User Score
7.8

Generally favorable reviews- based on 453 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Negative: 67 out of 453
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  1. Jul 31, 2021
    9
    Se juego bien, como todos los juegos de este tipo. Además la ambientación está muy bien conseguida. Lo recomiendo a los usuarios de Xbox.
  2. Jul 31, 2021
    8
    I found this game very interesting and fun I definitely got sucked into the gameplay the story wasn’t that interesting or captivating and customization was lacking but overall a good game
  3. Jul 31, 2021
    10
    Para ser un juego de tan pocas personas se ve increíble, también la jugabilidad esta entretenida aunque no me mi tipo de rpg se reconocer que esta muy bien, si tuviera todo el tiempo del mundo o un poco mas al menos lo pasaría como nunca antes, no me imagino lo que será jugar en cooperativo.
  4. Jul 31, 2021
    9
    The Ascent est un super jeu magnifique, nerveux et très riche que je recommande vivement. Le mode multijoueur rencontre des soucis sur Xbox one mais rien qu'un patch ne peu à priori régler. Bravo aux développeurs pour un rendu aussi surprenant sur Xbox one.
    Je vous invite à tester le jeu par vous même et vous verez. Ne vous laissez pas induire en erreur par ces notes farfelus de gens qui
    The Ascent est un super jeu magnifique, nerveux et très riche que je recommande vivement. Le mode multijoueur rencontre des soucis sur Xbox one mais rien qu'un patch ne peu à priori régler. Bravo aux développeurs pour un rendu aussi surprenant sur Xbox one.
    Je vous invite à tester le jeu par vous même et vous verez. Ne vous laissez pas induire en erreur par ces notes farfelus de gens qui sont là juste pour critiquer.
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  5. Jul 31, 2021
    9
    Amazing micro details of a cyberpunk world filled with mindless destruction. This game is a ton of fun with amazing visuals on Series X. The checkpoint system is a little rough, but nothing to ruin the game.
  6. Jul 31, 2021
    8
    This game is nothing short of amazing. Only a few crashes and online needs to be patched. This game is a hidden gem. Don't let the 65 score fool you. Try it for yourself and see.
  7. Aug 1, 2021
    10
    increíble su nivel técnico y apartado grafico , un juego con bastantes problemas en varios puntos pero nada que estorbe tu partida, una experiencia increible para un juego indie
  8. Aug 1, 2021
    8
    Deffinetly a must play on Xbox! :) Especially of you are a #GamePass member. World ist insanely detailed. Story is casual. Gunfight get intenser the more you play. Loot system could be better. Map is not good. Buggs happend. But the game may become the first in the series. If the team gets bigger and gets more funds, the Ascent2 may become even better game.. Hope MicrosoftGamesStudiosDeffinetly a must play on Xbox! :) Especially of you are a #GamePass member. World ist insanely detailed. Story is casual. Gunfight get intenser the more you play. Loot system could be better. Map is not good. Buggs happend. But the game may become the first in the series. If the team gets bigger and gets more funds, the Ascent2 may become even better game.. Hope MicrosoftGamesStudios understands that ;) Expand
  9. Aug 1, 2021
    10
    Très bon jeu, j'adore quand on sait que seulement 12 personnes on travailler sur le projet, le résultat est quand même assez bluffant.The ascent est très fun à jouer.
    C'est beau en terme de graphisme.
    Top 5 de mes jeux favoris cette année.
    A découvrir d’urgence dispo Game pass.
  10. Aug 1, 2021
    9
    Fantastic game! While the bugs are a given for any game this $30 game can be mistaken for a $60 game. This indie studio is really on the level of an AAA studio.

    Graphics: With Unreal Engine 4, I am impressed how detailed the developers can make this game. The amount of NPCs present in the game, looking over cityscape rooftops, seeing hovering vehicles with trains at different corners,
    Fantastic game! While the bugs are a given for any game this $30 game can be mistaken for a $60 game. This indie studio is really on the level of an AAA studio.

    Graphics: With Unreal Engine 4, I am impressed how detailed the developers can make this game. The amount of NPCs present in the game, looking over cityscape rooftops, seeing hovering vehicles with trains at different corners, and the whole feel of the environment makes this the best looking ARPG to date.

    Combat: This is where a lot of people get confused in the beginning, and might put a lot of people off with the combat system. This is not a game where in diablo you can aim at anything with a click of the button. This game you will need to think a bit on how to defeat your enemies. If the enemy height is lower you can't use the aim button or else you will miss. You will be dodging a lot since there is no melee in the beginning until you get an augmentation mod for it. When there are a lot of enemies you have options to hide behind barriers and shoot with the aim button or find explosive objects and lure them in for the kill. Of course you can always do guns blazing if you put in the right skill points, but when it comes to defeating a bunch of enemies you will need to be more strategic.

    Once you get the hang of the combat system everything should be a breeze. Just a reminder, the higher the enemy level the more punishing they get, but you can also use tactics to pick off high levels while under cover. I managed to kill 3 level 18 NPCs at level 5 because I lured them near an explosive barrel.

    Controls: This is the only area where I had problems. I find using the controller better than using mouse and keyboard. For some reason they decided to change the WASD movement instead of sticking with the original ARPG movement. There is no way to change the settings so the mouse is the only way to rotate your character. You are basically strafing with WASD instead of a full rotation so it takes time to get used to. I feel they can improve it more with different layout styles.

    Using the controller the left stick will make you move at a full 360, the right stick is for aiming. The sensitivity level of the joysticks cannot be adjusted so you will need steady thumbs to get it to aim properly which can also be a bit frustrating when you got enemies engaging and you can't dodge anywhere.

