oOo: Ascension

 Xbox One
oOo: Ascension Image
Metascore
70

Mixed or average reviews - based on 8 Critic Reviews What's this?

User Score
7.3

Mixed or average reviews- based on 9 Ratings

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  • Summary: oOo: Ascension is a lightning-paced test of reflexes and skill - can you navigate your ship through these short but ferociously challenging courses? Every millisecond counts in this retro-futuristic world of miniature planets and massive frustration. [Microsoft]

Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 4 out of 8
  2. Mixed: 4 out of 8
  3. Negative: 0 out of 8
  1. XBLA Fans
    Jun 19, 2018
    80
    All the unique elements that oOo: Ascension presents really made it feel special. Like more of a refreshing new concept and even an interesting twist on some platforming concepts than we may have seen in the past.
  2. Digital Chumps
    Jun 15, 2018
    80
    oOo: Ascension is a great puzzle game that focuses less on huge, high-budget components to distract the gamer, and more on clever gameplay design that is entertaining as it is challenging. It squarely emphasizes great puzzle design to each level that brings something new from orb to orb, while encouraging the gamer to keep going from level to level as it becomes more difficult. That’s a good puzzle game, ladies, and gentlemen, and one you should check out.
  3. MondoXbox
    Jun 3, 2018
    78
    oOo: Ascension brings a new perspective on the 2D platformer genre, with an inspired level design and a challenging and captivating gameplay. Too bad for the lack of online leaderboards.
  4. TheXboxHub
    Jun 15, 2018
    70
    oOo: Ascension is a superb little puzzle game with a really interesting, yet quite unusual, visual design that innovates and frustrates in equal measure.
  5. GameSpew
    Jul 26, 2018
    70
    True, there are times you will hate oOo, and I came pretty close to deleting the game on more than one occasion. But if arcade thrills are your thing and you can view failure as a learning experience, then oOo Ascension will be right up your street.
  6. TrueAchievements
    Jun 8, 2018
    60
    oOo won't appeal to everyone, but for those willing to accept the flaws as well as the challenging nature of the game, oOo can be an addictive experience and a fix for that satisfying, 'just one more go' experience.
  7. Cubed3
    Jun 29, 2018
    50
    oOo: Ascension is enjoyable enough for what it is. It sometimes has a bit of an identity crisis trying to figure out what it wants to accomplish with its design, but when it manages to intertwine its puzzle and precision elements, you will find some satisfying stages. These don't come that often, however, and the fact that there's no online leaderboard or any challenging optional objectives means there's barely any replay value, either.

See all 8 Critic Reviews

User Reviews

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Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 2 out of 3
  2. Mixed: 1 out of 3
  3. Negative: 0 out of 3
  1. SunsetGamer
    Jun 5, 2018
    10
    This is unlike anything I've played before - a unique platformer/puzzle hybrid with the right balance of difficulty leading to a feeling ofThis is unlike anything I've played before - a unique platformer/puzzle hybrid with the right balance of difficulty leading to a feeling of immense satisfaction when completing a level. Most levels are under a minute long so it never gets too repetitive and most levels are really very well designed. Online leaderboards would be nice to see how you compare to others, and some levels aren't as much fun as others but due to the pace of the game these don't take long to get past and on the whole the game is so unique you want to keep playing just to see what's next.… Expand
  2. GBG_Jason
    May 27, 2018
    8
    Have you ever wondered what Hotline Miami would be like without the violence and murder? For me, that sounds like it would make for a prettyHave you ever wondered what Hotline Miami would be like without the violence and murder? For me, that sounds like it would make for a pretty boring game, but the new release oOo: Ascension evokes the same sense of urgency to reach your destination with an addictive formula that will likely have you trying again and again, no matter how many times you fail.

    The premise behind the game is quite simple: you control a small ship through mazes that are built upon a sphere, and if you touch the walls or one of the many traps or obstacles the game throws at you, you're dead. I assure you that death will come often and quickly, as the game takes no time in pumping up the difficulty. Much like the hyper violent game previously mentioned, you can respawn instantly, which makes getting back to the game quick and reduces frustration. I found the puzzle designs to be satisfying, with a number of the challenges throwing a random screw ball at you, such as having the walls close in on you just short of the goal. This will happen often after completing a much more difficult segment, which makes the loss even more painful, but encourages you to improve. A useful tool to aid you in improving your runs is the fact the game will include a ghost of your previous attempt, which I found moderately helpful in some of the more trap heavy levels.

