Underworld Ascendant

A sadly failed tribute to one of the greatest RPGs of all time, Underworld Ascendant is simply far too flawed to recommend to either fans of the original Ultima Underworld, or in-depth RPGs in general.

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Underworld Ascendant is a non-linear, immersive sim RPG set in the Stygian Abyss. As a "player-authored" experience, choices and actions have lasting consequences. Use stealth, combat, and magic to navigate and manipulate the dynamic world. Solve puzzles and forge alliances to become a hero in this fantasy adventure.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

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

Reviews

32%

Audience ScoreBased on 888 reviews

gameplay54 positive mentions

stability135 negative mentions

Engaging atmosphere and level design that encourages exploration and experimentation.
Unique magic system that allows for creative spell combinations using runes.
Offers multiple playstyles (combat, stealth, magic) and rewards players for creative problem-solving.

Numerous bugs and glitches that can disrupt gameplay, including crashes and AI issues.
Clunky controls and movement mechanics that can feel unresponsive and awkward.
Poor save system that resets levels upon loading, leading to frustration and loss of progress.

story
340 mentions
9 % positive mentions
81 % neutral mentions
9 % negative mentions
The game's story is widely criticized for being thin, uninspired, and poorly executed, with many players noting a lack of engaging character interactions and a confusing quest structure. While some appreciate the environmental storytelling and the potential for unique gameplay experiences, the overall narrative fails to captivate, often feeling repetitive and lacking depth. Bugs and glitches further detract from the experience, making it difficult for players to fully immerse themselves in the world.
- “The game tells a unique story through a combination of lore found in the world and cutscenes, and has really fun combat/gameplay mechanics.”
- “I felt immersed in a story that sticks with you even after leaving the game for a while.”
- “The story is a throwback where you, not some character you create, in-story you, gets isekai'd into this cthonic civilization where a god of monsters is imprisoned, with you and a few lizard people trying to fix it.”
- “The story is nonexistent and goes nowhere.”
- “Between an unsuitable engine, the bunch of bugs that come with it and clearly just the broadest strokes of a story, this game is just a skeleton of what could have been great.”
- “It's a shame because this game could have been much better, but it's just not entertaining and the story is not engaging to me.”
gameplay
250 mentions
22 % positive mentions
60 % neutral mentions
19 % negative mentions
The gameplay of Underworld Ascendant is characterized by a mix of innovative mechanics and significant technical issues, including clunky combat, poor AI, and numerous bugs that detract from the overall experience. While some players appreciate the immersive level design and the potential for creative gameplay interactions, many find the execution lacking, with frustrating mechanics and a lack of polish reminiscent of older titles. Overall, the game shows promise but suffers from inconsistencies that hinder enjoyment, making it difficult to recommend without reservations.
- “The level design, with its puzzle-like features, and the variety of ways you can play with the mechanics of the game to progress, create a sandbox dungeon environment that when played casually, still leaves me pretty satisfied.”
- “The game tells a unique story through a combination of lore found in the world and cutscenes, and has really fun combat/gameplay mechanics.”
- “The degrees of freedom are great and it is very satisfying to engage with the mechanics to create novel and bizarre solutions to the game's scenarios.”
- “The game is filled with mechanics and systems that don't necessarily work well together.”
- “Playing this game for the first 2-3 hours has really been nothing but frustrating - bizarre physics, getting stuck in the geometry, not being able to display the in-game map, dying from inconsistent fall damage, physics freaking out and flinging my character across a room, getting killed by a chest opening (pinned me into the wall geometry), not having the initial scripting activate when loading into a new level, bad voice acting, some type of inconsistency with the food mechanic, lack of gameplay options, wonky combat mechanics, spending too much time fighting the broken physics and item manipulation than solving the 3D puzzles.”
- “Underworld Ascendant can be fun at times, but the sluggishness of the game, performance issues, crashes resulting from bugs, absurd loading times, and poorly explained mechanics really ruin it.”
graphics
220 mentions
28 % positive mentions
62 % neutral mentions
10 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with some players appreciating the cartoony art style and atmosphere, while others criticize the dated visuals, graphical bugs, and lack of polish. Many note that the graphics feel inconsistent, with issues like clipping and low-resolution textures detracting from the overall experience. Overall, while the aesthetic may appeal to some, it is often seen as a weak point in the game's execution, especially when compared to modern standards.
