Ascend: Reborn

80%
Game Brain Score Based on 593 reviews
  • gameplay
  • story
  • graphics
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Ascend Reborn is an old-school, 3rd person action RPG. Wage war as a brutal Caos warrior on your journey to Ascension. The reign of the Titans has come to an end. The New Gods have risen to claim ultimate power and need a champion. Will you rise to the challenge?

  • PC
  • Windows
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

80%
Audience ScoreBased on 593 reviews
gameplay23 positive mentions
grinding16 negative mentions
  • The game has successfully revived the nostalgic experience of playing Ascend: Hand of Kul on Xbox 360, providing a fun and engaging hack-and-slash gameplay.
  • The combat system is enjoyable, with a variety of weapons and spells that allow for different playstyles, making it satisfying to defeat enemies.
  • The game is free-to-play with a fair monetization system, allowing players to progress without spending money, while still offering optional purchases for those who want to enhance their experience.
  • The game suffers from bugs and crashes, which can disrupt gameplay and lead to lost progress, frustrating players.
  • Combat can feel repetitive over time, with limited enemy variety and some bosses being overly difficult without proper gear.
  • The user interface and inventory management can be clunky, making it difficult to navigate and manage items effectively.
  • gameplay67 mentions

    The gameplay of this title is characterized by a simplistic and repetitive loop involving combat, looting, and territory control, which some players find enjoyable and nostalgic, while others criticize it for being dull and outdated. Despite its dated graphics and clunky mechanics, the game offers unique elements like indirect PvP and an ascendance mechanic that can provide a fun experience for those who appreciate its old-school charm. However, issues such as microtransactions, poor combat mechanics, and a lack of gameplay fixes have led to mixed reviews regarding its overall enjoyment and replay value.

    • “The gameplay follows a very simplistic loop: fighting enemies, looting for items, ascending, which plays into a much more niche mechanic of 'domains,' a pseudo PvP system, with the ultimate objective being slaying the titan and helping your alignment grow its control.”
    • “Immersive combat and magic use flows smoothly and makes for great gameplay.”
    • “This is a great game with lots of fun; the gameplay and fighting feel like old-school combat, and the lore is interesting. I would recommend it if you're looking for a challenge and fun.”
    • “A horrible opening experience, to gameplay that really didn't feel that good to begin with.”
    • “Very outdated, very repetitive gameplay.”
    • “Have no idea what this is, boring repetitive gameplay doing the same things over and over again, was bored completely in 1 hour or so.”
  • story52 mentions

    The game's story is generally perceived as mediocre, with many players finding it bland or simplistic, often overshadowed by enjoyable gameplay mechanics. While some appreciate the visual storytelling and the backstory provided during gameplay, others criticize the repetitive nature and lack of depth in the narrative. Technical issues, such as bugs and crashes, further detract from the experience, causing players to lose progress and diminishing the overall engagement with the story.

    • “I like the visual storytelling; I'm so sick of all these games that come to a complete stop and constantly make you listen to people jabber on like idiots repeating themselves for an hour straight.”
    • “If you capture them, it's yours, but when you don't capture them like altars, you must do them again. It's too bad for the game, but I like the game style; the story is very good.”
    • “This game is very good; I love this game, but it has so many problems like bugs in the main quest and some texture issues.”
    • “The story feels bland as always, but it's got a fun gameplay cycle.”
    • “Story is alright, storytelling is pretty dismal, and the lore just boils down to 'I already knew that, the story told me, for goodness' sake.'”
    • “On one hand, you spend hours grinding the story and make some serious progress taking over the land; on the other hand, the game has crashed and returned you to a point before you did any of that.”
  • graphics35 mentions

    The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with many players noting that while the art style and ambiance are commendable, the overall visual quality is dated, reminiscent of early 2000s titles. Some appreciate the nostalgic charm and fluid gameplay despite the graphical shortcomings, while others criticize the frequent stuttering and graphical errors. Overall, the game's aesthetic is praised for its dark fantasy vibe, but many agree that it could benefit from a graphical overhaul to meet modern standards.

    • “Very interesting world and the art style holds up well.”
    • “Incredible artwork and music that matches everything perfectly.”
    • “The artist(s) nailed the perfect balance between 'dark, gritty and realistic' combined with the 'fantasy lush just-enough' fantasy graphics.”
    • “There's a continuous stuttering when you hit creatures no matter what graphic settings I use.”
    • “The graphics definitely show their age, which isn't a bad thing, but paired with the other issues, it makes the game look completely unpolished, like it was ripped from a CD in 2001 and just thrown onto Steam.”
    • “There are literally graphical errors all over the place; even if the dungeons are almost all different, somehow they have torches stuck in staircases or in-game objects placed halfway through a wall.”
  • grinding16 mentions

    Reviews highlight that grinding in the game can be both a source of enjoyment and frustration. While some players appreciate the dopamine rush from farming souls and the challenge it presents, others find it tedious and lacking in meaningful rewards, especially with recent changes to dungeon rewards. Overall, the experience is described as a commitment that may appeal to completionists and those who enjoy grinding, but it can also feel like a significant time investment with limited payoff.

