Commissar SFLUFAN Posted June 11, 2020 Share Posted June 11, 2020 Epic Games Store page Quote Solar Ash Kingdom is the second game from Heart Machine, the creators of the award winning 2016 game Hyper Light Drifter. Journey through a surreal, vivid and highly stylized world filled with mystery, wild high-speed traversal, endearing characters, and massive enemy encounters. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ShreddieMercury Posted June 12, 2020 Share Posted June 12, 2020 Looks incredible. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Greatoneshere Posted June 12, 2020 Share Posted June 12, 2020 Yeah, this was a highlight of the show for me - though of course I'll more likely play on PC, it still looks great. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nokt Posted June 12, 2020 Share Posted June 12, 2020 This is supposedly set in the same universe as Hyper Light Drifter, but takes place far into the future iirc. Disasterpeace will also be returning for its soundtrack which is great news Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Commissar SFLUFAN Posted February 25, 2021 Author Share Posted February 25, 2021 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Greatoneshere Posted February 26, 2021 Share Posted February 26, 2021 It's by the guys who did Hyper Light, a game I absolutely loved. I'm in. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Keyser_Soze Posted February 26, 2021 Share Posted February 26, 2021 Pretty cool how Epic is preventing monopoly by monopolizing new games. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
crispy4000 Posted February 26, 2021 Share Posted February 26, 2021 Happily surprised it's a plat former with quick movement options. Lots of mid-budget indie fantasy games trying new things with movement these days. I couldn't be happier. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Commissar SFLUFAN Posted September 23, 2021 Author Share Posted September 23, 2021 Solar Ash has a very different take on Mario's Mushroom Kingdom WWW.ROCKPAPERSHOTGUN.COM Heart Machine's new 3D action platformer looks great, but this is a game in motion, and I want to know how it feels. Quote More so than other games, Solar Ash begs for interaction. Rei's easy, rhythmic slide across the landscape and her zip-lining over gaps or into enemies is sometimes interrupted. There are moments when a combat combo doesn't come off quite right, or a bit of platforming requires a stop-and-start. In those moments, it looks a bit awkward. But I also don't know what it's like to be in control of that, to try and build up a flow state, to be dropped out and have to feel my way back in again. All this demo did was make me want to steal the controls myself to understand it better. Solar Ash looks very good, and Heart Machine have earned more than a bit of our trust. But you already knew both those things. "It's hard to describe good feeling in a game when you can't feel it yourself," as Preston himself said during the demo. "You know it when you play it." 'Solar Ash' brings a somber, solitary twist to Mario and Metroid mechanics WWW.INVERSE.COM Creator Alx Preston shares more details about 'Solar Ash's world, its approach to storytelling, and its unlikely sources of inspiration. Quote Solar Ash tosses you into the swift shoes of of Rei, a Voidrunner exploring a black hole. It’s a trippy, neon-spattered landscape — imagine a 3D, monster’s grotto version of Earthbound’s alt-reality Moonside. Traversal is the focus here, and as Rei you’ll weave nimbly along tendrils of light, fling yourself down cavernous wells, and launch yourself sword-first at bulbous-butted space spiders. While there’s plenty to see in the lonely world of Solar Ash, this isn't a “stop and smell the roses” kind of experience. Sure, the void is dotted with little caves and chambers, where you’ll learn more about the Rei and her bleak surroundings. But you won’t linger anywhere for too long, and numerous areas will require you to complete timed puzzle elements in order to progress forward. Solar Ash's Boss Fights Are Shadow of the Colossus on Ice | Digital Trends WWW.DIGITALTRENDS.COM Solar Ash emphasizes movement over combat to create dance-like combat and boss battles. Quote Heart Machine mentioned speedrunning at various points during the demo, and that inspiration really shows. The bits I saw were fast and fluid, with Rei rarely stopping to move unless it was to talk to an NPC or upgrade her gear. The game features timed challenges, too, forcing players to master its movement to proceed. There’s one moment during the demo session that best encapsulates what players can expect from Solar Ash. At one point, a developer invokes the master of speed himself, Sonic, joking that she’s “gotta go fast.” Like Super Mario 64, Solar Ash Is Built Around Mastering Mechanics You'll Know From The Start - GameSpot WWW.GAMESPOT.COM Solar Ash is designed with a high skill ceiling, pushing you to use simple movements in more advanced ways over time. Quote I recently got the chance to attend a hands-off preview for Solar Ash to get eyes on how the game looked outside an orchestrated