Saturday, 21 Dec 2024

Astria Ascending: A Visual Feast with Room for Improvement

Astria Ascending is a captivating indie game that brings together the talents of esteemed Square Enix designers and a budding indie company known for vibrant 2D JRPGs. With heavyweights like Kazushige Nojima, Hitoshi Sakimoto, Hideo Minaba, and Akihiko Yoshida on board, the game promises a visual feast. However, while Astria Ascending showcases stunning visuals and exciting gameplay elements, it falls short in certain areas, leaving room for improvement.

A Beautiful World with Shallow Depths

Astria Ascending combines JRPG elements like skill trees and stat-boosting cosmetics with platforming navigation. The side-view camera and simple controls make it easy to navigate the game’s horizontal plane and scale platforms. However, the explorable world lacks depth, and puzzles are disappointingly easy. The game often spoon-feeds players the solutions, leaving little room for exploration and discovery. Additionally, hazards scattered throughout the game world lack consequences, raising questions about their purpose.

Turn-Based Combat with Customization Options

The turn-based combat in Astria Ascending allows players to rotate between four party members out of eight, utilizing a range of physical and magic-infused attacks. Elemental weaknesses, debuffs, devastating status effects, and focus points (FP) add strategic depth to battles. The Ascension Tree offers opportunities to enhance stats and acquire new skills, allowing players to customize their characters. However, sudden difficulty spikes can be punishing and disrupt the game’s flow, leading to frustrating grinding sessions.

A Vast World with Missed Opportunities

Astria Ascending presents players with a vast world and various subquests. However, some areas are inaccessible until later in the game, limiting the completion of objectives. Subquests often involve punishing monsters or collecting materials for forgettable NPCs. To break the monotony, a mini-game called J-Ster provides a welcome diversion. Although the lackluster plot may diminish the overall experience, J-Ster offers an engaging challenge for players seeking an alternative experience.

An Epic Tale with One-Dimensional Characters

The narrative in Astria Ascending explores themes of destiny versus fate and love versus hate, set in the divided continent of Orcanon. Five races struggle to live together harmoniously, while your crew of demi-gods aims to preserve harmony and eliminate the grotesque creatures known as “Noises.” While the game establishes intriguing lore, the characters themselves fall short. One-dimensional archetypes and limited characterization leave players craving more depth and development.

A Visual Masterpiece that Lacks Substance

Astria Ascending shines as one of the best-looking 2D titles of the year. Meticulously hand-drawn characters and stunning metropolises create a visually captivating experience. The polished animations further enhance the game’s aesthetic appeal. However, the lack of interactivity and character depth diminishes the overall experience. Astria Ascending has the potential for greatness but needs to strike a balance between visual excellence and substantial gameplay.

FAQs

Q: When is the release date for Astria Ascending?
A: Astria Ascending is set to launch on September 30 for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Switch, and PC.

Q: Can I change the voice acting language in Astria Ascending?
A: Yes, players have the option to switch between English and Japanese voice acting in Astria Ascending.

Conclusion

Astria Ascending offers players a visually stunning 2D JRPG experience with captivating gameplay elements. While the game excels in its visuals and combat customization options, it falls short in terms of depth, character development, and overall gameplay substance. Nevertheless, with its talented development team and potential for improvement, Astria Ascending lays a solid foundation for future iterations in the series. Explore the breathtaking world of Astria Ascending, but be mindful of its limitations for a truly enjoyable experience.

Click here to find out more about Astria Ascending