    The game is huge, with countless levels spread across a number of worlds known as sectors. Not much changes between them as far as the overall premise aside from new hazards to avoid. As I mentioned earlier, it gets pretty difficult after a short period of time. I was able to speed through the first few levels with ease, completing them in seconds, whereas later levels took me a minute or more to finally complete.

    The game’s controls are tight and responsive, which makes most failures feel well deserved. While the simple controls are accessible, you will need lighting quick reflexes to progress through later levels. I am a bit disappointed by the lack of the ability to rotate the sphere, as this would make some of the more challenging puzzles that offer multiple paths less frustrating. In your time with the title, you'll only need a face button to reset the level at any time, the left or right stick to move, and the right trigger to use the boost feature. The boost mechanic does essentially what it says, but is a bit harder to steer using this option. I found myself taking more time to complete the levels using the boost and only used the speedier method of travel when absolutely necessary.

    The visuals work well, with an overall design that evokes the feeling that this is part of the Portal universe. While unrelated, it's easy to draw this connection due to the muted, off white tones with many single color elements added. The ship you pilot even resembles a slightly deformed version of the turret you'd find in Aperture Labs. I'd often die expecting GLaDOS to chime in with a snarky comment.

    The game can be played in couch co-op, where each player must complete the same puzzle, which neither adds nor removes from the game, but does alleviate the need to take turns if you're like me and have a child who always wants to join in on the fun. In addition to the co-op mode, there isn't much to do once you've completed the many levels, aside from replaying past sequences to earn a coveted oOo rating on each level, which requires nothing short of perfection and careful use of the boost feature. The game boasts a huge number of challenges, so it doesn't feel short by any means, but does lack a reason to revisit it once you've completed it.

    If you're looking for a great puzzle game that is highly addictive, you could do a lot worse than oOo: Ascension. With its challenging gameplay that can be played in small chunks, I would highly recommend purchasing this title.    … Expand
  4. Xbox_Alive
    Jun 7, 2018
    7
    Sometimes I love nothing more than playing a simple game that requires skill every now and then and more often than not little games likeSometimes I love nothing more than playing a simple game that requires skill every now and then and more often than not little games like these can be very addictive. oOo: Ascension is one of these said games and whilst it can be a little frustrating from time to time I often found myself returning to the game time and time again. What this game does so well is that it gets the simple mechanics spot on and this is evident throughout the gameplay. The gameplay on the whole can be really fun at times and the best thing is that movement feels tight and responsive at all times. This is without a doubt down to the controls in the game which remain responsive at all times and never cause you any problems which is great because this is probably the most important aspect in a game of this ilk. Even though they’ve got these aspects of the game spot on I still recommend that you play this game in short bursts. The reason I say this is because when you play this game for long periods you will find yourself getting more and more frustrated and that’s mainly down to trying to obtain the high scores in the game. After all that’s the main aim of the game and you will keep trying to get higher and higher scores I just wish they were a little easier to obtain. I will say though that for me they got the difficulty curve spot on and everything plays out as you would expect, meaning you start of with easy levels and they gradually become harder as you go along. Speaking about the levels in the game I must admit that I was impressed with the amount of variety each level had, and by doing this it meant that the levels stayed fresh and interesting for longer. The game doesn’t have a huge amount of content for you to get to grips with though, but the price of the game matches that and in the end you get pretty good value for your money, which is always good. In terms of the presentation side of the game I did enjoy what was available to me. Visually the game has a nice futuristic look to it which fits the gameplay very well. The accompanying sound design also fits the gameplay well and the simplicity of both the visuals and sound design is more than enough to keep you satisfied. At the end of the day if you like quick and straight to the point games that offer you a challenge then you will really enjoy what oOo: Ascension has to offer. This game may not be for everybody but it’s a good game that’s great for passing a bit of time here and there and in the end it gets a thumbs up from me.… Expand