Ashes 2063's vision of a post-apocalyptic action/RPG Doom II fully realized. This one really benefits from all of the groundwork set by the (already quite good) original. Afterglow takes everything good about Ashes 2063 and blows it up to insane scale. From a 2-3 hour linear Doom-like to a sprawling, 10~ hour light RPG with sprawling massive explorable hubs, side quests, dialog choices, a weapon upgrade and crafting system that has your arsenal evolving as the game goes on, literal moral choices where which factions you pick in the world's conflicts determines how the story goes.
Ashes: Afterglow is structured around two massive hubs that you'll spend about 3-5 hours in each, depending on how much of the side stuff you end up doing. In each hub you'll have a main town full of NPCs to talk to, shops to partake in, side quests, etc.. Each town will give you missions that pull you out into the wider, open hub area which you'll explore either on foot or via your trusty bike (depending on area). The size of these areas gives meaning to the bike. No longer a cinematic traversal element tying together story beats like in the first game; it's a necessary traversal tool for the open wastes in Afterglow. The size of the world also gives meaning to the radiation system in the game, with some outdoor areas being especially hazardous requiring the player to strategically hop from safe building to safe building to minimize exposure to hazardous nuclear radiation.
Every idea from the first Ashes is expanded on and executed to a sheen of perfection. And it carries over all of the strengths: the wonderfully atmospheric art and sound, the powerful and satisfying arsenal, the Doom engine's classic speed.
It's an incredible game. The best Doom TC mod you'll ever play. Insanely enough, one of the best games I'll have played all year. An incredible "retro shooter" that stands up with the best of the genre.
Ashes: Afterglow is structured around two massive hubs that you'll spend about 3-5 hours in each, depending on how much of the side stuff you end up doing. In each hub you'll have a main town full of NPCs to talk to, shops to partake in, side quests, etc.. Each town will give you missions that pull you out into the wider, open hub area which you'll explore either on foot or via your trusty bike (depending on area). The size of these areas gives meaning to the bike. No longer a cinematic traversal element tying together story beats like in the first game; it's a necessary traversal tool for the open wastes in Afterglow. The size of the world also gives meaning to the radiation system in the game, with some outdoor areas being especially hazardous requiring the player to strategically hop from safe building to safe building to minimize exposure to hazardous nuclear radiation.
Every idea from the first Ashes is expanded on and executed to a sheen of perfection. And it carries over all of the strengths: the wonderfully atmospheric art and sound, the powerful and satisfying arsenal, the Doom engine's classic speed.
It's an incredible game. The best Doom TC mod you'll ever play. Insanely enough, one of the best games I'll have played all year. An incredible "retro shooter" that stands up with the best of the genre.