Let's talk about encounters.

[McFuzz]

So. The thing that makes a Dark Souls game a Dark Souls game isn't the fact that it's hard. It's not that enemies hit hard, or sometimes have pretty big health pools. It's not that you die frequently or have to rest at bonfires.

Dark Souls is all about the ENCOUNTERS. Almost every fight in every one of those games is constructed so that you have to take the environment, monster-composition, and your equipment into account. You are constantly making decisions in combat that are all about your immediate survival.

Do you hit the ranged users first or try to take out the basilisk? Do you use ranged attacks or your 2 hander to take out these swarming mobs, despite the dangerous terrain? Do you try and sprint like crazy or shield your way up this actually ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥t Anor Londo balcony what the ♥♥♥♥ archers oh my god. They introduce you to a new enemy type gradually. They show you one by themself, then later it's 3, and then like 5 and a bunch of mages.

In Ashen, enemy composition is just.... Not there. Each area has like, 2-4 enemy types and because the areas are so open they're just... dotted around the place. It doesn't feel placed by a developer, or even in character for the enemies to be there, they're just kinda... there. I've drawn a diagram of one particular spot in the second area that felt like they were trying a 'Dark Souls' layout but just kinda... Whiffed it.

https://imgur.com/a/8CsHLNc
https://imgur.com/a/Pp82oOy

One ranged user is placed in immediate melee range, so they're not a threat at all. The others are... Behind a wall and can't even attack you. Okay. So really the only threat here is one, non shielded regular melee guy that dies in 2 hits. Okay. That's not to mention that you can just walk around the whole damn thing and not have to engage in combat with any of them.

And if the problem with this one encounter is that "It's a really open game so it's hard to place enemies in an engaging way" then that is a fundamental design flaw with the entire game. If this one encounter doesn't convince you, well I can name 20 more but honestly I don't want to scribble that many diagrams today.

There's no point in copying Dark Souls's methodical combat if how you use combat is less of a progression barrier and more of a thing that's just supposed to be there so let's get it out of the way!

I'm not even going to talk about the totally linear progression, limited enemy types, lack of customisation in gear or builds, and the TOTALLY WHACK multiplayer or the multitude of bugs I encountered, because while they're huge issues they're at least understandable from an indie game, but here's the thing: Indie developers need to rely on their design ability to survive this industry, and the ♥♥♥♥-poor non-threat encounters is a SERIOUS design issue. This is not a technical issue, this is an issue with map design and enemy placement.

EDIT: If you like reading problems with Ashen, try my other article here on the steam discussions! https://steamcommunity.com/app/649950/discussions/0/1735510523187337762/

I'm going to be telling everyone who asks about this game to stay far away. Ashen is not only a disappointing experience but a total ripoff for the price even at a discount. To the Ashen developers I only have one thing to say, one thing you'll definitely understand:

You died.

[Sweet Briana 💋™]

Pretty much nailed it.

My family did not even grab it after watching me play.

[Kernist]

And with that you killed the entire Steam discussions of this game. Amen.

[McFuzz]

Originally posted by Kernist:

And with that you killed the entire Steam discussions of this game. Amen.

Good. I'm planning on making another one today, after my negative review, that talks about every bug, technical issue, design flaw and exploit that I encountered in my playthrough.

I wish I'd written them down tbh but I have enough seething hatred for this ripoff game that I reckon I can still recall enough to turn off some buyers lol.

[Dame Puffball]

I was honestly quite enjoying the game until the first big dungeon. Holy hell that's an awful experience.

[McFuzz]

Originally posted by puffball13:

I was honestly quite enjoying the game until the first big dungeon. Holy hell that's an awful experience.

You mean the corridor, with occasional, barely thought-out spider placement and boss that didn't spawn for both multiplayer participants, and then the quest wouldn't progress for me after beating the dungeon?

Yeah. That dungeon. Nice one Ashen.