    Sound: From the soundtrack all the way down to the SFX, it's just really good. It really brings the game to life.

    Overall I haven't really encountered bugs that users have been complaining for both PC and console (using Microsoft store not steam), but the game itself is unique and it's great to bring a fresh game on board.

    if you are into turn based RPG, Cyberpunk 2077, looking for a unique ARPG etc.. this game is for you, but if you are looking for Diablo run and gun type game, I would not recommend it.
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  11. Aug 1, 2021
    10
    Increible videjuego y una increible entrada para alguien interesado en este tipo de indies
  12. Aug 1, 2021
    10
    12 man team. Game is incredible. Nicest looking game this gen in my opinion. Super atmosphere throughout and interesting battles. Well worth it.
  13. Aug 1, 2021
    10
    Increible expereciensia para un juego de tan poco presupuesto y una jugabilidad adictiva solo le falta un poco de pulido pero realmente me fascino su nivel artistico y su banda sonora
  14. Aug 1, 2021
    10
    Un 10 em 10 uma maravilha, um gênio do jogo, um nível para um jogo com um orçamento tão baixo.
  15. Aug 1, 2021
    10
    que un juego de este nivel este en el gamepass es simplemente increible 10 de 10
  16. Aug 1, 2021
    10
    beautiful video game, an incredible soundtrack with a very elaborate gameplay
  17. Aug 1, 2021
    10
    Simplemente esto merece un 10 una verdadera sorpresa y un verdadero gustazo.
  18. Aug 1, 2021
    1
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. The game is full of bugs and the camera management is poor, should have not been released this year Expand
  19. Aug 1, 2021
    10
    Um jogo incrível com gráficos incríveis, uma jogabilidade incrível e viciante ao mais puro rpg
  20. Aug 1, 2021
    1
    game has major issues with co op not connecting properly and camera management is poor, it is just something to fill space till halo
  21. Aug 11, 2021
    8
    The Ascent is a gorgeous twin stick/ARPG shooter with solid gameplay and one amazing soundtrack. My main gripe is with the back and forth treks from point A to point B to point C that all are 1.5 km or more and there's no run mechanic. Yes there's a fast travel, but you have to pay for it. As well many of the side quests are buggy, often requiring a main story pre-req that isn't pointedThe Ascent is a gorgeous twin stick/ARPG shooter with solid gameplay and one amazing soundtrack. My main gripe is with the back and forth treks from point A to point B to point C that all are 1.5 km or more and there's no run mechanic. Yes there's a fast travel, but you have to pay for it. As well many of the side quests are buggy, often requiring a main story pre-req that isn't pointed out to the player. I am enjoying the story and world that has been built though and here's hoping for a sequel with a bigger budget and team next time. Expand
  22. Aug 26, 2021
    10
    Love this game visually it's absolutely stunning & the soundtrack is amazing.Combat is fun & engaging
  23. Dec 27, 2021
    9
    This is a time when the critics just don't get what makes a good game. While the story is okay, the gameplay loop, exploration, the setting and atmosphere, sound (except for a few sound bugs in isolated locations) and music are all top notch. It's challenging to play but so worth the $30 price tag. The game has a lot more going for it than games from much larger and better fundedThis is a time when the critics just don't get what makes a good game. While the story is okay, the gameplay loop, exploration, the setting and atmosphere, sound (except for a few sound bugs in isolated locations) and music are all top notch. It's challenging to play but so worth the $30 price tag. The game has a lot more going for it than games from much larger and better funded studios. As the first game from this studio, I for one really look forward to what they do next. The amount of polish and smoothness of this game is amazing for a dev team of only 12 people. Expand
  24. Aug 10, 2021
    9
    Great gameplay, amazingly gorgeous world, addictive combat and satisfying leveling and build customization. The difficulty is challenging without being over the top. A few minor bugs but nothing game breaking. I’ve invested nearly 48 hours into the game in just a week. I can’t put it down. My favorite is the year so far!
  25. Aug 14, 2021
    9
    The Ascent is a true gem, a creative masterpiece compared to many of the bland AAA games released over the past year. All the more impressive considering it was worked on by a small team of 11 people.
    The game is visually stunning, blending bright neon against a dark, industrial cyber-scape. There is so much detail to the world which makes exploring it a joy. It feels like you are in the
    The Ascent is a true gem, a creative masterpiece compared to many of the bland AAA games released over the past year. All the more impressive considering it was worked on by a small team of 11 people.
    The game is visually stunning, blending bright neon against a dark, industrial cyber-scape. There is so much detail to the world which makes exploring it a joy. It feels like you are in the world of Blade runner, mixed with Starwars and Cyberpunk 2077.
    The visuals are complimented by a haunting synth-wave soundtrack that pumps up during the battle sequences. Some of the tracks are so good, like the Dream World nightclub track, I have downloaded them to listen to away from the game.
    The combat is exciting due to a large arsenal of weapons to choose from. Add an enhanced cyberdeck into the mix with cool augmentations and tactical weapons and you have diverse ways to cause carnage. Leveling your character skills will make you a stronger more efficient killer, so it’s worth exploring to find upgrade material and rare items. Characters appearances are customisable so you can create the perfect cyberpunk to traverse the dystopian future.
    There are tons of missions to complete throughout your playthrough providing hours of gaming. You’ll meet loads of interesting NPCs (human an alien) as you progress. Side quests can offer some great rewards and have some fun questlines so they’re well worth doing.
    You can play online or couch co-op. I played a large part of the game with my daughter at home. The couch co-op worked perfectly and provided a really fun experience.
    There are some downsides to the game. The mini map needs improving. It’s frustrating having to pause the game and scroll across to the map. You’ll end up doing this often to find chests. A quick map button would make life a lot easier. There is a bit of back tracking, but once you have unlocked the taxi service, it makes life a lot simpler.
    All in all I really enjoyed The Ascent. It could have ended up just another generic twin-stick-shooter, but the addition of RPG elements coupled with the beautiful visuals and imaginative setting has really made the game stand out. Free on XBOX Game Pass it’s well worth checking out.
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  26. Sep 13, 2021
    9
    I'm playing with Gamepass, what a great scenario setting. I was waiting for this game and I liked to see the level of details that the guys managed to put in the game, the sounds of the weapons and the game in general are amazing. I would love to see a remake of Future COP ps1 with this atmosphere it would be fenomenal.
  27. Aug 7, 2021
    9
    Fun game. Not earth shattering but it does the twin stick shooter very well and adds the element of cover based mechanics. Graphics on the Xbox Series X are outstanding.
  28. Aug 17, 2021
    8
    +Gorgeous visuals
    +Moreish gameplay and upgrade structure
    +Great setting and soundtrack
    +Gamepass
    -Gets repititive over longer play sessions
    -Storyline was a pass but could've been stronger

