Savant: Ascent

About

"Savant: Ascent" is a rhythm-based platformer game where players control a hero named Savant who uses his music abilities to fight enemies and traverse through levels. The game features a unique combination of fast-paced action and dynamic music that intensifies as players progress through the levels. Players must master the rhythm and timing to overcome various obstacles and defeat bosses to reach the top.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

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

92%

Audience ScoreBased on 1,860 reviews

music673 positive mentions

grinding12 negative mentions

Great soundtrack featuring music by Savant, enhancing the gameplay experience.
Fun and addictive gameplay with simple controls that are easy to learn but hard to master.
Beautiful pixel art and vibrant visuals that create an engaging atmosphere.

Very short story mode that can be completed in under an hour, leading to a lack of content.
Camera movement can be disorienting, making it difficult to track enemies off-screen.
Limited replayability after completing the story mode, as the game primarily focuses on high scores.

music
1,295 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
52%
46%
2%
The music in "Savant - Ascent" is widely praised for its energetic and engaging soundtrack, primarily composed by the electronic artist Savant. Reviewers highlight how the music enhances the gameplay experience, with many noting that it perfectly complements the fast-paced action and chaotic visuals. While some players appreciate the variety of tracks unlocked through gameplay, others express a desire for more music options, but overall, the soundtrack is considered a standout feature that significantly elevates the game's appeal.
- “It's a fun arcade score action game with great music and great visuals, coming from the studio that went on to make the iconic Owlboy.”
- “The whole fight was orchestrated around its soundtrack and it was so amazing (and hard) that it etched in my memory forever.”
- “The music is fantastic, and I definitely need to check out this artist named Savant now.”
- “The only thing I hated about it is the soundtrack.”
- “The music is heavy dubstep and feels like a weird fit.”
- “If you don't like savant's music, you're probably better off avoiding it.”
gameplay
470 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
51%
47%
2%
The gameplay of "Savant - Ascent" is characterized by its simple yet engaging mechanics, primarily involving shooting and dodging while navigating between two platforms. Players appreciate the fast-paced, addictive nature of the gameplay, which is complemented by a dynamic soundtrack that enhances the overall experience. While some find the gameplay repetitive and the content limited, many enjoy the challenge and depth that comes from unlocking new abilities and mastering the mechanics, making it a worthwhile experience for fans of arcade-style shooters.
- “The gameplay is fantastic, the music is really good, including tracks from cult, ism, and ninür, all albums by savant.”
- “The gameplay is simple but surprisingly challenging and you'll need to master the game's mechanics to finish it.”
- “The gameplay, so far, has been fast, fluid, exciting, and challenging.”
- “The gameplay can be summed up as moving between two platforms and taking out various enemies that appear around you over time whilst trying to dodge their attacks.”
- “Get it for the soundtrack if anything; seriously, the gameplay lacks depth, complexity, stand shoot, dodge shoot some more, aim different direction shoot some more... it's literally as dull as I'm expressing here.”
- “The gameplay is very shallow and the 'upgrades' you unlocked are some of the most useless I've ever seen in a game.”
story
268 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
14%
84%
3%
The game's story mode is notably short, typically taking players around 10 to 30 minutes to complete, consisting of just a few levels and a boss fight. While the narrative is minimal and lacks depth, it serves primarily as an introduction to the gameplay mechanics, with the real focus being on the more engaging endless and time attack modes that follow. Despite its brevity, many players find the experience enjoyable, enhanced by a strong soundtrack and vibrant visuals, though there is a desire for a more fleshed-out story.
- “The plot exists, or rather the idea of it: the mysterious main character, the villain, the setting, and the idea of the tower are very powerful.”
- “The main story is quite short but you can play for much longer to unlock more powers in the endless survival mode.”
- “The story mode is short yet sweet and the other modes are addictive as hell!”
- “The story mode is extremely short, like 15 minutes long, and consists of just 3 stages.”
- “The plot exists, or rather the idea of it: the mysterious main character, and the villain, the setting, and the idea of the tower are very powerful, but the execution is lacking.”
- “After you finish the short story mode - two levels and a boss - you get access to time attack and endless mode, which makes the overall experience feel incomplete.”
graphics
241 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
64%
34%
2%
The graphics of the game have been widely praised for their vibrant pixel art style and detailed animations, creating a visually appealing experience that enhances the gameplay. Many reviewers noted the combination of retro aesthetics with modern polish, resulting in a charming and immersive atmosphere. While some minor glitches and limited customization options were mentioned, the overall consensus is that the visuals are a standout feature, complemented by an excellent soundtrack.
- “The graphics are beautiful, the music is epic, and the gameplay is fantastic.”
- “The visuals are amazing and make up for the lack of gameplay; I say it is very fair for the cost.”
- “The graphics are high quality pixel-art, and very well animated too.”
- “The graphics are half decent, but that's about all this game has going for it.”
- “No graphics options, so the picture is stuck in the corner of the screen.”
