VIDEOGAME REVIEW: Remnant: From the Ashes
Dark Souls is a series that for the life of me I just, can“t, get into. I recognise the game“s brilliance. The huge, sprawling open worlds, the unique aesthetic, the enigmatic world and story therein, the challenging combat ”“ it“s just not for me. For me a game is all about a balance of challenge and ego trip, and while I recognise that the inherent difficulty of the Souls series is what lends its world such credence, I also can“t ignore that it feels very much like having a deep, philosophical discussion with a person who punches you in the face everytime you pause to think.
It is then with great joy that I picked up Remnant: From the Ashes, and found what can only be described as my perfect Souls game. Rewarding exploration balanced with the oppressive feeling of “the odds are stacked against you.”“ And while that feeling is very much present, it is also offset by “but there is still hope.”“
I pre-ordered Remnant: From the Ashes so I had the fortune to be involved in the pre-release weekend. The game doesn“t give a lot away but basically Earth has been overrun by this enigmatic, pseudo-demonic force called “The Root”“. Someone dispatched you to some massive tower to go get rid of them, and when wrecked you are saved by members of a commune called “Ward 13”“. You get their power online and then start traversing worlds to destroy the Root.
Plot and story are very Souls-like, with the world giving away hints and clues as to what“s been happening through its surrounding, and through suggested connections and whatnot. Occasionally you“ll find a computer with some logs on it that give away a bit more, but even these are shallow, single-perspective diary entries that are often unreliable.
Also taking direct influence from Dark Souls is the level design and focus on exploration. Remnant takes place in a series of inter-connected semi-open world environments. The use of a mini-map doesn“t help too much in exploring, as most environments are multi-levelled with bits and pieces strewn throughout. Exploration is encouraged as not only are levels well designed, but you“ll often find the best gear just lying around in an unassuming alcove.
Characters are well-written. I“ve only met one character I“ve met thus far in my 10+ hours that I“ve met who is so irritating she makes me want to vomit. The rest all seem like decent, honest people but nevertheless each with their own distinct personality and backstory that you could discover if you listened to them for a moment.
I can“t say choice (this is an RPG) seems to matter all that much. So far it“s only dictated whether or not I get a particular item or take part in a particular boss fight, but like I said I“m only 10 hours or so I might be missing something.
So now I“ve covered the world you“ll be living in during your time with Remnant, now to talk about the gameplay. Like Souls, gameplay is split between navigating the overworld and desperately trying to survive therein. You can be walking along a grand desert one second, calmly strolling through the sandy winds ”“ when you spot an enemy in the background. You get in range, take your shot, they start running towards yo- oh there“s another couple. No problem, just adjust your aim and- oh there“s a big one, no worries we- WHY ARE THERE DOGS NOW!!!????
This is typical of Remnant. Very few engagements are ever what they seem and going into a battle without total spatial awareness or without being prepared can be a death sentence. Don“t underestimate your enemies. Even the small fry can kill you if you“re not careful. And items, much like in the Souls series, take a while to use.
The only thing I“d criticise about the game is that their equipment system could be better. You spend a few hours upgrading gear then you get a piece that is awesome and has a better ability attached, but its damage output is significantly weaker. Suddenly you“re spending hours with an okay weapon, because the better one that you just got is slightly weaker. However, in these instances I“d suggest using the new gear everytime. Generally, the damage difference is minimal, and the stat system seems to have some nuance I haven“t quite worked out yet.
Remnant is an amazing game, air thick with atmosphere, unique levels and enemies, enthralling gameplay and gripping (yet enigmatic) story. It“s a Souls-like for the people that don“t have the time or patience to dedicate to the actual Souls games. This will grant you a not-too-dissimilar experience to the Souls games but where it differs is that if you die, you will know it“s because you messed up, and not because of a wonky hitbox or a stupidly overpowered adversary. Remnant is what Dark Souls could have been, if Dark Souls was actually “harsh but fair”“ as people keep telling me it is. 4.5/5.
[yasr_overall_rating size=”large”]
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