    This has a been a pleasure to play through - I will been keen to see what this studio come up with next!
  29. Aug 7, 2021
    9
    I completed the game with about 24 hours of playtime, and it's probably the best cyberpunk game I've played to date. (I comment on bugs at the bottom)

    Some people will immediately write it off because of it's genre and isometric perspective, but that's just unfortunate because this game has helped me come to realize that the perspective choice is probably the best option for any game
    I completed the game with about 24 hours of playtime, and it's probably the best cyberpunk game I've played to date. (I comment on bugs at the bottom)

    Some people will immediately write it off because of it's genre and isometric perspective, but that's just unfortunate because this game has helped me come to realize that the perspective choice is probably the best option for any game wanting to use such a setting. Just about every section of every region is just "gorgeously" crafted and often decrepit.

    The story is solid and rooted in the awesome worldbuilding throughout the game. If you like cyberpunk movies/games, then you'll be feeling that love shared by the devs, the whole way through. The protagonist is an indent(ured servant) so they'll always be fairly minute against the backdrop of the world, so don't expect much of a hero or anything. And you'll certainly be reminded of your place along the way (it's fun). This part of the review would be a lot more fun with spoilers, but they're probably be more fun experienced spontaneously, so I'll leave it at that.

    The combat is solid twin stick action. Lots of variety and feasible builds to suit all sorts of tastes, although I do wish they gave the option to use one armor's stats but another's aesthetics (Xenoblade has done this, and it's awesome). Upgrading weapons is very gratifying, but you're probably best off if you pick a favorite 2-4, and devote resources to that. Probably best to upgrade an energy weapon, but you can also use an augment that will convert ballistic weapons to deal energy damage, which I found to be my preferred solution. This just goes back to the builds thing. There's also a sex toy that's actually a very feasible weapon, when usually such things are purely novel.

    The world is also mixed with enemies of different levels, so there's always a sense of danger (as there should be), as you walk through. Some areas you'll have to return to full explore after doing additional leveling. This works out because you'll have to do a fair bit of backtracking, and will also help you level, because things can get pretty challenging.

    BUGS: I played on Series X, and on day one there was this sound bug that was pretty annoying. I think they may have fixed it already (about a week later at this time), because I didn't encounter it as I was finishing the game, after an update had arrived.

    There was a time my gun disappeared, I think after using a tactical skill, and I think it was fixed by going into the menu and changing the equip to something else and back. Not sure if that bug is still there.

    Not exactly a bug, but there were a couple of times where I died and the checkpoint was basically further than I'd been, so dying basically just skipped the part I died at, and topped off my health. Not the worst thing, but popping up in an area you haven't been to can be a bit confusing at first.

    With that sound bug seemingly fixed, or perhaps it's tied to the early game, I don't think these bugs are worth docking any points. That day one sound bug would've been a -1 until fixed, but without it, the others are really more than tolerable. They're not consistent, like with a broken game, but just something going on with some rare mix of things.

    TLDR: 9/10, best cyberpunk game I've played.

    Major bug has seemingly been fixed already, making a disproportionate number of the mixed and bad reviews for the game worthless. Minor bugs aren't worth any substantial deductions. Even with the major bugs on day one, I didn't want to stop playing. So the game's very good.
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  30. Feb 16, 2023
    10
    Easy recommendation. Great graphics and performance. Great 3d sound in “indent” audio mode on a home theater. Story is actually interesting. The combat is phenomenal. The enemies are interesting. The quests are all fully voice acted and the actors sell it well. The world is more cyberpunk than cyberpunk. Easy 10/10.
  31. Sep 16, 2021
    10
    great good looking game that gave me a lot of fun. I love this game and i suggest to not look at critics and go play it
  32. Nov 11, 2021
    10
    I really enjoyed the game. The cyberpunk design is amazing. The effects of shots and explosions in the scenarios were also amazing.
  33. Aug 4, 2021
    9
    Stunning looking game, a fresh new formula for me. I am having a lot of fun with it, I can truly reccomend it. Since it is on game pass even better. The swedish studio with 12 core people did a great work here!
  34. Oct 4, 2021
    7
    "The Ascent" is an isometric top-down shooter in a cyberpunk setting made by a team of 11 people.
    You are a mercenary in a futuristic world who does whatever job he/she gets. And what you do is kill anything that stands in your way. And if you wish also read dialogs about where you need to do this or about the world you play, which is interesting. But if you don't like reading anything
    "The Ascent" is an isometric top-down shooter in a cyberpunk setting made by a team of 11 people.
    You are a mercenary in a futuristic world who does whatever job he/she gets. And what you do is kill anything that stands in your way. And if you wish also read dialogs about where you need to do this or about the world you play, which is interesting. But if you don't like reading anything you can skip this part and just destroy.