- “The graphics are ok, but the music is horrible and the overall design of the game isn't very good.”
replayability
74 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
32%
64%
4%
Overall, the game offers a mix of high replayability and short campaign length, with players enjoying various modes like time trials and endless challenges that encourage score chasing and competition. While some reviews note that the main story is brief, the additional modes and unlockables provide enough content to keep players engaged. The combination of addictive gameplay, appealing music, and the pursuit of high scores contributes to its strong replay value, making it a worthwhile experience for fans of arcade-style games.
- “Great music, awesome game mechanics, lots of replayability, 10/10!”
- “Upon beating the story mode, you unlock time trial and endless modes, so replay value lies in improving your high score or time.”
- “Thanks to the endless mode, this game has incredible replay value, when I can always try to improve my high score.”
- “Oh, another problem I can see in this is that because of how short it is, its replayability may not be so high.”
- “The actual story mode is very short and you'll probably beat it in 10-15 minutes, but most of the replay value comes from trying to increase your high score in endless mode and time attack.”
- “For its cheap price, I'd say it's worth it; however, the only critique would be that it has limiting replay value.”
grinding
14 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
14%
86%
Players find the grinding aspect of "Savant - Ascent" to be a mixed experience; while it can be enjoyable and stylish initially, it often becomes tedious, especially in endless mode where memorizing enemy patterns can feel repetitive. The game is relatively short, and while some appreciate the grinding as a casual activity, others feel it detracts from the overall challenge and satisfaction. Overall, the grinding serves more as a means to extend gameplay rather than enhance it.
- “Fun for the first chunk of the game, but during endless mode it just gets tedious.”
- “You progress in endless mode where eventually enemy spawning and managing my space on screen got tedious instead of challenging.”
- “The game isn't too challenging once you figure out the order of enemy appearance, but that process is tedious and unsatisfying.”
stability
12 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
17%
83%
Overall, the game's stability is a mixed bag; while many players report minor glitches and bugs, particularly with UI and control setups, most agree that these issues are not game-breaking and have improved over time. Some users experienced a smooth gameplay experience with minimal problems, but a few still encountered occasional bugs, especially in the initial versions. Despite these stability concerns, the game remains enjoyable and recommendable for its price.
- “Apart from the slightly flaky Linux control setup, it all works smoothly; no glitches, no problems.”
- “10/10, no glitches or any big game-breaking bugs.”
- “The only bad thing I can say about it is it can be a bit buggy at times.”
- “I do think that there are some glitches still, which I anticipate the developers will work out.”
- “Gameplay is funny 8/10 ... for like ~3€ I can only recommend it :) ... even if it’s sometimes a little buggy with the fullscreen resolution.”
humor
11 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is highlighted by its amusing boss encounters, quirky modes like the "vario mode," and clever Easter eggs, all of which contribute to a lighthearted and entertaining experience. Players appreciate the comedic elements intertwined with the game's musical theme, making it both funny and engaging. Overall, the humor enhances the gameplay, making it a memorable and enjoyable title.
- “Great story starring emblematic figures of Savant; music and powers based on his album; funny modes; Easter egg mode for all achievements; challenging.”
- “This is more akin to a musical shmup - being on time doesn't particularly matter, but your mind will automatically sync up to it in some cases, which may hilariously lead to death.”
- “The different modes were really fun; Vario mode was hilarious.”
atmosphere
9 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
44%
22%
33%
The atmosphere of the game is consistently praised for its cohesive graphics, engaging soundtrack, and overall immersive experience. Reviewers highlight how the visuals and music work together to create a captivating environment that enhances gameplay, making it a standout feature of the game. Overall, the atmosphere is described as magical and well-crafted, significantly contributing to the game's enjoyment.
- “The music, the atmosphere, the graphics, and everything just adds up to a game that is definitely enjoyable!”
- “In my opinion, the visuals were crafted with tender love and care; they positively enhance the atmosphere of the game.”
- “Wonderful music, gameplay, and atmosphere.”
- “The only thing the game has going for it is the atmosphere.”
- “Nuclear Throne and Jamestown stay in the same atmosphere.”
- “I love this game's look; it captures a magical atmosphere that was very well transmitted in Savant's songs.”
optimization
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
60%
20%
20%
Overall, the game's optimization is generally positive, with smooth performance and gameplay reported by users. However, some players have noted minor glitches, particularly in the start-up menu, and a few modern technical issues that could affect the experience.
- “The game runs smoothly and plays great.”
- “Savant - Ascent works perfectly fine and runs smoothly, although it does have some modern technical issues.”
- “I did encounter a glitch or two in the start-up menu, but other than that, the game itself runs smoothly.”
character development
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
While the animation and character design are praised for their quality, there is no specific mention of character development in the reviews, suggesting that this aspect may not be a focal point in the game.