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

Review this game

  1. Your Score
    0 out of 10
    Rate this:
    • 10
    • 9
    • 8
    • 7
    • 6
    • 5
    • 4
    • 3
    • 2
    • 1
    • 0
    • 0
  1. Submit
  2. Check Spelling
view
per page
  1. 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
  2. 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

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
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.
    Read full review
  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.
    Read full review
  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.
    Read full review
See all critic reviews »