5/9/2023 0 Comments The ascent video game![]() Its neon cityscape, with all of its defects and imperfections, seems to have been ripped out of some of my favorite science fiction novels. The locations and backdrops here are some of the most grotesque depictions of a dystopian world that I have ever seen in a game, and I mean that in the best way possible.ĭuring my playthrough, I constantly found myself entranced by the vibrant and bustling world of Veles. Trust me when I say that The Ascent absolutely nails the cyberpunk aesthetic. I want them to be confident in the execution of their ideas, and unfortunately that’s not what I found here. I do not want stories in games to constantly be subverting clichés or creating completely unique scenarios, but I do want them to be competently written. I’ve said this before and I’ll say it once again. What’s here is okay at best, but I won’t pretend that it’s anything special. The writing is pretty subpar as well and the game is generally uninterested in telling a particularly unique story. The main narrative is shallow and uninteresting, even as it explores some of the tropes and subjects synonymous with the genre. The problem however is that The Ascent doesn’t move beyond this point in any meaningful way. And in that regard, the game makes an incredible first impression. ![]() One of the core tenants of this genre is the exploration of the dangers of unfettered capitalism and how companies exploit people for profit. So as far as cyberpunk premises go, The Ascent immediately knocks it out of the park in terms of the setting and feel of the world. Their goal is to stop the hordes of violent gangs and rival corporations looking to establish themselves on top, while also trying to uncover the mystery behind the collapse of the powerful Ascent Group. And to maintain whatever is defined as a sense of order in this dystopian world, the player must become a hired gun. ![]() It’s from here that the events of the game begin, as the Ascent Group suddenly collapses and Veles descends into anarchy. Locked into servitude, all you can do is uphold your contract or die trying. As one of the many indentured workers under their control, you toil away in the bowels of the city as little more than a slave. The biggest of these corporations is known as the “Ascent Group”, which is also the employer of the player’s character. The story of The Ascent begins in a world known as Veles, which is ruled by powerful megacorporations that control all aspects of life.
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