    Certainly devs put their soul in "the Ascent". A lot is done great, but some gameplay mechanics just leave a bitter aftertaste.
    So a huge plus for the whole picture, beautiful little details, music, design, etc, but also little nasty holes of negative appear here and there.
    Most of the time game is brilliant and fun to play. There are many pros in little details and huge visible moments. The most important is neat gameplay and nice plot.

    More detailed cons and controversial points:
    Camera - the most important, seems like a little one, but it ruins too much of the hardwork of the devs. It's uncomfortable and uncontrollable at the same time. Lacks a simple possibility to zoom out/in, nothing more. Sometimes you don't even see your enemies, but they see you. It not such a big deal to add a little zoom feature from the devs, which will fix quite a lot.

    Bad navigation. Both mini-map and main map are a confusing when it comes to multilevel system, which is present in the game, but doesn't show enough info about levels on maps.

    Not a con, but a warning. You will die often, which doesn't spoil anything.
    It may be a little hard for beginners on normal difficulty when you face your first enemies with gun.
    You will have to use game mechanics not to die too often and master the game. But from the other side game doesn't punish when you die. You start from the last checkpoint and these are literally everywhere. No matter where you die, you won't lose your progress. It's certainly good if the game crashes. And there is a possibility for it to happen. Hard to say how often, but sometimes it will in the current state of development.
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  35. Aug 6, 2021
    9
    El juego es genial. Tiene muchos errores porque viene de un estudio nuevo y pequeño pero la intención es genial. Las gráficas muy buenas y es divertido. Recomendado.
  36. Aug 4, 2021
    10
    Absolutely stunning graphics, amazing Gameplay, Game Pass day one. Not much more to say about this game. It's really fun, addictive gameplay.
  37. Sep 13, 2021
    9
    Impressive game, was unexpected. Played this on both PC and Xbox with play anywhere. Highly recommend it.
  38. Apr 12, 2023
    3
    More Isometric dribble to utilize the all powerful Xbox Series X teraflops. Another game that feels like it released in 2009. Sure the graphics look decent with the whole cyberpunk theme, but it's not doing anything Shadowrun didn't already do. I guess this will appeal to someone out there, it just didn't do it for me
  39. Aug 2, 2021
    10
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Aquí va spoiler.
    La prensa es basura, no sabe lo que analiza y cada vez queda más claro que no son necesarios.
    El juego de 10 quitando algún fallo técnico menor, jugablemente es un lujazo y gráficamente impacta para su estilo y siendo un juego de bajo presupuesto pocos se han visto como este en su genero
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  40. Aug 4, 2021
    8
    The Ascent is a gorgeous game that knows exactly what it is. Doesn't complicate things just for the sake of "More" and isn't simplistic just for the sake of "Less." It's exactly what it needs to be, knows it and it thrives because of this. Did I mention is gorgeous? The Ascent really nails the art direction and level design. While many players complain about the map, I instead think theThe Ascent is a gorgeous game that knows exactly what it is. Doesn't complicate things just for the sake of "More" and isn't simplistic just for the sake of "Less." It's exactly what it needs to be, knows it and it thrives because of this. Did I mention is gorgeous? The Ascent really nails the art direction and level design. While many players complain about the map, I instead think the developers did never had the intention for us to play it following the map as we do with an open world game. I think the map is something we could've done without, because having it has left a desire for more on it, when it's not entirely necessary. One con I have with the combat is that you could be walking down a hallway with no enemies, but when you encounter one up in front of you, enemies would spawn out of nowhere. So, if you backtrack a bit from where you came from, where there were no enemies before, you now, out of nowhere, may encounter several of them. This really makes no sense and it's a bit frustrating to me, because when I have many enemies in up front I'd like to be able to walk back to safety. I understand devs probably want me to keep moving, but I think there are other and better ways to accomplish that. Yet, my biggest complaint is the game's performance. The game stutters with effects, especially with explosions, to the point where is game breaking. Apparently as you play along it starts to perform better. But when you close and open the game again, it starts with the struggles. I've also encountered a few bugs here and there. For example Bosses and some battle arenas have a cinematic, but if you skip these too quickly the enemies would not load properly, making you having to restart the game. I've also encountered an issue where I quit to the main menu and the game would not recognize any inputs from my controller nor keyboard, so I have to force alt-f4 quit the game instead of through the menu. There's a bit of polishing needed to be made but this game is a true gem, in my opinion. Is one of the funnest games I've played this year and I can't wait for the devs to expand on it with, possibly, new game modes and content. Expand
  41. Oct 23, 2021
    10
    Great game. The map and travel system like others have said, is such a burden, but when the game finished I wanted to play it again. A game worth its price, and no question if you have gamepass.

