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. 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.
  2. 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
  3. 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

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.
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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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