Ashes of the Night

About

"Ashes of the Night" is a fantasy adventure game with minimal farming, focusing on character development and interaction. Players can choose from various classes and customize their characters with an array of gear. The goal is to stop an ego-maniac known as "The Master" and restore peace to a disaster-stricken world. Be prepared for a rough start and hilariously ugly graphics.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

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

87%

Audience ScoreBased on 92 reviews

story12 positive mentions

grinding8 negative mentions

The game offers a wide variety of characters with unique skills, allowing for diverse party compositions and strategies.
Gameplay is engaging with a good balance of challenge, and the combat system is well-executed, making grinding enjoyable.
The humor and quirky dialogue add charm to the game, enhancing the overall experience and keeping players entertained.

Navigation and objectives can be unclear, leading to moments of confusion and disorientation during gameplay.
Only active party members gain experience, making it difficult to balance character levels and skills across the entire roster.
The maps and visuals are often criticized for being poorly designed and lacking creativity, detracting from the overall aesthetic of the game.

story
54 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
22%
72%
6%
The game's story is a mixed bag, with some players appreciating its engaging characters and quirky hidden cut scenes, while others find it disjointed and lacking depth. Many reviews highlight the humor in the dialogue and the unexpected character relationships, but some criticize the overall plot as generic or insufficiently developed. Overall, the story serves as a decent framework for gameplay, though opinions vary widely on its effectiveness and coherence.
- “The biggest plus by far is the story, and the amount of characters there are.”
- “Very interesting story, pleasant gameplay, charismatic characters.”
- “When games are long with lots to do like this one, it is essential that the story is interesting (it is) and cohesively keeps everything together (it does).”
- “The story is a bit disjointed and I could have used a bit more explanation as to what was going on.”
- “The maps are empty, there is hardly a story 40 minutes into the game and the worst part is that the developer doesn't know how to design a building in RPG Maker; absolutely dreadful visually.”
- “Storywise... nada, it is just one small dungeon after the other.”
gameplay
24 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
42%
46%
13%
The gameplay of "Ashes of the Night" is characterized by its old-school JRPG mechanics, featuring extensive exploration and a variety of equipment to loot, which keeps the experience engaging for fans of the genre. While some players find the initial gameplay stilted and the writing goofy, many appreciate the balanced mechanics and unique character contributions that enhance the overall experience. The game offers a solid 24+ hours of enjoyable gameplay, particularly for those who enjoy grindy, classic RPGs.
- “Each character brings their own unique gameplay to the game.”
- “I strongly recommend this game to anyone who enjoys this sort of classic, old-school RPG genre games, as it minimizes the negative side of those games while enhancing all the strong points of the genre, which will amount to a very enjoyable 24+ hours of gameplay.”
- “After the first few minutes, I frankly wondered what the fuss was about -- the writing was goofy, the gameplay seemed stilted and I was questioning my purchase.”
- “As the first game (out of 9 at this point), Ashes of the Night can't compare to this developer's later titles, especially when it comes to the implemented mechanics and such, but it still serves as an early showcase of the characteristics the games of this developer tend to embody.”
- “With lots of places to explore and so many equipment pieces to loot, there's rarely a dull moment gameplay-wise - provided that you like grindy old-school JRPGs, because this game is exactly this.”
humor
18 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game is praised for its quirky and creative humor, with engaging characters that deliver funny dialogue and interactions. While some players appreciate the absurdity and "stupid" humor, others feel that the comedic elements may not resonate with everyone, leading to mixed opinions on its overall effectiveness. Overall, it offers a unique blend of humor that appeals to those seeking a lighthearted experience.
- “I recommend the game because it has a lot of character variety, and it's quite funny.”
- “So, if you are looking for some strange, creative, and funny writing, this game is for you.”
- “While the story wasn't terribly involved, the characters are very engaging, each with their own personalities, attributes, strengths, and weaknesses... and some of them have some very funny dialogue, especially as they interact and sometimes clash.”
music
12 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
42%
8%
The music in both "Journey to Lunato" and "Ashes of the Night" is praised for its whimsy and freshness, enhancing the gameplay experience with a balanced and varied soundtrack that complements the scenes effectively. Reviewers appreciate the effort put into the music, noting that it keeps the experience engaging and avoids the clichés often found in game soundtracks. Overall, the music is considered a standout feature that adds depth to the games.
- “There was really good music the entire way to keep it feeling fresh.”
- “Music is great in several encounters and as you play you will notice that time and effort from the creator is present in a lot of encounters.”
- “The music works really well with the scenes, and isn't the same old stuff you're used to hearing, which is refreshing.”
grinding
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game features a grind-heavy experience typical of old-school JRPGs, which some players find enjoyable due to the variety of unique areas to explore and loot. While grinding is present, it is not overly burdensome, as characters level up sufficiently throughout the main story, minimizing the need for excessive grinding. Overall, players appreciate the balance between exploration and grinding, making it a rewarding experience for fans of the genre.
- “With lots of places to explore and so many equipment pieces to loot, there's rarely a dull moment gameplay-wise - provided that you like grindy old-school JRPGs, because this game is exactly that.”
- “I played for 50 hours, a couple of hours grinding but not redundant because of the unique areas to grind at.”
- “Characters level up as much as needed during the course of the main story in order for you to require as little grinding as possible.”
graphics
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
75%
25%
The graphics of the game are reminiscent of old-school RPGs, appealing to fans of retro aesthetics and classic fight styles. However, some players feel that this nostalgic approach may not resonate with everyone, indicating a divide in appreciation based on personal taste.
- “I don't normally post negative reviews because I figure that if I don't enjoy a game, then I am probably not part of the target demographic, but this time I can say that I am.”
atmosphere
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Reviewers emphasize that while visual aesthetics are not the sole determinant of a game's quality, particularly in RPGs, the atmosphere and storytelling play a crucial role in enhancing the overall experience. An engaging atmosphere can significantly elevate gameplay, regardless of graphical fidelity.
- “A game could look ugly but still be fun to play; for an RPG, the atmosphere and story are important.”
emotional
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game features frequent character interactions that contribute to its emotional depth, with several unexpected touching moments that resonate with players.
- “The characters talk to each other often, and there are even a few touching moments that took me by pleasant surprise.”