One of the Demi-Gods, Eko, is a member of a race of fish-like people called Peyskas. Racism is also a big theme in the game, but it doesn’t handle it very well. The game throws so many proper nouns at players, like “Harmony” and “Chaos” and “Dissonance” it’s all too much at once and implemented like they’re from some generic JRPG 101 textbook.
#ASTRIA ASCENDING FREE#
There are some interesting concepts and themes like rebellion and free will, but the story ends up being incredibly boring. The Demi-Gods gain immense power and abilities to fight off antagonistic beings called the Noise, but in exchange are only given three more years to live before another group comes along and does the same thing. In order to keep the pact of peace, Orcanon’s races eat Harmelons, which suppress certain abilities. Manage cookie settings What is Going on in Orcanon?Īstria Ascending takes place in Orcanon, where a group of eight chosen individuals called Demi-Gods protect Harmony, which is some sort of peace agreement between the different races in the game. To see this content please enable targeting cookies. Unfortunately, a captivating artstyle can’t save what a sloggy experience the game is.
The colors are crisp and the backgrounds look sharp.
The 2D art invokes familiarity with Vanillaware titles like Odin Sphere or Dragon’s Crown.
#ASTRIA ASCENDING FULL#
In an age where more and more games, especially Japanese RPGs are going full 3D, having a different look can help a game stand out amongst a crowd. On the surface, Astria Ascending intrigued me with its wonderful hand drawn artstyle. Now it's back with a new adventure, Astria Ascending. The studio’s first project was Super Neptunia RPG, a 2D entry in the Neptunia franchise. Do any of them take issue with being chosen as a demigod? Do any of them fear the inevitable death that is coming for them? These are the types of questions that I hope are explored, but how hard will the commitment be remains to be seen.Artisan Studio is a French and Canadian developer that specializes in 2D RPG games. With these heroes chosen as demigods they are guaranteed death three years later. It isn’t particularly a necessity as it doesn’t hurt the gameplay’s quality, but it has been such a useful feature in many modern turn-based JRPGs of this century that it seems odd that it is absent.Īstria Ascending looks really promising, with, based on what I’ve played so far, great combat, fantastic visuals, and an interesting world to explore – but the latter is where I have my hesitations. Of course, many players will want to experience everything organically, but having the options for those who are newer or more casual with the genre to enjoy their experience in their own way is a huge win.ĭespite how much I enjoy the combat, one notable omission was the lack of a turn bar displaying the order in which the field would operate. Genre veterans know that this is relatively common when you have more party members than what is allowed in battle, but in Astria Ascending you can swap out up to your entire party if you want to in a single turn – and for good reason.įor instance, enemies respawning in dungeons can be disabled, difficulty can be changed on the fly, and there’s even a weakness indicator that can be turned on so you don’t have to use an ability or play the guessing game to figure out a threat's vulnerabilities.
While there are eight party members throughout your journey, only four are usable in a battle. Whether it be abilities or a melee attack, you can use up to four focus points dealing up to 200% strength. But focus points don’t always go in your favor, as you can lose several at once if you attack an enemy who can absorb, resist, or nullify the damage type. A party member can also use their turn to focus and gain temporary points to help deal massive damage.
By hitting your enemy’s weakness you will gain focus points. Where Astria Ascending defines its unique battle mechanics is with its focus system. In general, the environments and animations are drop-dead gorgeous across the board despite some unnecessary detail, but its turn-based combat is where it is at its best, with each slash and blast oozing with charm.
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