Savant - Ascent REMIX
- September 29, 2023
- D-Pad Studio
Get on Steam"Savant - Ascent REMIX" is a shoot-em-up game where you play as the Alchemist, reclaiming a robot-infested tower by wielding powerful magic and acrobatic moves. The tower has multiple environments and modes to play, including Classic Mode with unlockable abilities and REMIX Mode for a more challenging experience. Ascend to the top and defeat the Immortal Samurai in this action-packed bullet-hell title.
Mac OS
PC
Windows
Reviews
- The game expands on the original with new mechanics, enemies, and a fantastic soundtrack, making it a worthy sequel.
- Players appreciate the free upgrade for owning the original game, highlighting the developers' generosity.
- The gameplay is engaging and challenging, with many players enjoying the adrenaline rush and arcade feel.
- Many players feel the game lacks the depth and power-up mechanics of the original, making it feel less rewarding.
- There are complaints about technical issues, such as lag during menus and unskippable cutscenes, which disrupt the flow of gameplay.
- Some users find the game frustrating due to its difficulty spikes and the removal of progression systems that were present in the original.
- music251 mentions
- 44 % positive mentions
- 55 % neutral mentions
- 1 % negative mentions
The music in "Savant Ascent Remix" has received widespread acclaim, with many praising the new soundtrack as a significant improvement over the original, featuring a variety of engaging tracks that enhance the gameplay experience. While some players miss the original songs, the new compositions are described as energetic and fitting, contributing to the game's overall appeal. However, there are concerns about audio mixing issues and the absence of certain tracks from the original, which some players found disappointing.
“The music alone is worth the price of admission.”
“Point of fact: this is not a game with a good soundtrack, it is an amazing album that comes with a game attached to it.”
“The soundtrack is peak, the gameplay is fluid, the audio is just as good as it was before.”
“You get disc pieces and a 'soundtrack' but you don't actually get the soundtrack.”
“Songs are extremely generic and boring (listen to the trailer). I don't know if Savant isn't as fun to me now as it was when I was a teenager, or just the songs in this game are bad, but I don't feel compelled to unlock new CDs.”
“The samurai fight isn't in sync with the music; it tries, but badly.”
- gameplay146 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 62 % neutral mentions
- 5 % negative mentions
The gameplay of "Savant Ascent - Remix" is characterized by a mix of new and familiar mechanics, offering a fast-paced and engaging experience, though some players feel it lacks the depth and addictive qualities of the original. While the game introduces new power-ups, enemies, and bosses, it also simplifies certain mechanics, leading to mixed feelings about its overall challenge and replayability. The soundtrack and visuals are praised, but some players express disappointment over the removal of core gameplay elements from the original, which affects their enjoyment.
“The gameplay is as tight as it can be.”
“This game is just a blast, fast and rewarding gameplay, great visuals and of course really good OST!”
“The gameplay loop is simple but engaging, the boss fights all feel fair and balanced, even on hard.”
“But it feels like you're constantly being punished for using this new mechanic with overhead spawns that you can't know are coming unless you've got them memorized.”
“The remix feels lackluster with missing core mechanics and easier fights.”
“It's way more frustrating - bosses and basic enemies have punishing mechanics that aren't clear what they do or how to deal with them, nor how they can damage you (a specific enemy can still hurt you during the animation where it's falling off the screen destroyed).”
- graphics50 mentions
- 48 % positive mentions
- 46 % neutral mentions
- 6 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game have received widespread praise for their stunning pixel art, improved clarity, and fluid animations, marking a significant upgrade from the original version. While some players appreciate the artistic style and detail, others find it subjective and express mixed feelings about the overall visual presentation. Overall, the visuals are considered a highlight, contributing to an engaging and immersive experience, despite some critiques regarding gameplay depth and variety.
“The pixel artwork is stunning.”
“The updated graphics look amazing!”
“Everything from the cleaned up visuals, the completely redone cutscenes, the all new, all original score for the game, it sent a wave of euphoria down my spine I haven't felt since the original.”
“Also, I don't like the graphics style, nor the characters, nor the soundtrack that most players praise.”
“Good, but I would swear the inferiority of this one, and in general a graphic remix that improves what was already seen in the previous version.”
“While I like Savant Remix a fair bit, there is too little gameplay, replayability, and in-game variety for me to see it as anything else but a charming curiosity, a digital oddity, a small artistic endeavor that initially offers a momentary distraction with its bright visuals and busy soundtrack at first but ultimately fails to entertain the gamer for long and warrant a purchase.”
