The Ascent (PS5) – Review
The Ascent received a mixed reception when it was released on PC and Xbox eight months ago, but the PlayStation 5 version is a vast improvement. Since the game’s release in 2021, numerous patches have been released to address bugs and rebalance various aspects of the experience. Added features include New Game+, transmogrification, and a photo mode. With the PS5, you get all of that right away, as well as a rumbling DualSense feature.
An isometric twin stick shooter-RPG set in a grimy space colony, The Ascent can be confusing to newcomers. Your role is that of a “indent,” a slave with a gun who is compelled to perform odd jobs for the criminal underworld’s most powerful figures and shady corporations to keep the machine running. The plot is simple and, at times, stale, but the game’s impressively detailed and frequently gorgeously dilapidated setting really makes it worth playing through the credits.
The Ascent looks much better in person than it does on screen. HDR makes the neon-lit bazaars and trash-strewn backstreets look stunning on a big screen. It’s almost as if you’re staring at a finely detailed tabletop game because of how detailed the environments are.
While the RPG mechanics of the game aren’t quite as exciting, finding good loot and levelling up your custom indent is still enjoyable. Creating a character is a simple matter of adding skill points to a few key stats; however, as the game progresses, more nuance emerges as you improve your arsenal and enhance your cybernetic implants. Finding a weapon that works well for your playstyle is also a highlight.
So it’s unfortunate that The Ascent’s gameplay never truly feels like it evolves over the course of its 15-hour runtime.. While the gunplay is twitchy and satisfying, with haptic feedback adding an extra layer of realism, there isn’t enough variety to make each battle stand out. Even though it’s not mindless, the later hours can be tedious if you’re not used to the samey and sometimes long encounters.
However, The Ascent’s visuals and RPG depth make it an enjoyable, if slightly repetitive, shooter. If you’re willing to put up with a bit of grinding and a few glitches, there’s a lot of fun to be had here.
