While the former of the two still remains the pioneer of this format, Solar Ash aptly stands up there in that very group. It runs not too dissimilarly to Journey and last year’s Haven in this regard. Each step, stride and glide players take is animated in such a way that it feels like the ground is light upon their feet. Rei will skate around the world in a fluid means, with their two nimble feet. This is a momentum-based action adventure. Where a large number of comparisons to prior historic games can be drawn from with Solar Ash is in the gameplay. Solar Ash features fluid movement and cinematic combat I’m pleased to report here that its because of this that this is a game that is more than just a by the numbers genre experience. Pieces of the puzzle come a little more together and, if you’re like me, you’re impacted and moved by it, mesmerised. Just what has happened here in this fractured world? Where are all those that remain? What caused this calamity? Wonderful questions are raised here and keep you intrigued, pondering these very things yourself throughout.īy the end of it all, Solar Ash goes out with a bang, recontextualising the world you’ve been spending the last few hours in. Explore the nooks and crannies of landscapes, be that dilapidated temples or crumbled remains of a city, and some engaging environmental storytelling is provided.
Other information can be found via Voidrunner logs found in caches throughout the world, detailing experiences of other’s akin to Rei, just prior to the opening of the void. These characters will also send you on side errands known as ‘stories.’ These are entirely skippable but you’d do well to seek these out and complete them – you’re rewarded with wonderful worldbuilding and some moving moments. They all have intriguing and heartbreaking stories to tell, whether that’s your robot assistant Cyd, intent on helping you return the Starseed to its former glory, grieving cat person Lyris or Echo, a Godly figure who seems to know more about the world around you than they are letting on. Unique characters will be met upon your journey. The very reason the narrative is such a slow burn is that Solar Ash is a game intent on presenting vibes through its aesthetic, slowly trickling in engaging exposition and lore every step of the way.
What’s provided throughout this is a slow-burner narrative, gradually building into something that’s killer by its end. It’s up to players to tackle both this environment and their foes, escaping this cruel pocket of space. Monolithic monsters that are made up of both this matter and skeletal remains linger around. A dark black ooze has taken over this world, corrupting its nature and creatures. Your ship, the Starseed has crashed here. Solar Ash pits players in the shoes of Rei, an individual described in the game’s universe as a ‘Voidrunner.’ It’s fitting too - this is an adventure where the lands you explore have been violently erupted from a black hole void. Frankly, it feels like a fitting send-off to 2021.Įxploring the void, finding unique mysteries Solar Ash is a gorgeous, mind-bending and brief escape to come at the end of a solid year of gaming. Five years since Heart Machine’s Hyper Light Drifter, the team behind the indie have a fresh release in Solar Ash. Serving as an action-adventure platformer, with what looks to be heavy inspiration from games like Journey and Shadow of the Colossus, it feels pretty damn close to being on par with those greats.
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