- story38 mentions
- 11 % positive mentions
- 74 % neutral mentions
- 16 % negative mentions
The story mode is generally considered an improvement over the original, featuring longer gameplay, enhanced graphics, and more music, though some players find the plot confusing and the overall experience somewhat repetitive. While the cutscenes are praised for their quality, the story's brevity and lack of diverse gameplay elements limit its depth, leading to mixed feelings about replayability. Despite these drawbacks, the game is seen as a more complete package that offers a satisfying challenge, especially for achievement hunters.
“Compared to the original, it feels more complete as a game that tries to have a story with levels and difficulty. I'd say the game is superior to the old one in visuals, story, animation, and balanced gameplay.”
“The story mode does a good job at easing you into the game and letting you get a grasp on the fundamental gameplay with little consequences.”
“The story cutscenes are amazing to look at.”
“The only downside so far I've noticed is that the plot is confusing.”
“Sadly, there isn't a lot to do in the game besides the classic and remix story, which basically is the same game with different 'power moves' that don't really differ that much from each other.”
“The art style is cool and well detailed, and whether you like the music tracks is subjective, but the story is very short and the gameplay stagnates throughout the game, getting repetitive.”
- replayability11 mentions
- 27 % positive mentions
- 45 % neutral mentions
- 27 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's replayability is considered significantly lower than its original counterpart, with many reviewers noting a lack of variety in gameplay and enemy types. While there are some elements like collectibles and a survival mode that offer limited replay value, the absence of new power-ups and a compelling story detracts from the overall experience. The randomizer mode is mentioned as a slight redeeming feature, but many feel it is not enough to warrant a lasting engagement.
“It is a short game but it does have replay value, like some collectibles and survive mode.”
“Original feels more complete and replayable, for now.”
“The game's only saving grace for replayability is the randomizer mode.”
“While I like Savant Remix a fair bit, there is too little gameplay, replayability, and in-game variety for me to see it as anything else but a charming curiosity, a digital oddity, a small artistic endeavor that initially offers a momentary distraction with its bright visuals and busy soundtrack at first but ultimately fails to entertain the gamer for long and warrant a purchase.”
“There are no new power-ups to unlock as you progress or more than a handful of different enemy varieties, and all of them are dispatched in the same way. The story goes nowhere, and the game's only saving grace for replayability is the randomizer mode.”
“This game has a lot less replayability than the original.”
- atmosphere6 mentions
- 17 % positive mentions
- 33 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is generally well-received, with players finding it immersive and unique, particularly appreciating how each music track complements the gameplay. While some prefer the retro quality of older songs, the overall ambiance enhances the epic feel of boss encounters, contributing to a memorable gaming experience.
“To finish, the atmosphere is bearable and very assimilable, but I in particular prefer the old songs, especially for the retro quality that they gave to the game as a whole.”
“The atmosphere is bearable and very assimilable, but I in particular prefer the old songs, especially for the retro quality that they gave to the game as a whole.”
“Each of the tracks fits the atmosphere that it accompanies, and each boss feels epic in its own right.”
“The atmosphere you feel playing this is unlike anything you can experience.”
- optimization4 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The optimization of the game has been criticized for unresolved stuttering issues in new cut scenes, particularly on the Steam Deck, where performance degrades when running above the native resolution. Additionally, players note that 1080p appears to be the only supported resolution across all devices, limiting graphical flexibility.
“The new cut scenes have a stuttering issue that is yet to be resolved.”
“This is arguably worse on deck ('verified', my ass, per usual) because running games above native resolution [on deck] 'may lead to degraded performance' I've heard it said--but again, 1080p seems to be the only allowed resolution regardless of device.”
- emotional2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Players express mixed emotions regarding the game's narrative, with some feeling deceived, leading to a sense of wasted time despite enjoying the gameplay. This emotional conflict highlights the impact of storytelling on player experience.
- humor2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is characterized by whimsical and absurd scenarios, such as a comical wizard navigating his tower due to an irate orb, which adds a lighthearted and entertaining element to the gameplay.
“I love the funny wizard going up his tower because his orb is angry.”
- grinding1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Players appreciate the absence of grinding in the game, highlighting that it allows for a more straightforward progression without the need for repetitive tasks or reliance on luck and monetization tactics. This design choice enhances the overall experience by focusing on skill and strategy rather than time investment.
“No grinding to get the next unlock to help me beat a boss; no wandering aimlessly hoping the game will give me breadcrumbs of content.”
“No ranking system with data-driven queue systems designed to lock me in an eternal addiction.”
“No RNG systems maliciously crafted to make me open my wallet.”
