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Ascension: Transition and Silver

96%Game Brain Score
story, music
graphics, gameplay
96% User Score Based on 114 reviews

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A transgender visual novel, loosely based on Tarkovsky's STALKER.

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Ascension: Transition and Silver screenshot
Ascension: Transition and Silver screenshot
Ascension: Transition and Silver screenshot
Ascension: Transition and Silver screenshot
Ascension: Transition and Silver screenshot
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96%
Audience ScoreBased on 114 reviews
story18 positive mentions
gameplay3 negative mentions
  • The game offers a beautiful and emotional exploration of transgender experiences, using vivid language and powerful metaphors.
  • The characters are well-developed and relatable, with their relationships and personal journeys resonating deeply with players.
  • It's a free visual novel that provides a unique and engaging narrative, making it a worthwhile experience for anyone interested in queer stories.
  • The story can be confusing and lacks clarity in its world-building and lore, leaving players with many unanswered questions.
  • Some players found the pacing to be uneven, with moments feeling long-winded or not matching the emotional weight of the scenes.
  • The artwork, while competent, is described as basic, and some players wished for more visual diversity and context.
  • story
    42 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The story is a compelling exploration of queer identity set in a post-apocalyptic world, featuring well-developed characters and emotional depth. While it resonates strongly with those who share similar experiences, some reviewers noted that the world-building is ambiguous and could benefit from clearer explanations of its lore. Overall, the narrative is praised for its powerful writing and engaging themes, despite some criticisms regarding pacing and structure.

    • “A great story with fantastic music and visuals and powerful, powerful writing.”
    • “The story is a beautifully written and emotional experience; each character has a distinct, layered personality and the chemistry between them is incredible.”
    • “It's a pretty straightforward story of queer identity, politics, emotions, etc. when you step away from it, but what it does really well is wrap it up in this enticing sci-fi metaphor.”
    • “This visual novel desperately needs something explaining some of the lore of what's going on (silver, psychosilver, hierarchy, the zone, the effects of silver on the body, backstory of the in-game world, etc.) what the game says and can be implied only goes so far.”
    • “It is hurt by the ambiguousness of the world the story is set in and the very low number of pictures for a visual novel.”
    • “And it's the clumsiness of the world-building and writing that I feel most let down by, what might otherwise have been a much better game and story.”
  • graphics
    18 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The graphics in the game feature a blend of basic yet competent artwork that is vibrant and expressive, effectively contrasting with photographic backgrounds. While some users find the artwork somewhat basic, it is generally appreciated for its ability to enhance the game's dystopian atmosphere. Overall, the visuals are considered serviceable, complementing the strong narrative and music.

    • “A great story with fantastic music and visuals and powerful, powerful writing.”
    • “All of the artwork is vibrant and expressive, standing out against the photographic backgrounds while still feeling like part of the same world.”
    • “I'm also fond of the choice to use real images against the artwork, and special shout out to whoever made the OST!”
    • “The visuals and audio are serviceable and there's a CG for each of the 4 endings (not counting the one at the beginning).”
    • “Artwork is a bit basic, but competently done.”
    • “Artwork is a bit basic but looks okay.”
  • music
    18 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The music in the game has received widespread acclaim for its haunting melodies and immersive quality, effectively enhancing the overall experience with a consistent vibe that complements the narrative. While some tracks are copyright claimed on platforms like YouTube, this is a minor issue as players can easily turn off the music if needed. Overall, the soundtrack is described as both cozy and intense, making it a standout feature that resonates deeply with players.

    • “A great story with fantastic music and visuals and powerful, powerful writing.”
    • “The music was consistently great; it has a very consistent vibe that harmonizes with the setting, but without ever feeling stale by changing up the emotional focus.”
    • “One minor downside is that some of the music is copyright claimed on YouTube, but that only affects you if you're recording it, and the music is easy to turn off if that worries you.”
    • “They help maintain the gritty, scuffed vibe provided by the text and music.”
    • “And the soundtrack is utterly haunting, a combination of earworm melodies and droning ambiance that will get stuck in your head.”
  • emotional
    10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The emotional aspect of the game is highly praised, with many players noting that it evokes strong feelings, including moments that brought them to tears. The story is described as beautifully written, featuring well-developed characters and excellent chemistry, while the music enhances the emotional experience without becoming repetitive. Overall, it offers a wholesome and validating journey, particularly appealing to fans of visual novels.

    • “It actually made me cry a little, but the fact it was handled so well and didn't diminish the anger is what made it feel special.”
    • “The story is a beautifully written and emotional experience, each character has a distinct, layered personality and the chemistry between them is incredible.”
    • “If you're into visual novels, definitely check Ascension out. It took me less than 2 hours, it's free, and it evokes a lot of emotional reactions, so if that's your thing, you will definitely enjoy it.”
  • gameplay
    6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The gameplay is largely similar to "We Know the Devil," focusing on themes of societal othering and body discomfort within a post-apocalyptic narrative. As a visual novel, it relies heavily on its story, which, while compelling, suffers from execution issues. Overall, it offers a unique trans perspective but lacks the polish needed for a fully engaging experience.

    • “It borrows a lot from We Know the Devil (thematically and mechanically), but it makes it its own -- a trans story set in a post-apocalyptic world that's half nuclear fallout and half annihilation.”
    • “Mechanically, it is almost identical to We Know the Devil and carries many of the same themes of othering from society and discomfort with your own body and existence.”
    • “Visual novels by definition have very little gameplay in them and so live or die by their story, and while this one was a compelling allegory, it also wasn't put together all that well.”
    • “Mechanically it is almost identical to We Know the Devil, and carries many of the same themes of othering from society and discomfort with your own body and existence.”
    • “It borrows a lot from We Know the Devil (thematically and mechanically) but it makes it its own -- a trans story set in a post-apocalyptic world that's half nuclear fallout and half, like, annihilation.”
  • atmosphere
    2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game is widely praised for its immersive atmosphere, with many users affirming that it truly lives up to the "atmospheric" label.

    • “Well deserving of the 'atmospheric' tag.”
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