- “The graphics are as beautiful as an underworld abyss should be and the physics are pretty spot on.”
- “The graphics are great, it has the style of an 80's D&D box cover, there is a good variety of enemies (the lich is very interesting to defeat).”
- “The art style is breathtaking.”
- “The game lacks polish with graphical bugs and frame rate issues.”
- “Terrible graphics - considering that shadow and darkness are so important to this game, that anything in shadow is obscured by really poor rendering is pretty game-breaking.”
- “Cheap looking assets and cartoonish graphics that don't connect with the grim setting of the game story at all.”
stability
139 mentions
3 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
97 % negative mentions
The game is widely criticized for its instability, with numerous reports of bugs, glitches, and crashes that significantly hinder gameplay. While some players acknowledge improvements post-launch, many still describe it as a "buggy mess" that feels unfinished and poorly optimized. Overall, the consensus suggests that unless players are willing to tolerate these issues, they should wait for further updates before purchasing.
- “It looks great, sounds great, and runs great on my machine.”
- “But it wasn't Ultima and it wasn't buggy.”
- “When I initially played it, it was a buggy mess with characters getting stuck in doors.”
- “Well, the answer turned out to be 'releasing a very buggy, unfinished disaster with clumsy collision and physics, graphical bugs aplenty (with models often stretching into indecipherable masses of polygons) and a save system that puts the player back at the start of a level, regardless of their progress.'”
- “Crashes/freezes combined with a save system where you lose lots of progress is a fatal combination, and for that reason, even though I like the game, I would recommend waiting until it has been fixed.”
optimization
76 mentions
13 % positive mentions
53 % neutral mentions
34 % negative mentions
The game's optimization has received significant criticism, with many players reporting poor performance, frequent bugs, and long loading times. While some users noted improvements after recent patches, issues like frame rate drops, microstuttering, and inconsistent asset quality remain prevalent, leading to a perception that the game feels unfinished or in an early access state. Overall, while the game shows potential, it requires substantial optimization and bug fixes to enhance the player experience.
- “I also noticed a huge performance improvement; the game runs perfectly smooth now.”
- “There were some good improvements after the patch: less glitches when moving around, performance improvements, redesigned levels, NPCs introduced earlier on, and most importantly a save system that now works as it should!”
- “All in all, it has so much potential and now the devs are working on making the game more polished and finished and to build in more comfort options and a better performance.”
- “It's poorly optimized and buggy.”
- “The game could be really, really good but sadly, it feels unfinished in many aspects and the performance issues and AI breaks kill the game.”
- “You can really tell that this game was well intentioned, but the performance is completely unacceptable.”
atmosphere
66 mentions
58 % positive mentions
36 % neutral mentions
6 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is a mixed bag, with many players praising its immersive and unique qualities, often likening it to classic titles. While some appreciate the aesthetic and environmental interactivity, others criticize it for lacking depth and failing to evoke the intended emotional responses. Overall, the atmosphere is seen as a strong point for those who enjoy atmospheric exploration, despite some technical shortcomings.
- “The game atmosphere is really unique; there's something quite mystical and intriguing about this game.”
- “The atmosphere is immersive; bats flit about in the dreary light cast by flickering torches, shadows wander across the walls, glowing whatever-they-ares drift through the dank air.”
- “Great atmosphere, interesting and innovative ways to solve problems.”
- “Despite being beautiful, the game really lacks in the atmosphere department, especially for an immersive sim.”
- “On the plus side, the game was prettier than I expected, but the negatives piled up: zero atmosphere, poor controls, glitchy interactions with the environment, no NPCs, and an overall feeling that the game was unfinished.”
- “However, the game still suffers from an overall lack of atmosphere and lack of compelling story/quest-lines.”
music
28 mentions
50 % positive mentions
39 % neutral mentions
11 % negative mentions
The music in the game has received mixed reviews, with many players noting a lack of memorable or impactful tracks compared to classics like the Ultima Underworld series. While some appreciate the ambient sounds and voice acting that enhance the atmosphere, others feel the music is forgettable or minimal, often overshadowed by the game's design and sound effects. Overall, the audio experience is seen as good but not exceptional, with a notable absence of a strong musical presence.
- “The design, the levels, the creativity, the sheer talent; of the art, the voices, the sound and music, all of that stuff is amazing.”
- “Audio-wise the game is good - while there is no music except for the main theme/credits, the great ambient sounds are there to set the mood for you as you explore the abyss, and what voice-acting there is is of good quality.”