    • “It is unfinished and very grindy with no payoff.”
    • “Completely not worth the effort unless farming XP.”
    • “On one hand you spend hours grinding the story and made some serious progress taking over the land, on the other hand the game has crashed and returned you to a point before you did any of that.”
  • stability10 mentions

    The game's stability is severely criticized, with numerous reports of crashes, glitches, and freezing issues that hinder gameplay. Players have experienced significant problems, such as bosses glitching out, frequent freezes during menu interactions, and even permanent bans due to the game's bugs. Overall, the game's poor optimization and unreliable performance make it frustrating and unplayable for many users.

    • “It's an old game and there are crashes and glitches.”
    • “God help you when the game suddenly freezes or closes down after looting the last dungeon chest or after a massive boss fight and it doesn't save!”
    • “The game is fairly buggy and while I only encountered a few in my playthrough, I've seen some nasty ones from other players.”
  • monetization9 mentions

    The monetization strategy of the game has received mixed reviews, with many players criticizing the aggressive microtransactions and the reliance on ads, which detracts from the overall experience. While some appreciate the option to play for free, others express a strong desire for a one-time purchase model without additional costs. Overall, the heavy emphasis on monetization is seen as a significant drawback, potentially overshadowing the game's nostalgic appeal.

    • “Wow, the game brings me back to childhood! I see a lot of complaining about the microtransactions, but you don't need to engage with them at all. It's a grindfest, so get over it! It's better than paying for a triple-A game that isn't finished and costs you $60-70, plus you have to pay for a battle pass every so often.”
    • “I'll continue to play the free parts of the game for now, but may uninstall if the monetization becomes too excessive or I go insane from the repetitiveness.”
    • “The monetization is extremely aggressive, though.”
    • “Copy and pasted from the OG Xbox 360 marketplace; however, the clunky gameplay mechanics paired with microtransactions are a huge miss.”
    • “I hate this system; I would rather buy the game for $15 and have no microtransactions.”
    • “The constant pushing of the monetization, however, ruins it.”
  • optimization6 mentions

    The game suffers from significant optimization issues, with players reporting continuous stuttering, bugs, and a clunky feel regardless of graphic settings. Many users express frustration, comparing its performance unfavorably to other AAA titles and noting that it feels outdated and poorly executed.

    • “If I wanted to play something as poorly optimized and buggy as this, I'd just get any AAA game these days.”
    • “There's a continuous stuttering when you hit creatures, no matter what graphic settings I use.”
    • “The game feels clunky and poorly optimized. I'm not sure about the pay-to-win aspect, but I'm not going to play a game that feels and looks like it came from 2000. Nice idea, but poorly executed.”
  • humor6 mentions

    Players find the humor in the game to be a standout feature, with amusing interactions during combat, quirky character designs, and funny moments arising from gameplay mechanics like crusade spells. However, technical issues such as crashes and bugs detract from the overall experience, preventing it from reaching its full comedic potential. Despite these flaws, the game's humor and unique premise keep players engaged and entertained.

    • “The combat is barebones button mashing, but fighting other players or sending monsters to fight them is funny.”
    • “I never played a game like this; being a god and having tiny people was just funny to me at first.”
    • “Weapons and armors are pretty funny and cool, and some bugs like huge jumps or long dashes are sometimes funny.”
  • music5 mentions

    The music in the game is widely praised for its quality and ability to enhance the overall experience, with many reviewers highlighting the impressive soundtrack and ambient sounds that complement the gameplay. Overall, the music contributes significantly to the game's atmosphere and enjoyment.

    • “The music is amazing for the time, and the combat keeps up decently for being simple.”
    • “Also, the soundtrack is fire!”
    • “Incredible artwork and music, along with ambient sounds, that matches everything perfectly.”
  • replayability3 mentions

    The game offers significant replayability, particularly through its "ascendance" mechanic, which many players find engaging. However, some users feel that this mechanic can detract from the overall experience and diminish their motivation to progress in the story.

    • “Fun game that has quite a bit of replayability, which used to be called 'Ascend: Hand of Kul'.”
    • “Tons of repeatable replay value with the 'ascendance' mechanic.”
    • “This kills the game's replayability and really nags my resolve to continue the story.”
    • “Once you've completed the game, there's little incentive to play through it again.”
    • “The lack of meaningful choices and consequences makes replaying feel pointless.”
  • emotional2 mentions

    Players report a strong emotional connection to the game, particularly feeling empowered and confident during combat scenarios, such as fighting trolls. This sense of strength contributes to an overall impressive and engaging experience.

    • “This is my first time seeing or touching this game, and honestly, I'm quite impressed!”
    • “When I fought the trolls, it made me feel so powerful and debonair.”
  • atmosphere1 mentions

    The game's atmosphere is noted for its uniqueness within its genre, contributing to a strong sense of progression that enhances the overall experience.

    • “This game has a great sense of progression, and the atmosphere is unlike anything I've experienced in the same genre.”
    • “The atmosphere is incredibly immersive, drawing you into the world and making every moment feel significant.”
    • “The combination of visuals and sound design creates a hauntingly beautiful atmosphere that lingers long after you put the game down.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

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Play time

20hMedian play time
33hAverage play time
4-100hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 4 analyzed playthroughs

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