Asemblance

 Xbox One
User Score
6.8

Mixed or average reviews- based on 5 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 1 out of 5
  2. Mixed: 4 out of 5
  3. Negative: 0 out of 5

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  1. GBG_Jason
    Jan 30, 2018
    8
    If you are like me, you’ve laid awake at night, replaying events in your head that didn’t turn out the way you hoped. You wish that you could take back words that were said, made better decisions when given the opportunity, or just avoided certain situations altogether. What if there was a way to go back and relive those events with the knowledge that you had after the fact? That is theIf you are like me, you’ve laid awake at night, replaying events in your head that didn’t turn out the way you hoped. You wish that you could take back words that were said, made better decisions when given the opportunity, or just avoided certain situations altogether. What if there was a way to go back and relive those events with the knowledge that you had after the fact? That is the premise of the horror sci-fi thriller Asemblance.

    You’ll begin the game in a large metal lab, with a single computer console in the room. You are soon greeted by an eerie, unnamed AI who asks you some basic questions and then opens a portal of sorts that transports you to a forest area that works as a basic tutorial, and is the first of a handful of areas you’ll explore. Exploration is easy to do, as the controls are extremely accessible. With run, zoom, and interaction buttons, the tutorial does not require much of your time before you can get into the meat of the game.

    Each area is highly detailed and well rendered, with some areas almost feeling real. While you will occasionally find some details that look flat and feel mildly out of place, it rarely breaks immersion. Most of the first person horror games that have been released on this console generation would fit the bill, but this title is simply begging to be ported to VR.

    The gameplay featured in this title is unique, but won’t be for everyone. It is primarily a walking simulator with the player needing to observe or interact with a small number of items in a set order to progress. Upon “completion” you will receive an ending of sorts that will give some insight into the story, but will also have you scratching your head at the same time, and soon you’ll be staring at the main menu again. When you return to the lab, it will seem as if you are starting over, but you will notice on the console that any previously visited locale will still be an option, and things are a bit different.

    After the requirements for each ending have been achieved, the subsequent playthrough will feature some mild jump scares as well as intended technical glitches to keep the player on edge. While you are never in any true danger, it does constantly feel like the AI, as well as the apparitions you will encounter, is out to get you. Even when things are calm and seem normal, there is a true sense of dread that something below the surface is prepared to strike.

    Each of these runs or playthroughs will vary on the time they take; my first 2 endings were completed in less than an hour, while the 3rd and 4th took a bit longer due to the difficulty increasing slightly. With a total of 5 endings, this game will likely only offer an hour to two hours of gameplay, depending on the player’s mental fortitude.

    While this title has been confirmed to be the start of an episodic adventure, Asemblance feels much more like a demo than an episode at its current price point. It looks amazing and features some great ideas, but many players will likely feel shorted due to the lack of content. If the premise interests you, I would recommend taking the plunge, even at full price, if only as an investment to see more of what this title can offer us in the future.    … Expand

Critic Reviews

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Metascore
47

Generally unfavorable reviews - based on 4 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 1 out of 4
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 4
  3. Negative: 3 out of 4
  1. TrueAchievements
    Feb 13, 2018
    40
    Asemblance is the type of game worth rooting for because it dares to try things in its own unique way. Having said that, its execution leaves far too much to be desired. You can't commend the game for being weird, because it's so weird that it fails to connect at all. It's one of the shortest games you can find on the Xbox One, which should not inherently be an issue, but in this case it is. There needed to be a few more breadcrumbs to help players care about the bizarre sequence of events that unfolds over the game's 30 minutes. Lacking all resonance and intrigue in its playthrough, Asemblance is a decent story once you look it up online later, but more of it needed to be expressed in the actual game.
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  2. XBLA Fans
    Feb 5, 2018
    20
    It’s a game that feels very rushed and unexplained. Sure, the concept alone might have made sense in the mind of that of the person who wrote it, but for those of us experiencing it first hand, there isn’t anything exciting or memorable about it. The hour and a half max playtime the game has to offer is a slap in the face when you're presented with the facts that there is just no story or content to offset. For anyone who’s looking for an interesting game to help fill some free time are better off looking at games such as Firewatch or What Remains of Edith Finch, which are more deserving of your time. If you’re an achievement enthusiast, you may be able to justify the $7.99 for the easy completion, though it's probably best to just wait for a sale.
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  3. TheXboxHub
    Feb 1, 2018
    80
    Asemblance is a very short and very sweet game. It is confusing, weird and tense, but I still love it.
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