- “Combination of soothing music, vivid colors and diversive level design somehow make this game quite immersive.”
- “There is some music in the game, but it is not nearly as beautiful as in the Ultima Underworld series.”
- “Sadly, it feels like it was ported from a console by someone that doesn't use PCs. The music of the original still plays in my head sometimes, this?”
- “I'm sitting here trying to recall what the music sounds like, and without the game running, I can't remember if there is any or not.”
grinding
22 mentions
0 % positive mentions
9 % neutral mentions
91 % negative mentions
Players consistently find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and frustrating, primarily due to a slow map system and repetitive combat mechanics. Achieving experience points often requires completing monotonous tasks, while the degradation of weapons and high enemy health contribute to a sense of prolonged boredom. Overall, the grinding experience is marked by a lack of engaging content and uninspired gameplay.
- “This gives you an early boost as you get the easy ones, but it grows increasingly tedious to seek out chances to get achievements.”
- “Instead of gaining XP from defeating enemies or finishing missions, the player has to do certain tiresome tactics and grindy goals called 'feats' to earn XP.”
- “Weapons degrade over time, so nothing you find is of any real value or purpose. Enemies have so much HP that it's tedious, and you have to wait a long time before your melee combat is anything other than charge, back up, forward, release, charge, repeat until dead.”
humor
22 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is characterized by its quirky physics and unexpected outcomes, often leading to amusing situations, such as characters bouncing off objects or the janky mechanics of climbing ropes. Players find the melee combat and spell interactions, like setting fire to wood, to be particularly funny, contributing to a lighthearted and experimental gameplay experience. Despite its bugs, the humor is seen as endearing rather than detrimental, with many players appreciating the game's potential for comedic moments.
- “Sometimes strange things happen with the physics, making me think I'm going to die... and... well, it's kinda funny.”
- “Funny melee combat, with enemies that might parry your blows and even take a step back and then counter-strike you.”
- “Listening to your character grunt as he pulls a heavy dresser over and then watching it bounce is hilarious (admit it).”
emotional
8 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The emotional response to the game is largely negative, with users expressing disappointment and heartbreak over its execution, particularly due to frequent crashes and a perceived lack of polish. Many reviewers lament the comparison to classic titles, suggesting that nostalgia may cloud their judgment of the current experience, which they find lacking. Overall, the game evokes feelings of frustration rather than the intended emotional engagement.
- “Half-finished and heartbreaking.”
- “It's heart-breaking how consistently this game crashes during the tutorial level.”
- “But many people compare to the old days and maybe they get disappointed in comparison... in most cases they recall their emotional reaction to it but for sure not the real thing... and that isn't comparable in my opinion.”
monetization
6 mentions
0 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
100 % negative mentions
The monetization aspect of the game is heavily criticized, with reviewers labeling it a "cash grab" that fails to deliver on its advertised connections to classic titles. Despite some clever puzzle systems, the overall experience is deemed poorly developed and an insult to the legacy of revered games, leading to a strong aversion to future purchases from the developer.
- “The puzzle systems are sometimes clever, but it's a small part of an otherwise poorly developed, obviously discarded cash grab.”
- “I'm not sure why this cash grab of developer vomit was created, because all it's shown me is to never buy anything developed by Otherside Entertainment.”
- “The connection between Ascendant and System Shock or Underworld, which is suggested by the advertising, definitely doesn't exist and is, in fact, an insult to some of the greatest games ever made.”
replayability
4 mentions
0 % positive mentions
50 % neutral mentions
50 % negative mentions
Players find the game highly replayable due to the diverse experimentation with runes and spellcasting, as well as the varied distribution of perks in the skill tree. The progression system offers enough depth to encourage extended play, enhancing the overall replay value.
- “There’s a lot of fun to be had experimenting with runes and spellcasting, and replayability stems from the distribution of perks in your skill tree.”
- “There seems to be enough progression to keep going for a long while, with replayability being high.”
character development
4 mentions
0 % positive mentions
50 % neutral mentions
50 % negative mentions
Character development has been criticized for its poor design, with reviewers noting that the issues are not merely bugs but rather a lack of polish in the overall execution. This has led to a negative perception of the characters and their development throughout the game.
- “Horrible character design.”
- “And those are not bugs, just really unpolished effects of character development.”