, had really high hopes for this game. It delivers in several ways. The music is atmospheric, the environments can be lovely in places. The fighting can be entertaining though repetitive. What really destroys this game is is piss-poor balancing. I would call this indie-game syndrome; where parts of the game are so unpolished it ruins the entire    Hard, but not in a fun way.

    As a Souls fan, had really high hopes for this game. It delivers in several ways. The music is atmospheric, the environments can be lovely in places. The fighting can be entertaining though repetitive. What really destroys this game is is piss-poor balancing. I would call this indie-game syndrome; where parts of the game are so unpolished it ruins the entire experience. The two last bosses in this game are the biggest offenders and I wanted to quit and delete the game multiple times, but I pushed through with some cheap tactics. It's really unsatisfying to finish the game that way, but the developers didn't really give me an option. (One of the NPC's on the switch version is supposed to help you on the 4th fight, but doesn't even appear in the room. I fought that boss about 30 times and it never worked).

    I tried playing the game on the harder difficulty and enjoyed it until I got to the dungeon midway in the game. It's a huge slog with enemies that one-shot you no matter what your load out is. The palace near the end of the game has the EXACT same problem. I really wanted to like this game, I even tried the second playthrough, but I'm sick of enemies that leap on you from offscreen and one-shot you. This game is close to being great, but is so frustrating and un-fun in parts I regret paying $20 for it. I would say, don't give any money to a developer that doesn't respect your time and mental state enough to make the game fun.    … Expand
  6. OtraPerspectiva
    Jul 21, 2021
    8
    ASHEN es un juego al estilo darksoul con una alta dificultad y un mundo enorme por explorar, contiene un estilo artístico muy hermoso, con momentos muy memorables.

    Se tiene la posibilidad de ocupar diversas armas, aunque en generar se sienten muy similar una de otra, la dificultad es muy alta siendo en algunas zonas injusta con enemigos que te matan de una solo ataque y sin darte la    ASHEN es un juego al estilo darksoul con una alta dificultad y un mundo enorme por explorar, contiene un estilo artístico muy hermoso, con momentos muy memorables.

    Se tiene la posibilidad de ocupar diversas armas, aunque en generar se sienten muy similar una de otra, la dificultad es muy alta siendo en algunas zonas injusta con enemigos que te matan de una solo ataque y sin darte la oportunidad de reaccionar. Aunque tu no iras solo en tu aventura puedes ir acompañando de un compañero el cual te ayudara en tu aventura y a la vez te darán diversas misiones las cuales debes ir cumpliendo para hacer progresar la historia de cada uno, en cuanto a la inteligencia artificial está a veces se comporta de forma extraña atacando enemigos de la nada o pasando ti al momento de necesitar ser reanimado, el juego cuenta con secciones tipo mazmorra en las cuales la dificultad se dispara hasta ser frustrante y a veces en jefe final de la misma esta tan jodidamente roto que apenas termina la respectiva cinemática de presentación este te mata en menos de lo que alcanzas a reaccionar y te ves en la necesidad de atravesar toda la mazmorra de nuevo. Otro aspecto importante es la “aldea” una zona tranquila en la que tu y tus aliados se resguardan y evoluciona lentamente cada vez que vuelves de la aventura, esta característica te incita a avanzar en el juego para ver cómo va progresando.

    En definitiva, ASHEN es un juego muy entretenido al estilo darksoul aunque con una dificultad un poco excesiva la cual puede llegar a ser frustrante    … Expand
  7. IamSquid
    Jan 2, 2023
    8
    Want a souls-like experience? Go into the multiplayer menu and turn the AI companion option OFF. The difference is night and day.
  8. Raindance22
    Jul 28, 2023
    6
    A painful review to have to write! I loved the first 1/4 of this game. The minimalist souls like mechanics and beautiful scenery and music... But that fell to the wayside to an IMMENSE difficulty spike right after the second boss. I began to hold my own after trying out the enemies in this area for a few days of playing, but the real issue began when you are forced out of all side missionsA painful review to have to write! I loved the first 1/4 of this game. The minimalist souls like mechanics and beautiful scenery and music... But that fell to the wayside to an IMMENSE difficulty spike right after the second boss. I began to hold my own after trying out the enemies in this area for a few days of playing, but the real issue began when you are forced out of all side missions and the only place to go is in a super difficult dungeon with multiple cliffs that will instantly kill you and also large axe weirding mini bosses that can also 1hk you! So sad! I gave this game a lot of benefit of the doubt but you end up getting to a boss after many hours only to die quickly and not have a new save point at all! Super inferioritating! Could be a 10/10 game but too many things were off in terms of spent your good, selling your weapons (can't) and even changing your load out (costs money to switch every single time). D grade execution but vision and art were 10/10. Make something else with a bigger budget!… Expand

Critic Reviews

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Metascore
71

Mixed or average reviews - based on 4 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 3 out of 4
  2. Mixed: 1 out of 4
  3. Negative: 0 out of 4
  1. Gaming Age
    Feb 6, 2020
    75
    Will you like it? Obviously, that depends on how much you like Soulsborne games. Even if you do, however, I’d tread carefully before committing to Ashen. It’s got some charms, but also some pretty big drawbacks, and I’m not sure the former is enough to make up for the latter.
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  2. NintendoWorldReport
    Dec 30, 2019
    55
    Ashen is not awful, and I think that any hardcore Souls fans who just can’t get enough of this style of combat will enjoy it. The open world adds a new layer to the Soulsborne format that succeeds more than it fails, but it comes at the cost of weakening a core pillar of the genre. The result is a passable experience, and in a genre that’s quickly becoming as crowded as this one, passable just won’t cut it for anyone but the most hardcore of fans.
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  3. DarkStation
    Dec 30, 2019
    90
    All in all, I have to recommend Ashen to all fans of the Souls-style games, Metroidvanias, challenging games, etc. Anyone who is unfamiliar with these types of titles, then by all means jump in to Ashen, as the option to have AI or a friend by your side can make all the difference in how you play the game, and can really open it up to new audiences. Ashen is out on PC, PS4, Xbox One and now on Nintendo Switch. Personally, the Switch version is a perfect pick-up-and-play game, allowing you to venture deeper into the world one session at a time. While the game is not as large-scale as some of its inspirations may be, it's worth playing all the same.
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