Solar Ash (Xbox Series X|S)
Official GBAtemp Review
Product Information:
- Release Date (NA): September 14, 2023
- Release Date (EU): September 14, 2023
- Publisher: Annapurna Interactive
- Developer: Heart Machine
- Genres: Action-Platformer
- Also For: Computer, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5
Game Features:
Solar Ash puts you in control of Voidrunner Rei. Her mission is to attempt to stop the destructive Ultravoid from pulling her home planet into its orbit. But her quest is met with hostile anomalies: gigantic beasts of unknown origins. As Rei faces them off across ruins of past civilisations while persevering in her mission, she uncovers the truth behind those creatures as well as learns more about the destructive forces threatening her planet.
A drifting Voidrunner in a surreal dreamscape
While Solar Ash adopts a 3D, third-person perspective, the likeness to Hyper Light Drifter (HLD) is unmistakable. From the stylised environments to the bright colour palettes, Solar Ash looks and feels like a spiritual successor to HLD.
Even with those similarities, the universe that the game is set in is original. With ruins of once-great structures littered across the landscape covered in ashen clouds, the game invites exploration. In so doing, you can further flesh out the universe and its occasional NPCs through the lore that Void Logs provide.
Sci-fi parkour adventure and combat
As a Voidrunner, Rei can manipulate energy for a number of uses that will assist her in her quest. These range from scanning through shielding to attacking. Solar Ash has a major focus on adventure and exploration; and that’s for the better as the ruins and towering structures of Rei’s home planet invite exploration.
Exploration takes a parkour-like edge as Rei can skate on the gooey ashen clouds, grind on rails and grapple across long distances. These are among the most fun sessions of the game, allowing you to freely cruise across the world and take in its surreal landscapes while occasionally uncovering the universe’s lore.
While cruising around the environment, you will be able to collect plasma orbs to upgrade Rei’s Void-Shield (health gauge). Rei will also encounter hostile life forms or anomalies that can be sources of plasma. Even smaller anomalies can offer a fair challenge, especially when you’re outnumbered. Luckily, Rei’s Voidrunner abilities allow her to manipulate time to slow the enemy and exploit their weak spots.
Solar Ash’s levels are also well designed as they at times allow for exploration and later cleverly turn into boss battle arenas. Boss fights against the giant anomalies have a Shadow of the Colossus feel to them as they share the same towering feeling when confronted with Rei having to mount on them in order to weaken them. The process can be challenging as Rei can fall off and will need to perform the ascension all over, and there are instances where contact with the anomaly’s body itself can lead to Rei’s death.
An engrossing universe hampered by repetitive actions
While a challenge is welcome to space out the exploratory segments, boss fights can feel quite repetitive. For instance, a misstep can mean restarting the whole process of weakening the enemy and this resets several minutes’ worth of progress. Then there are some timed “platforming” sessions while atop anomalies that often require a surgical precision to complete. If you fail to hit a certain target before the timer runs out, you’ll have to rinse and repeat.
This loop is encountered all too often for my liking, especially during boss battles which end up relying too much on pattern recognition and precise timing. While this can be attractive to those looking for an old school-type challenge, the recurring repetition felt mostly testing for me. It hampered the call for adventure that I felt by just coming across Solar Ash’s unique environments.
SOLAR ASH | Coming to Xbox & Switch
Verdict
- Original, intriguing universe
- Parkour-like sci-fi exploration
- Repetitive sequences during boss fights
- Recurring platforming sessions that require high level of precision
