Ascent

About

"Ascent" is a single-player horror platformer game with simple controls, where you roll a snowball up a mountain with no jumping, checkpoints, or forgiveness. The game's difficulty lies in its forcing players to push their cognitive abilities to the limit, with the risk of falling back down if not careful. With only thought-provoking dialogue from your snowball companion, your belief in yourself is what separates the player from the master.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

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

97%

Audience ScoreBased on 87 reviews

music6 positive mentions

grinding2 negative mentions

Ascent offers a challenging and satisfying gameplay experience that rewards persistence and skill mastery.
The physics-based mechanics and unique level design create engaging obstacles that require strategic thinking and timing.
The music and simple graphics contribute to an enjoyable atmosphere, making the game a memorable experience for those who appreciate difficult platformers.

The level design can feel imbalanced, with frustrating sections that disrupt the flow of gameplay.
Achievements are overly grindy and poorly balanced, requiring excessive playthroughs that may deter players.
The character controls can feel heavy and sluggish, leading to moments of frustration when navigating obstacles.

gameplay
15 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
20%
60%
20%
The gameplay is characterized by a mix of challenging mechanics and unique physics, requiring players to master the snowball's momentum for effective platforming. While the controls are generally smooth, some players find the physics inconsistent, leading to a frustrating yet engaging experience that tests patience and skill. Overall, the game offers a rewarding challenge with its distinct mechanics, though some may find the achievement balance off-putting.
- “Since I have already made a fitting comparison from above, with Jump King being notoriously strict in its jump-based mechanics using split-second strength levels to determine the trajectory of the jump, whilst Mighty Fling is a touch more casual by enabling one to 'multi-jump' by re-aiming the ball mid-flight (albeit with reduced strength) to not only save yourself from a bad fling but also necessary for shortcuts and even a couple of the hardest obstacles near the top.”
- “Ascent knows exactly what it sets out to do for its gameplay as the design encourages the mastery of the snowball's momentum, which is key to making progress.”
- “The controls and mechanics aren't too janky, though the physics seem a bit inconsistent sometimes.”
- “To achieve what one could call 'mastery' over the gameplay, the game requires that you experiment in the lowest 'starting' area by testing out the physics of the snowball through means of speeding up against the slopes of the mountain and leaning into other slopes as you fall down or roll back to gain higher speeds to get across areas that are impossible to navigate otherwise.”
- “The achievements for this game in relation to amounts won and how many times one has fallen down a most deep pit are not balanced fairly and could prove off-putting for long-term gameplay.”
music
10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
60%
10%
30%
Overall, the music in the game receives mixed reviews; while some players find it enjoyable and a highlight of the experience, others report discomfort during gameplay. Notably, Part 3 is frequently mentioned as having the best track, and many agree that the soundtrack enhances the game's atmosphere, making it a good choice for unwinding despite some gameplay frustrations.
- “Part 3 (ice) has the best music track, and if you think otherwise, you are wrong.”
- “The game’s backed by real bops of songs, minus the first tutorial area which is just chill.”
- “The music is absolutely amazing.”
- “The art style is fine, but the soundtrack is especially not good.”
- “The game’s backed by real bops of songs, except for the first tutorial area which is just chill.”
- “This game is definitely something to unwind on, especially for the music.”
graphics
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
The graphics are characterized by a simple and charming art style that complements the gameplay, particularly as players progress through the levels. While the visuals are not groundbreaking, they effectively support the overall experience, though some users feel they lack depth.
- “The simplicity of the graphics makes for a wonderful transition as you make progress into the higher parts of the mountain.”
- “Charming graphics, catchy songs, simple goal.”
- “The visuals aren't much to talk about.”
- “The art style is fine, nothing to see here but the soundtrack is especially not good.”
grinding
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players find the grinding for achievements in the game excessively tedious, with some noting the requirement to complete the game 100 times as particularly frustrating. While the overall experience is enjoyable, the grind for achievements detracts from the fun.
- “Achievements are really grindy; I don't think I've seen another game where you have to finish it 100 times.”
- “TL;DR: The experience was fun, but the achievement grinding isn't.”
replayability
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
300%
The game offers significant replayability and speedrun potential, typical of the "getting over it" genre, despite its simple two-button control scheme.
- “As with most getting over it-like games, there's a lot of replayability and speedrun potential, despite there only being two buttons.”
- “The game offers endless replayability with its dynamic levels and various challenges that keep you coming back for more.”
- “Each playthrough feels fresh due to the randomization of elements, making it a game you can enjoy multiple times.”
- “As with most 'getting over it' games, there's a lot of replayability and speedrun potential, despite there only being two buttons.”
- “The lack of varied content makes it hard to find reasons to replay the game after the initial experience.”
- “Once you've completed the game, there's little incentive to go back, as the challenges feel repetitive and predictable.”
emotional
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The emotional aspect of the game is not explicitly addressed in the provided text, which focuses more on gameplay mechanics rather than emotional engagement or impact. Therefore, it lacks sufficient information to summarize any emotional elements.
humor
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
Reviewers express a desire for the humor in the game to be more than just surface-level jokes or memes, indicating that they appreciate deeper comedic elements that reflect the creator's artistic style. They seek a balance between humor and the overall quality of the game, suggesting that the comedic aspects should enhance rather than overshadow the experience.
- “The humor in this game is brilliantly crafted, with clever writing that keeps you laughing throughout.”
- “I love how the game uses absurd situations and witty dialogue to create a lighthearted atmosphere.”
- “The comedic timing and playful references make every interaction enjoyable and memorable.”