    It's unfortunate that you don't get an extra aug/mod towards the end.
  42. Aug 16, 2021
    8
    No entiendo el Hate y las Notas tan Bajas de la Prensa.
    No me esperaba nada pero es una Joya como todo lo que tiene Xbox este año.
    Se ve de Lujo en Xbox Series X.
    Y lo que queda por llegar.
    Muy recomendable
  43. Aug 3, 2021
    8
    Positiv. Sounds, Grafik, gameplay
    Negativ. No German voice, Charakter editor, multi-player
    The game Ist really good. The setting is awesome and for the first game, ist really good. Some negatives but it's OK. From me it give 84%
  44. Aug 5, 2021
    9
    Really awesome!,, all works fine after last update, incredible adictive atmosphere and gameplay!!!
  45. Jul 31, 2021
    9
    It’s a great game, 7-9 out of 10 depending on how much you like twin stick shooters. I love the genre so for me it’s a 9 and a total blast. Feels surprisingly fresh with the added RPG elements and dodge and cover mechanic. Looks like a AAA game but made by 12 people, it’s incredibly impressive to be honest, and the sound design is top notch!
  46. Dec 31, 2022
    5
    This is my 2022 disappointment of the year. The game has a solid base, oustanding environments, nice gameplay, average scenarios, reasonable variety of loot/weapons/equipments, a classic RPG based character building and coop should be the base on such a game. Well past a few hours, the game is severely bugged : the game may randomly and frequently crash, bugged quests (including the mainThis is my 2022 disappointment of the year. The game has a solid base, oustanding environments, nice gameplay, average scenarios, reasonable variety of loot/weapons/equipments, a classic RPG based character building and coop should be the base on such a game. Well past a few hours, the game is severely bugged : the game may randomly and frequently crash, bugged quests (including the main one, can stop you progression or make you replay a mission you took hours to succeed in), character behavior (shooting in the ground thus not damaging any enemy for example), you cannot speak to the same merchant at the same time with another player because it may block the game and make you restart your session, at least two bugged achievements.. The whole thing totally waste my experience on what could have been a nice game. Expand
  47. Aug 10, 2021
    8
    Visually stunning, great music in a world that feels alive.

    The developers nailed attention to details perfectly. When you walk past a security camera the camera will follow you.

    The twin stick shooting is decently incorporated in the game and i love the map.

    Excellent RPG elements.

    Game started out with a lot of bugs but a meaty patch was released couple of days after release.
  48. Aug 4, 2021
    10
    The Ascent possui uma ambientação impressionante, locais com muita vida e personalidade e um mundo enorme. A jogabilidade é viciante e muito satisfatória. Existem alguns problemas, como travamentos de menu, diálogos que não foram traduzidos e algumas quedas de fps, mas nada que tenha afetado minha experiência.
  49. Feb 3, 2022
    6
    11 hours and 675 gamerscore in a beautiful looking cyberpunk action roleplaying game with some gameplay flaws.

    story It's about a corporation "The Ascent Group" that basically controlled everything in a dystopian future and then it came to a collapse, from which factional fights for power and more arose. You yourself are basically a normal person who then struggles through mercenary
    11 hours and 675 gamerscore in a beautiful looking cyberpunk action roleplaying game with some gameplay flaws.

    story

    It's about a corporation "The Ascent Group" that basically controlled everything in a dystopian future and then it came to a collapse, from which factional fights for power and more arose. You yourself are basically a normal person who then struggles through mercenary work and tries to find out what happened to the large corporation or which threads are actually being pulled in the background.
    Most of the time I didn't actually understand much because I don't really pay too much attention to the story in this type of game either. But towards the end it clicked and everything was clearer and easier to understand.
    The story isn't particularly spectacular and I personally wasn't really interested in it from the beginning until shortly before the end. A German voice output would also have been nice, even though I have no problem with English at all, but if you only want to be enlightened by the background of the story, then a missing voice output in German makes it more demotivating.

    gameplay

    In a top-down action RPG, this should definitely be the heart and the shining core of the game. Sometimes it is, but sometimes it drove me insane.

    Cyberpunk setting, great and cool weapons, where you can try out a lot and also destructible environment objects. There are abilities and skill points to distribute in order to customize your character's play style. But I had some problems with the character progression in particular: I simply never felt really strong at any point in the game. I didn't notice that I've already completed quest and side quest xyz, distributed experience points and skills and became more and more powerful. On the contrary, I had to lower the difficulty level of the game at times and even had problems on Easy.
    Either I've fundamentally lost my skills here or didn't have or found certain skills and thus spoiled the fun of the game, which definitely comes up when you're in the flow. The opponents, who unfortunately respawn again and again, were sometimes so difficult and the menu jungle of augmentations, skills, abilities was not always transparent for me, I could never really say what exactly brings me something.

    I also found the "cover" gameplay rather obstructive and demotivating, because I don't want to hide in such an action RPG, but rather just shoot away masses of opponents. But there was clearly a lack of the possibility of constantly and reliably regaining life (apparently there is a lifesteal option, I haven't found it) in order to survive longer fights better. Especially when it comes to health objects, the loot for opponents could have been much more generous. Ultimately, I also have different skills, e.g. the life giver, not understood why this but not others, such as e.g. the mech, have such incredibly long cooldowns. I then just played through with the mech and a superhero jump, which worked much better.

    But the weakest thing for me was the map and all the WAY TOO LONG paths and that one is often not simply coordinated to the metro first. The map was sometimes not easy to understand and the metros were far behind quests. Paths that are then completely paved with waves of enemies that have been killed countless times and a character that runs so incredibly slowly. Why don't you get a bike or mech in the course of the game for faster bridging of the whole path? It would have fitted wonderfully and would have been cool on top of that. You should have been a bit careful when driving, because there is already a lot going on in the world!

    Even if there is a lot of nagging in the gameplay, it was still okay overall.

