Ashes to Ashes

61%
Game Brain Score Based on 66 reviews
  • story
  • gameplay
  • optimization
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"Ashes to Ashes" is a mystical, revenge-driven shooter set in Gloam Country. Utilize hexes to manipulate the elements and obliterate enemies, or go for precision headshots to quickly clear waves of bandits. Explore diverse settings, from perilous canyons to breathtaking vistas, as you track down key members of the Red Wake gang in epic boss battles. Immerse yourself in the original soundtrack by Collin Anderson .

  • PC
  • Windows
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

61%
Audience ScoreBased on 66 reviews
story15 positive mentions
stability4 negative mentions
  • The game has a great concept and interesting mechanics, particularly with the elemental bullets.
  • The narrative is engaging and adds depth to the gameplay, making it a fun experience despite its shortcomings.
  • For a free game, it offers a decent amount of entertainment and showcases the developers' passion.
  • The game suffers from frequent crashes and performance issues, making it frustrating to play.
  • Voice acting and animations are subpar, detracting from the overall immersion and quality of the experience.
  • Gameplay can feel repetitive and lacks challenge due to unlimited ammo and simplistic enemy AI.
  • story34 mentions

    The game's story is a mixed bag, with some players finding it intriguing and unique, particularly the blend of western themes and magical elements, while others criticize its execution and voice acting as lacking depth. Although the narrative concept, such as a skeleton protagonist seeking revenge, piques interest, many reviews note that the delivery is hampered by technical issues and a lack of immersion. Overall, while the story has potential and some emotional weight, it often falls short of being fully engaging or well-developed.

    • “Ashes to Ashes is a story-driven third-person shooter where you come back from the dead and try to uncover what happened surrounding your death.”
    • “The storyline is intriguing, and the idea of a skeleton cowboy out for revenge definitely piqued my interest.”
    • “Developed with meticulous attention to detail, this indie gem offers a unique blend of survival, exploration, and emotional storytelling that leaves a lasting impression.”
    • “The story wasn't particularly special, but got its point across.”
    • “Even for a free game, it's quite laggy and the voice 'performance' is far from decent. The 'story' parts of the game lock you in place and make you wait for way too long.”
    • “Story is alright but the character voice acting sounds somewhat poor - it doesn't immerse you into the scene enough.”
  • gameplay23 mentions

    The gameplay has a mix of intriguing mechanics, such as an elemental revolver and a shield/bullet system, but suffers from issues like clunky controls, repetitive combat, and performance problems. While some players appreciate the survival challenge and narrative elements, many find the mechanics frustrating and overly simplistic, leading to a dull experience after initial engagement. Overall, the game shows potential but requires significant refinement to enhance the gameplay experience.

    • “It's a fun indie title with some really cool mechanics!”
    • “Love the narrative and the gameplay idea of an elemental revolver!!!”
    • “Its captivating narrative, atmospheric world, and engaging survival mechanics make it a must-play for fans of the genre.”
    • “Can't really use cover effectively and there's no mechanic to duck or hide.”
    • “Dull gameplay, really terrible voice acting and sound mixing, clunky controls and a bunch of performance issues in just 10 minutes.”
    • “With the gameplay being pretty dull due to dumb enemy AI and healing dropping very often, not to mention the performance issues I've frequently run into, it ends up feeling like a tech demo, but it's obvious that there was at least some effort put into it.”
  • optimization7 mentions

    The game's optimization is widely criticized, with players reporting significant performance issues, including lag, clunky controls, and numerous bugs and glitches. Voice acting and sound mixing are also noted as subpar, contributing to an overall dull gameplay experience. Despite these shortcomings, some players still find enjoyment in the game and express hope for future updates to improve performance.

    • “All that being said, the game was pretty fun to me and I hope to see it get updates, especially performance optimizations.”
    • “Even for a free game, it's quite laggy and the voice 'performance' is far from decent, the dying bandits are the only times you'll hear someone talk and not cringe, the 'story' parts of the game lock you in place and make you wait for way too long, not to mention how long you have to wait to start a level.”
    • “With the gameplay being pretty dull due to dumb enemy AI and healing dropping very often, not to mention the performance issues I've frequently run into, it ends up feeling like a tech demo, but it's obvious that there was at least some effort put into it.”
    • “Dull gameplay, really terrible voice acting and sound mixing, clunky controls, and a bunch of performance issues in just 10 minutes.”
    • “The optimization definitely needs work, along with all of the bugs and glitches.”
    • “Even for a free game, it's quite laggy and the voice 'performance' is far from decent. The dying bandits are the only times you'll hear someone talk and not cringe. The 'story' parts of the game lock you in place and make you wait for way too long, not to mention how long you have to wait to start a level.”
  • graphics6 mentions

    The graphics received mixed reviews, with some players criticizing them for being cartoonish and low-quality, while others appreciated the visuals as surprisingly good for a free game, fitting well with the theme. Overall, the graphics are considered decent but not on par with high-end titles like Elden Ring or PS5 games, though the availability of graphics options was positively noted.

