Desert Ashes

About

Desert Ashes is a multiplayer arcade action adventure game. It was developed by Nine Tales Digital and was released on November 10, 2014. It received neutral reviews from players.

"Desert Ashes" is a turn-based strategy game with both single-player campaigns and online multiplayer. The game features a dynamic day-night system that affects the battlefield, such as freezing bodies of water at night. Players can also unlock perks to customize their armies, like the Fort Toughness Perk for added defense and the Vampire Perk to convert attack damage to HP. Single-player campaigns allow players to experience playing as both the Winged Crusade and the Landians.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Multi-Player

Skip User Reviews

51%

Audience ScoreBased on 45 reviews

gameplay5 positive mentions

stability8 negative mentions

The game features a unique and colorful art style that is reminiscent of a collaboration between Tim Burton and Jim Henson.
It offers fun and varied unit mechanics, including a day/night cycle that affects gameplay, and a solid rock-paper-scissors dynamic among unit types.
The game is accessible and easy to pick up for casual players, making it a decent option for those looking for lightweight turn-based strategy entertainment.

The user interface is poorly designed for PC, feeling more suited for mobile devices, which leads to frustrating navigation and gameplay experiences.
The AI is often unchallenging and the game lacks depth, making it easy to exploit strategies and leading to a lack of engagement over time.
There are numerous bugs and technical issues, including problems with multiplayer functionality and inconsistent gameplay mechanics.