    Graphics/Presentation/Bugs

    The graphics, presentation and atmosphere just blew me away. This looks phenomenal from front to back and is optimally implemented, especially in the cyberpunk setting. The lighting effects, reflections, everything around it in individual sections of the city, the stacking of the city levels on top of each other or the effects in combat were made with a lot of love and a lot of development time was certainly spent here. The world that has been created is really very pretty to look at and you keep getting lost in it and marveling at the splendor of it all. I really have to say, even though this aspect of games isn't the most important thing to me, The Ascent graphics etc. let me go through with the game in some annoyed moments.

    Conclusion

    Long story short: The Ascent does some things right, is impressive for an indie developer and unfortunately weakens in the core area of ​​the gameplay. Nonetheless, a recommended game and not very long either, 6/10 medipacks.
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  50. Aug 5, 2021
    7
    I enjoyed the game even though it wasn't perfect. The combat was very frustrating at times and the loot wasn't great. The story, music, and graphics were all awesome.
  51. Aug 17, 2021
    6
    Looks great and has a awesome world. But besides that it doesnt have a lot going for it. it is a looter shooter without any interesting loot or way to build your character. its more just a normal isometric shooter. there is also a lot of level problems where the mission tells you the recommended level is lvl13 and than throws level 23 enemies at you, which you can defeat because of theLooks great and has a awesome world. But besides that it doesnt have a lot going for it. it is a looter shooter without any interesting loot or way to build your character. its more just a normal isometric shooter. there is also a lot of level problems where the mission tells you the recommended level is lvl13 and than throws level 23 enemies at you, which you can defeat because of the weird mk (weapon upgrade) system but they feel as bullet sponges. the mk system is just a system where you get components to upgrade your weapon and nothing more. this ended up in being just upgrade two weapons you use and nothing more.

    the devs sure have something great in their hands and if they improve it with the rpg/looter shooter elements in this game than it could go to serious hidden gems.
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  52. Aug 7, 2021
    8
    Real Note:76
    The ascent is a good game, with great gameplay and gunplay, however the spaces between them is long and kind of anoying, too long walks to get from point one to poing two.

    As a conclusion, good action game which could have lasted 3 or 4 hours less
  53. Aug 11, 2021
    8
    Beautiful looking game with stunning Cyberpunk visuals, super fun to play and incredibly addictive. What lets this game down though is the terrible level design and balance. Different areas will have different level of enemies, but there's no pattern - it all seems random - you can be doing a lvl 10 side quest, but actually getting to that quest you have to go through lvl 20 enemies, orBeautiful looking game with stunning Cyberpunk visuals, super fun to play and incredibly addictive. What lets this game down though is the terrible level design and balance. Different areas will have different level of enemies, but there's no pattern - it all seems random - you can be doing a lvl 10 side quest, but actually getting to that quest you have to go through lvl 20 enemies, or vice versa. Furthermore, many locations are blocked from the player and need to be unlocked in the main story, but you are never told this, and just have to be psychic or read a Wiki. It makes the whole experience very disjointed, and actually puts you OFF doing side missions because you have no idea if you can even get to that side mission.
    Then there are the bugs - this game is VERY buggy - loads of crashes (especially in multiplayer) but even solo there are many major bugs where bosses or crucial enemies don't spawn. And don't try to play this on multiplayer on Xbox One - the lag is so bad it's unplayable.
    Despite all that, it still gets an 8 from me because everything else in the game is SO good, but the whole package has been badly let down by awful design decisions and serious bugs.
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  54. Aug 13, 2021
    8
    I don't understand how this game has a 60 from the critics, it's a very solid 80. Amazing graphics and details, cool story, adictive gameplay and FUN.
  55. Nov 10, 2022
    8
    Excellent run and gun twin stick shooter similar to arcade games like Smash TV. Game looks fantastic, and really gives the feeling of being in a giant vertical urban center. The environment here does some heavy lifting, and swings between hi-tech and a slum aesthetic like something between Coruscant and a hive city from W40k.
  56. Aug 11, 2021
    10
    Una maravilla para un juego creado por 12 personas y poder disfrútalo en Game pass
  57. Aug 11, 2021
    9
    Soundtrack 10/10
    Design/stages 10/10
    Graphics 10/10
    Game-play 9/10
    Story 8/10
    Bosses 9/10
    Maps 10/10
  58. Aug 6, 2021
    10
    Maybe a off-putting Learning its unique mechanics at the start. It doesn’t help that you’re in a dingy dungeon but so worth your time if you press on. I recommend playing the first couple hours with friends But not totally necessary. The main antagonist is the world itself so keep that in mind. I find they used their limitations with intelligent intention.
  59. Aug 9, 2021
    10
    Sound, visuals and gameplay insanly good. One of the Best indies I've played so far
  60. Aug 28, 2021
    10
    Отличная игра! Ничего подобного давно уже не видел. Поразительное внимание к деталям. Есть некоторые проблемы с исполнением заданий, но не критично.
  61. Sep 7, 2023
    8
    Amazing atmosphere, best Cyberpunk game by far in it's kind, colorful world and great game design, you will not be dissapointed, one of the, if not the most immersive game of 2021 to this date.

