Announced in 2014, Ashen for Xbox One and Windows PC is an action role-playing game developed by New Zealand-based indie studio A44 Games. And like a fair few indie games this year, it's a souls-like, which is sub-genre of titles inspired by Dark Souls. There's a loosely-told story, a sprawling world to explore, and of course tough combat. Be it Scoria, the currency you earn from fallen foes or its control scheme that mimics the From Software classic, Ashen wears its inspiration on its sleeve. If this was all the game did, it wouldn't be as enjoyable as it is. Rather, Ashen's interpretation of the Dark Souls formula might just be the best one yet.
Ashen's premise tasks you with protecting an old God reborn, bringing light back to a previously dark world. Soon enough you and a few non-playable characters (NPCs) find a town that grows as you play through the game, granting you access to new gear through the adventure. The world itself is tastefully created, sporting muted pastel hues with minimal details in terms of character design not too dissimilar to the likes of Volume[1] or Sword and Sworcery. However a fresh coat of paint isn't the only thing that's different about Ashen. There's an emphasis on verticality, with secrets to find scattered across its mountaintops and caverns. You feel like exploring each and every inch of Ashen's world due to how traversal works.
Sure, it's familiar to anyone who has played Dark Souls[2] — you use the analogue sticks on your controller to move your character and tap a button to interact with in-game objects — however it just feels a lot more immediate as compared to the slight but perceptible learning curve in Souls games....