Ascension: Transition and Silver

About

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

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo

Ascension: Transition and Silver screenshot

96%

Audience ScoreBased on 57 reviews

story9 positive mentions

gameplay2 negative mentions

The game offers a beautiful and emotional exploration of transgender experiences, resonating deeply with players and providing a sense of catharsis.
The characters are well-developed and relatable, with their relationships and personal journeys being the heart of the story.
The combination of real-life photography and 2D animation, along with a haunting soundtrack, creates an immersive and atmospheric experience.

The lore and world-building can be confusing and lack sufficient explanation, leaving players with many unanswered questions.
Some players found the pacing to be uneven, with moments feeling overly long-winded or lacking clarity in dialogue.
The visual novel format may not appeal to everyone, as some players felt the gameplay was limited and repetitive when trying to explore all endings.

story
21 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
43%
43%
14%
The story is a compelling exploration of queer identity and emotions, set against a unique post-apocalyptic backdrop that resonates deeply with players, particularly those who identify with its themes. While the writing is praised for its emotional depth and character development, some reviewers note issues with world-building and clarity, suggesting that the narrative could benefit from more explanation of its lore. Overall, it is seen as a meaningful and engaging experience, though it may leave some players wanting more coherence in its storytelling.
- “I love this game, a lovely insight into the feelings that some of us go through daily while still being a new and different story in an interesting setting.”
- “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.”
- “I feel like the story could be told in three sentences, but it was just beating around the bush.”
- “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.”
- “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
9 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
33%
33%
The graphics are a blend of basic yet competent artwork paired with real images, creating a vibrant and expressive visual experience that complements the game's themes. While some users find the artwork somewhat simplistic, it effectively stands out against the photographic backgrounds, enhancing the overall aesthetic. The visuals are generally described as serviceable, with notable attention to detail in the CG for the game's multiple endings.
- “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
9 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
33%
33%
The music in the game has received widespread acclaim for its haunting melodies and immersive quality, effectively enhancing the overall experience. Reviewers noted that the soundtrack complements the narrative and visuals, creating a consistent and emotionally engaging atmosphere. While some tracks face copyright issues on platforms like YouTube, the music can be easily turned off if needed, allowing players to enjoy the game without concern.
- “The soundtrack is utterly haunting, a combination of earworm melodies and droning ambiance that will get stuck in your head.”
- “The music was consistently great; it has a very cohesive vibe that harmonizes with the setting, but without ever feeling stale by changing up the emotional focus.”
- “A great story with fantastic music and visuals and powerful, powerful writing.”
- “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.”
- “And the soundtrack is utterly haunting, a combination of earworm melodies and droning ambiance that will get stuck in your head.”
- “They help maintain the gritty, scuffed vibe provided by the text and music.”
emotional
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The emotional aspect of the game is highly praised, with players noting its ability to evoke strong feelings, including tears, while maintaining a balance of anger and warmth. The story is described as beautifully written, featuring well-developed characters and strong chemistry, complemented by a fitting and dynamic soundtrack. Overall, it offers a wholesome and validating experience, particularly for 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.”
- “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.”
gameplay
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
67%
The gameplay is mechanically similar to "We Know the Devil," featuring themes of societal othering and body discomfort, but it presents a unique trans narrative in a post-apocalyptic setting. As a visual novel, it relies heavily on its story, which, while compelling, suffers from execution issues.
- “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.”
- “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.”
atmosphere
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game is widely praised for its immersive and captivating atmosphere, effectively earning its "atmospheric" designation.
- “Well deserving of the 'atmospheric' tag.”