    I do recommend it for the Xbox Series X
  62. Aug 10, 2021
    10
    Großartiges Spiel, tolle Cyberpunk Welt und cooler Sound.
    Für ein Team aus 12 Entwicklern, eine fantastische Arbeit.
    Hatte übrigens keine Probleme mit Crashs oder Bugs.
  63. Aug 3, 2021
    10
    Jogo muito bem feito, sei que é um pequeno estúdio, mas eles tem potencial para fazer grandes triple A, estão de parabéns
  64. Aug 8, 2021
    10
    Pretty fun old school kinda shooter with some awesome graphics and atmosphere, try it on gamepass.
  65. Aug 6, 2021
    9
    Muy buen juego, lo acabo de terminarlo y quede impresionado a pesar de algunos poco bugs( como en casi todos los juegos actuales) cumple y rebasa lo esperado, enganchense a la historia también es muy loca
  66. Aug 8, 2021
    10
    This game is highly addicting and so much fun. Only 12 people made this gem!
  67. Aug 6, 2021
    10
    Great game, fun gameplay, plus it’s on gamepass. Some of the best top down shooting action that is getting released today.
  68. Aug 4, 2021
    10
    O jogo é divertido com bons gráficos , boa trilha sonora de jogo. Os mapas tem uma densidade incrível de personagens. O fato de jogar em coop com crossplay com meus amigos é maravilhoso. Esse estilo de jogo com a temática cyberpunk é perfeita. Ascent é um excelente jogo.
  69. Aug 9, 2021
    9
    Great game! it goes straight to the point: entertain, do not expect a wonderful rocking story... cause is no there, but the gameplay is great, ambiance is wonderful and immersive, this is the kind of game where you can easily spend hours without noticing... hard to believed that it was develop by an small group of people..
    Grandioso juego! va derecho al punto: entretener!, no esperen una
    Great game! it goes straight to the point: entertain, do not expect a wonderful rocking story... cause is no there, but the gameplay is great, ambiance is wonderful and immersive, this is the kind of game where you can easily spend hours without noticing... hard to believed that it was develop by an small group of people..
    Grandioso juego! va derecho al punto: entretener!, no esperen una historia profunda oh rompedora, porque no está alli, pero el gameplay es genial, el ambiente es maravillo e immersivo, este es el tipo de juego donde puedes perder horas sin notarlo, es dificil creer que fue desarrollado por un grupo de pequeño de personas..
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  70. Aug 23, 2021
    0
    The game is incredibly full of bugs and technical flaws. The story of the game is empty and the missions are poorly designed.
  71. Aug 4, 2021
    10
    An amazing game developed by 12 very talented people. Truly beautiful both in level design and sound, a work of art.
  72. Aug 6, 2021
    9
    Very good game. Beautiful scenery, with lots to explore. Stick with this one past the first few hours (3-4 missions). Would certainly recommend to others.
  73. Nov 14, 2021
    8
    Having fun playing this game with friends I wanted to wait because of all issues but the game is in a very good state
  74. Aug 3, 2021
    8
    I didn't know that I needed this game until I came upon it. From the amazing well crafted world to the engaging combat, I had a ton of fun playing this solo, and with a some friends.

    Are there areas that need some improving? yes, of course. The character creation could be better, the weapons system could be revamped, and the map could use some form of pinging. Also, it would be nice to
    I didn't know that I needed this game until I came upon it. From the amazing well crafted world to the engaging combat, I had a ton of fun playing this solo, and with a some friends.

    Are there areas that need some improving? yes, of course. The character creation could be better, the weapons system could be revamped, and the map could use some form of pinging. Also, it would be nice to have more control options for party creation/invites.

    Are there bugs? yes, a few glitches from time to time, but nothing world ending. A simple restart was all that would be needed, but it rarely happened during my playthroughs.