    • “Good visuals.”
    • “It has an interesting idea for the storyline, with the mixing of western bandits and magic, and the graphics are good and fit well to the theme.”
    • “The graphics are nice, most definitely better than what I'd expect from a free game, but definitely not Elden Ring or PS5 graphics.”
    • “I wanted to play, not to see a cartoon with low graphics, low FPS, and twinkling red/yellow spots on the screen.”
  • music6 mentions

    The music in the game is generally praised for enhancing the atmosphere, particularly the haunting soundtrack that immerses players in its melancholic world and the fitting western-themed in-game music. However, some users noted issues with abrupt transitions between songs, and while the overall quality is decent, the voice acting received mixed reviews.

    • “The haunting soundtrack complements the atmosphere perfectly, immersing players deeper into the melancholic world.”
    • “Love the rattlesnake pass intro music and cutscene.”
    • “In-game music totally fits the western theme.”
    • “Memoir music abruptly stops and cuts to the next song when it's over.”
    • “Memoir music abruptly stops and cuts to the next song when it's over.”
    • “Music is okay, and the voice acting is mediocre.”
  • stability4 mentions

    The game suffers from significant stability issues, including lag, bugs, and glitches that affect gameplay, such as AI shooting through objects. While it hasn't crashed for players, it does experience occasional freezes and requires better optimization to improve overall performance.

    • “It's very laggy and buggy all around and doesn't run at very high frame rates.”
    • “The AI is incredibly buggy; it will often shoot you through objects such as boxes, and they will start attempting to shoot you through rocks and other objects that they can't even shoot or see you through.”
    • “The game hasn't crashed on me yet, but it is a bit glitchy and freezes sometimes.”
  • atmosphere4 mentions

    The game's atmosphere is deeply immersive, enhanced by a haunting soundtrack and effective sound design that create a melancholic world. Players find the captivating narrative and engaging survival mechanics contribute to a memorable experience, despite the game's short duration. Overall, the atmosphere is a standout feature that resonates long after gameplay.

    • “The haunting soundtrack complements the atmosphere perfectly, immersing players deeper into the melancholic world.”
    • “Combined with the atmospheric sound design, it creates an experience that lingers in the player's mind even after stepping away from the game.”
    • “Its captivating narrative, atmospheric world, and engaging survival mechanics make it a must-play for fans of the genre.”
    • “The atmosphere is there for sure, but it feels underdeveloped and lacks depth.”
    • “While the game has a decent atmosphere, it ultimately falls flat and doesn't immerse you as expected.”
    • “The atmosphere is present, but it doesn't evoke the emotions or tension that the game aims for.”
  • humor3 mentions

    The humor in the game is hit-or-miss; while some players find the initial voice acting amusing and appreciate the game's quirky concept, others feel that the humor quickly becomes repetitive and lacks depth. Overall, it garners mixed reactions, with some enjoying the comedic elements while others find them insufficient to sustain engagement throughout the gameplay.

    • “I'd probably rate this game a 7/10, very funny short game that I feel has a lot that could be worked on.”
    • “I honestly thought it would be fun to try it out real quick and the voices made me laugh at the beginning because of how off they were, but it got old real fast. Thank god it was a short game.”
  • emotional3 mentions

    The game excels in emotional storytelling, featuring a well-crafted narrative that unfolds through the protagonist's backstory and impactful flashbacks. This depth of character development fosters a strong connection with players, enhancing the overall experience and distinguishing it from typical survival adventures.

    • “Developed with meticulous attention to detail, this indie gem offers a unique blend of survival, exploration, and emotional storytelling that leaves a lasting impression.”
    • “As players progress, they unravel the protagonist's backstory through emotional flashbacks, building a strong connection with the character.”
    • “The emotional depth and character development add a significant layer to the game, elevating it beyond a typical survival adventure.”
  • character development1 mentions

    The character development in the game is praised for its emotional depth, which enhances the overall experience and distinguishes it from standard survival adventures.

    • “The emotional depth and character development add a significant layer to the game, elevating it beyond a typical survival adventure.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
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