gameplay
27 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
19%
66%
15%
The gameplay is characterized by a mix of simplistic mechanics and unique elements, such as a rock-paper-scissors system and a day/night cycle that affects terrain, but it suffers from bugs, a poor user interface, and a lack of engaging story. While some players appreciate the quirky art style and find the mechanics fun, many criticize the overall execution as shallow and slow-paced, making it less appealing, especially for those familiar with more polished strategy games like Advance Wars. Overall, the gameplay offers potential but is hindered by its execution and design flaws.
- “The game mechanics are simple once you get the hang of them, and if you like turn-based strategies, I'm sure you will enjoy it. I actually recommend trying out the Wars series, especially Advanced Wars, if you like the mechanics of the game.”
- “As mentioned above, you have to pay attention - the mechanics of buying units which then can't move or attack until the next turn means that if you start losing ground or end up short of units one turn, then the opponent is probably going to stomp all over you very fast.”
- “In terms of gameplay, the game is fun, if not a bit easy.”
- “Fun but buggy strategy game with shallow mechanics, poor UI, and weak story.”
- “The gameplay isn't great or engaging; the mobile/console heritage of the game is painful and ugly, and this doesn't sit well on PC.”
- “I had to relaunch the game no less than 8 times to accumulate the 5 minutes of gameplay I needed to review this garbage and warn you guys.”
story
22 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
14%
72%
14%
The game's story is generally considered weak and poorly executed, with minimal dialogue, spelling errors, and a lack of character development, leaving players disinterested in the narrative. While there is a basic backstory and some charm to the setting, many reviewers found it bland and lacking in depth, with a cliffhanger ending that suggests potential for improvement. Overall, the story fails to engage players, overshadowed by the game's mechanics and design issues.
- “There are three modes to the game, a campaign with three episodes and multiple missions.”
- “Each campaign has 7 maps, though initially only the first one is unlocked, although there is a little backstory that makes sense if they are played in order.”
- “The story and the whole setting overall have its charm, although the story is a bit bland and lacking - some things are not explained well enough and the game ends in a cliffhanger - I would love to see the continuation though.”
- “The story is weak and at the same time barely there.”
- “There is so little dialogue, only at the beginning of a mission, and what little dialogue there is is riddled with spelling errors and entire missing words at one point.”
- “The story is poorly written, and the writers didn't bother to even spellcheck 'their' work.”
graphics
18 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
17%
66%
17%
The graphics of the game are a mixed bag, featuring a blend of colorful and crisp visuals alongside a retro pixel art style that some find engaging while others deem unappealing or amateurish. While the unique troop designs and vibrant aesthetics are praised, the overall execution can feel inconsistent, with some players noting a lack of depth and a somewhat depressing atmosphere. Additionally, the graphics are functional but may not appeal to a broader audience due to their simplistic nature and limited variety in unit designs.
- “The artwork is crisp and colorful, and the game has a very HD look to it.”
- “Crisp and vibrant graphics with wonderfully wacky troop designs.”
- “In terms of audio-visuals, the graphics are colorful, as you can see on the screens and generally look nice.”
- “It has a deliberately ugly art style and gameplay that is unique and can even surprise you at times.”
- “Special note: the music and art style, while unassuming, provide an exceptionally depressing atmosphere.”
- “However, the graphics are very basic and especially animations may look a bit amateurish.”
music
11 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
27%
46%
27%
The music in the game receives mixed reviews, with some players praising the amazing soundtrack that complements the overall atmosphere, while others criticize it for being average, lackluster, and occasionally buggy. Additionally, the music and visuals contribute to a notably depressing ambiance, though technical issues like skipping and repetition detract from the experience. Overall, the soundtrack's quality varies significantly among players, leading to a divided reception.
- “The music and art style, while unassuming, provide an exceptionally depressing atmosphere.”
- “+ amazing soundtrack!”
- “A really nice feature though is the soundtrack which is amazing in my opinion!”
- “The music and sound effects are very average, and the game has typos in the English language.”
- “Most sound and music is lackluster.”
- “Aside from that, having no way to cancel an accidental order is annoying, the music sometimes skips, and the text and animations are interminable.”
stability
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game suffers from significant stability issues, with frequent freezes and crashes, particularly during skirmishes and when accessing menus. Users report that the multiplayer experience is also plagued by bugs, detracting from overall gameplay enjoyment. Despite its fun mechanics, the game's stability problems hinder its potential.
- “This game freezes whenever I enter a skirmish.”
- “Trying to access the menus to do anything during the game starts a separate game which then freezes and crashes the entire thing.”
- “However, the multiplayer is buggy.”
atmosphere
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game's music and art style, though understated, contribute to a profoundly depressing atmosphere that resonates deeply with players.
- “The music and art style, while unassuming, create an exceptionally immersive and melancholic atmosphere.”
- “The game's atmosphere is hauntingly beautiful, drawing players into its world with every note and visual.”
- “The combination of sound design and visual elements crafts a deeply engaging atmosphere that lingers long after playing.”
grinding
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players generally find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and unengaging, often describing it as boring.
- “Grindy and boring.”
- “The grinding feels endless and tedious.”
- “I spent hours grinding, and it just wasn't rewarding.”
replayability
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
33%
Users indicate that certain elements of the game provide significant replayability, suggesting that these features enhance the overall experience and encourage players to return for multiple playthroughs.
- “These elements will likely provide the greatest replayability value.”
- “The game offers a variety of choices that encourage multiple playthroughs.”
- “Each playthrough feels fresh due to the different paths and outcomes available.”
- “Those will probably offer the most replayability value.”
humor
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is characterized by its awkward and hilarious character designs, which some players find amusing. Additionally, players have shared lighthearted moments related to gameplay issues, reflecting a self-deprecating sense of humor about their own experiences.
- “The character designs are a bit hilarious and awkward-looking sometimes, but that's just my personal opinion.”
- “I found the issue and fixed it a long time ago; you just need to change the resolution of your PC to a lower setting in order to play it. I laughed and found my review funny too because, wow, I was dumb! XD.”
emotional
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Users express strong emotional reactions to the game's handling of its promising concepts, feeling that it diminishes their potential and is presented in a disrespectful way. This has led to a sense of disappointment and frustration among players.
character development
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Character designs are perceived as humorous and occasionally awkward, reflecting a unique artistic choice that may not resonate with everyone.
- “The character designs are a bit hilarious and awkward looking sometimes, but that's just my personal opinion.”