    Though not a perfect game, it has been an incredibly fun game, developed by a relatively small team. At the end of the day, being a fun game is all I ever needed.
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  75. Jul 31, 2021
    9
    A mix of diablo and smash tv! I love it! This game needs some tweaks, some extra detail on how the meta works. E.g Labels on the different stats. The taxi system need to be pushed abit more as missed this till I watched a YouTube. Ice and cyberdeck needs better explanation. Maybe some tool tips if you are using the wrong guns against certain enemies.
  76. Aug 20, 2021
    10
    beautiful game and plays really good now that the first update fixed most of the bugs, a must try
  77. Aug 9, 2021
    7
    Solid game but I dislike the rpg elements. It would have been better as a pure twin stick shooter.
  78. Aug 2, 2021
    10
    Game of the year contender for me, did not have such fun with a game in a long time, Beautiful graphics, great mechanics 10/10
  79. Aug 2, 2021
    10
    Very good game, I still like a multiplayer with Random people very much, but it is good with friends, each place you explore is different with great lighting and setting with a large tree of possibilities, beginners may find it difficult to understand it since it has multiple options
  80. Aug 2, 2021
    10
    A beautiful aesthetic and a compliant gameplay for the caliber of the game, very fun.
  81. Aug 2, 2021
    10
    A beautiful aesthetic and a compliant gameplay for the caliber of the game, very fun
  82. Aug 2, 2021
    10
    Jogo de drogas. Mundo superdetalhado, bons efeitos sonoros e eu absolutamente amo a atmosfera do punk cibernético. Este mundo é irreal. Deveria ter sido o mundo usado em Cyberpunk 2077. Normalmente não fique louco com atiradores de stick duplo, mas este é definitivamente bem feito.
  83. Aug 3, 2021
    10
    This game is amazing I had a blast in my 50 hour play through. The Ascent is dripping with cyberpunk Atmosphere and really good music that sucks you into the cyberpunk world. The world is Breathtaking and stunning and the explosions and Send me encounters or fun. I’d recommend this game to anyone Who likes Bladerunner or top down shooters or people looking to try something new.
  84. Aug 3, 2021
    10
    a graphic section that totally reminds us of cyberpunk2077 but with glorious gameplay
  85. Aug 3, 2021
    10
    Ótimo jogo. Os gráficos são excelentes para um atirador de dois stick. A jogabilidade é viciante, mas pode ser repetitiva. Definitivamente, vale a pena dar uma olhada, especialmente se você tiver Gamepass.
  86. Aug 3, 2021
    10
    ¡Gran juego!
    ¡Uno de los mejores juegos que he jugado este año!
    ¿Y por qué las personas dan este 0? Metacritic es un sitio roto.
  87. Aug 3, 2021
    10
    Very good game, I still like a multiplayer with Random people very much, but it is good with friends, each place you explore is different with great lighting and setting with a large tree of possibilities, beginners may find it difficult to understand it since it has multiple options
  88. Aug 3, 2021
    10
    Stunning visuals with mind blowing detail and volumetric lightning, fantastic gunplay, no need to grind progression (although it helps to do more than half the side missions and explore), great soundtrack/sfx. An ode to isometric games, where everything moves, glows, reflects - all in multiple depths and layers. I played the XBOX SX day one version on Gamepass, therefore I stumbled onStunning visuals with mind blowing detail and volumetric lightning, fantastic gunplay, no need to grind progression (although it helps to do more than half the side missions and explore), great soundtrack/sfx. An ode to isometric games, where everything moves, glows, reflects - all in multiple depths and layers. I played the XBOX SX day one version on Gamepass, therefore I stumbled on plenty of bugs/glitches/afterthoughts (sfx goes nuts with headphones, gun in hand randomly disappears after using augmentation, a side mission could not be finished, crash back to main screen, map navigation is really bad, some stats/interactions are not clearly explained, etc), but none of these issues deterred me from playing and finishing the game in a couple of days (and I do have a demanding day job). I just hope there’s more characters, missions and DLCs on the way. Expand
  89. Aug 3, 2021
    10
    Had alot of fun playing this game. And I can not wait to see what the guys will do in the future
  90. Aug 3, 2021
    10
    Sinceramente las notas no le hacen honor a este juegazo, una obra de arte para los ojos y la jugabilidad
  91. Aug 3, 2021
    10
    A beautiful aesthetic and a compliant gameplay for the caliber of the game, very fun
  92. Aug 4, 2021
    10
    El juego es increíble, no entiendo las críticas. Ya jugué 10 horas y es un buen descanso de las aventuras de acción en tercera persona y los juegos de fps. El juego es una locura por el hecho de que solo 12 personas lo lograron. Brovo
  93. Aug 4, 2021
    10
    Es un sólido 9. No hay preguntas al respecto.

    Un juego económico que ofrece una jugabilidad y una estética extremadamente hermosas, un mundo increíblemente inmersivo y mucha diversión. Cada detalle te dejará absolutamente atónito.

    En serio, es uno de los mejores juegos lanzados en mucho tiempo.

    Un juego cyberpunk bien hecho.
  94. Aug 4, 2021
    10
    Предложения Восхождения и его мира впечатляют. Суть того, что такое киберпанк, очень хорошо представлена ​​в названии.

    Игра очень нравится в кооперативе, так как ее игровой процесс поддается ему, но игра в одиночку - это вовсе не незначительный опыт.
    Предложения Восхождения и его мира впечатляют. Суть того, что такое киберпанк, очень хорошо представлена ​​в названии.

    Игра очень нравится в кооперативе, так как ее игровой процесс поддается ему, но игра в одиночку - это вовсе не незначительный опыт.
  95. Aug 4, 2021
    10
    Un juego divertidísimo y con un apartado grafico alucinante, le falta un pulido para darle el ultimo toque pero realmente es un juego indie increíble
  96. Aug 4, 2021
    10
    Bestes Spiel, das ich dieses Jahr gespielt habe. Es gibt hier und da ein Problem, aber sie können nicht davon abhalten, dass dieses Spiel Cyberpunk richtig gemacht hat. Die Umgebungen sind fantastisch und das Gameplay ist hektisch. heftig und aufregend.
  97. Aug 4, 2021
    10
    Si te gustan los juegos como hades o diablo este juego te encantara obviamente sufre algunos fallos en algunos aspectos pero es increible.
  98. Aug 4, 2021
    10
    My game of the year so far. Been playing this none stop. If you like rpg shooters, this one is unlike any other and a must play. Great job!
  99. Aug 4, 2021
    10
    Me divertí de una manera con este juego simplemente me encanto es hermoso ,
  100. Aug 4, 2021
    10
    Un juego increible con una ambientacion Cyberpunk simplemente hermosa para los fans de este estilo.
Metascore
68

Mixed or average reviews - based on 34 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 14 out of 34
  2. Negative: 1 out of 34
  1. CD-Action
    Oct 12, 2021
    85
    Style over substance – I bet Neon Giant has this cyberpunk principle printed above the office entrance. The design of their game is absolutely breathtaking, with huge, vertical, crime-infested cities and masterful use of lights and shadows. Add a pulp-style story and good dialogues (or rather monologues, as the protagonist is silent) immersed deeply in the cyberpunk lore, and you’ve got a pure gem for anyone who enjoys this setting. The shooting mechanics and progression system might be overly simple, but they get the job done and make it easier to catch the game’s flow. [10/2021, p.56]
  2. Aug 19, 2021
    75
    A visual feast that, along with the great audio design, makes for a very atmospheric experience. It's not perfect, though. Navigation leaves a bit to be desired and some technical shortcomings put a damper on the fun.
  3. Aug 18, 2021
    75
    The Ascent offers cyberpunk lovers a setting where they can unleash their dreams of steel and neon.