1. Gameplay

2. Development

3. Reception
    Awards 

4. References
    Sources 

5. External links

Ashen is an action role-playing game developed by New Zealand studio A44 and published by Annapurna Interactive. Set in a low fantasy environment, the game was released for Microsoft Windows and Xbox One on December 7, 2018.

Gameplay

The game is set in a sunless world and tells the story of a character seeking a home. Gameplay is described as including open-world exploration, co-operation or competition with other players, and combat with in-world monsters.^[2] The game is presented in a third-person view, with a muted cel-shaded graphics presentation.^[3]

The game has been described as containing gameplay elements of classic role-playing games such as King's Quest, as well as games such as DayZ. Both combat and exploration in an open world were key design elements of the game. Multiplayer elements include interactions with other players, which are incorporated into the game as providing traditional RPG elements such as crafting.^[4] Combat includes ranged and melee weapons.{{sfn|Corden|2016|loc = Q.Jez: In the trailer, we can see players wielding melee weapons, is Ashen a strict melee combat affair? Can players control their gameplay style in any way?}}

Character growth is primarily dominated by equipment, rather than player 'stats';{{sfn|Billcliffe|2015}} "Talismans", either found or crafted, are used to upgrade character abilities or provide other in-game perks.{{sfn|Corden|2016|loc = Q. Jez: How does Ashen handle character progression?}}

Development

Initial publicity material for the game was released mid-2014.^[5] Ashen was revealed as an Xbox console launch exclusive at E3 2015, during the Xbox conference as being developed by what the developer was then known as Aurora44 (now A44) under the ID@Xbox independent developer program.^[6]

—

Initially released 2014 design elements of the game included survivalist elements and elemental effects, such as the wind as a help or hindrance. The world's geography and ecosystems were intended to be realistically modeled, to play into intelligent play styles within survival mechanisms; additionally, natural geography was intended to be based on an underlying geology. One in-world game element is an enemy known as the "Gnaw", which has the ability to erode the environment "like a searing acid". Much of the background, setting, and feel of the world was influenced by Cormac McCarthy's novel The Road. Combat was described as similar to the Souls series, being high risk, with stamina being a major factor in combat.

Multiplayer elements were described as 'passive', meaning that playing with a partner(s) is not mandated, and entirely optional, though certain situations require cooperative play; AI (computer controlled) allies were also to be implemented. The 'passive' multiplayer element included the conversion of a human player companion into an AI controlled non-player character (NPC)s if they could be escorted to the home town of the main adventurer; however such AI controlled NPCs were not guaranteed to be entirely benign. Art style influences were cited as initially including Sword & Sworcery EP, Shadow of the Colossus, and The Legend of Zelda series.{{sfn|Tic Podcast|2015|loc=14min04sec - 15min15sec}} Developers also stated they had been influenced by the emergent multiplayer storytelling found in the video game DayZ.{{sfn|Shoptaw|2015}}

Reception

Ashen was rated 9/10 by GameSpot,^[7] and 4/5 by GamesRadar+.^[8] Eurogamer also praised the game, awarding it the "Eurogamer Recommended" mark.^[9] The game was noted through multiple reviews to hold similarities to the Souls series, specifically Dark Souls.

Awards

References

Sources

• {{citation| url =http://www.gamingconviction.com/interview-aurora44-talks-ashen-their-influences-and-the-e3-experience/| title = Interview: Aurora44 Talks Ashen, Their Influences, and The E3 Experience| date = 1 July 2015| first = Ryan| last = Shoptaw| work = GamingConviction.com}}
• {{citation| url = http://kotaku.com/ashen-is-a-very-pretty-video-game-1606977580| title =Ashen Is A Very Pretty Video Game| work = Kotaku| date = 17 July 2015| first = Luke | last = Plunket|}}
• {{citation| url = http://killscreendaily.com/articles/ashen/| title = Ashen is the sprawling, low-poly Dark Souls of our nightmares| date = 14 July 2014| first = Chris| last = Priestman| work = Kill Screen}}
• {{citation| url =http://www.onlysp.com/explore-volcanic-post-apocalyptic-world-aurora44s-ashen/| title = Ashen is Shaping Up to be a Much Darker, and More Ambitious "Journey" on Xbox One and PC| first = James| last = Billcliffe| date =15 July 2015| work = OnlySP}}
• {{citation|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4TkdaAi6lDE | title = On The Red Carpet with Ashen | type = Interview| date = 11 July 2015| work = Tic Podcast| publisher = YouTube |ref = {{harvid|Tic Podcast|2015}} }}
• {{citation| url =http://www.windowscentral.com/ashen-interview-survival-rpg-xbox-one| title = Q&A: Join us for a look at Ashen's dark RPG world, on its way to Xbox One, Steam and Windows 10| first = Jez| last = Corden| date = 19 Jan 2016| work = www.windowscentral.com }}

External links

• {{citation|url =http://www.ashen-game.com/| title = Ashen| archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150801135522/http://www.ashen-game.com/#ashen| archivedate = 1 August 2015}}, official website

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