trailer. Despite the seemingly effortless movement behind protagonist Rei's actions, there was a palpable tension surrounding her as she skated over clouds, grinded across rails, and dashed from one end of a room to another. Since I didn't have the chance to try out the game myself, I couldn't tell, but it seemed as if every movement was carefully calculated. With how graceful Rei was moving through the level, it all looked rather simple. But if the repeated efforts to correctly maneuver through the same time-based puzzle or multiphase boss fight were any indication, Solar Ash is anything but simple. What You Should Know About Solar Ash, From The Makers Of Hyper Light Drifter KOTAKU.COM Heart Machine says it won't be as hard, and it's definitely not a sequel Quote If you played Hyper Light Drifter, you got your ass kicked by Hyper Light Drifter. Heart Machine’s top-down action RPG was a bona fide gauntlet designed to run you through the wringer (a lot) before you acclimated to its resolutely unforgiving peculiarities. So you might be pleased to hear that the studio’s sophomore effort, Solar Ash, a 3D platformer planned for the fall, won’t be quite so punishing. Solar Ash is eye-catching but seems to lack some of the poignancy Hyper Light Drifter had (Eurogamer) Quote It all adds up to Solar Ash feeling tonally quite different to Hyper Light Drifter. That's not a shock - this was never intended to be a sequel - but it is noticeably lighter and broader in appeal than the previous game was, and, I think, less distinct because of it. Maybe it's a product of simply being a bigger production than before, and having more people dilute the idea. Alx Preston even seems to suggest this was the case, saying the personal story Solar Ash began with evolved as more people came on board. That's not to say Solar Ash is shallow. There's still meaning in there, particularly around the idea of scale and our feeling small, as we all sometimes do in reality, and it's imaginative and bizarre to look at. But will it linger in the mind as long as Drifter did? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
crispy4000 Posted December 1, 2021 Share Posted December 1, 2021 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Commissar SFLUFAN Posted December 1, 2021 Author Share Posted December 1, 2021 Game Information Game Title: Solar Ash Platforms: PC (Dec 2, 2021) PlayStation 4 (Dec 2, 2021) PlayStation 5 (Dec 2, 2021) Developer: Heart Machine Publisher: Annapurna Interactive Review Aggregator: OpenCritic - 80 average - 82% recommended Critic Reviews Attack of the Fanboy - 4.5 / 5 stars Quote Solar Ash is a contemplative experience, visual feast, and faced-paced thrill ride expertly wrapped up into one exhilarating adventure. Without a doubt, this game is one of the best indie games of 2021, if not the best. GameSkinny - 9 / 10 stars Quote Solar Ash is a complete package, with stellar gameplay, a well-told story, and a realized world ripe for exploring. Gamepur - 9 / 10 Quote Influences from other games are quite present in Solar Ash — Tony Hawk's line-following, Super Mario Galaxy's wraparound camera, Shadow of the Colossus's massive bosses. While those together may seem incongruous, they come together to make it an exciting, fast-paced platformer that gives you the tools to move smoothly and complete the challenges before you. It's so satisfying to nail those obstacle courses, clear anomalies, and topple skyscraping Remnants. The roller coaster of Solar Ash is well worth riding. GamesRadar+ - 4.5 / 5 stars Quote Solar Ash is a platforming playground that never loses steam, and it hides a memorable story of unfathomable tragedy. Hardcore Gamer - 4.5 / 5 Quote Solar Ash is another triumph from Heart Machine, a fast-paced burst of vibrant, surreal science fiction where players get to glide and jump around fascinating worlds with terrific bits of platforming and action spread out across a series of unique worlds with jaw-dropping visuals. Metro GameCentral - 9 / 10 Quote An excellent sci-fi platformer with exquisite art design and sublime traversal mechanics, which finds distinctive ground among its obvious inspirations. Press Start - 9 / 10 Quote By making Solar Ash radically different from Hyper Light Drifter, Heart Machine has avoided boxing themselves into a niche while being able to continue and build a universe they clearly care for. It wears its influences on its sleeve and comes together as a cosmic mix of a few games held dear by many, and as long as they continue to do this, I'll eat it up until I am far beyond full. Everyeye.it - Italian - 8.8 / 10 Quote Solar Ash comes at the end of the games, with the Top 10 of 2021 already compiled and the nominations for the various year-end awards already awarded, and that's a shame. Because it is one of those endings with a bang in a complicated and fluctuating year, which has undoubtedly given us pearls, but which also feels on the rump the difficulties and challenges that the pandemic has added to the already difficult universe of game development. Game Informer - 8.8 / 10 Quote Solar Ash plays as well as it looks with a strong story at the heart Digital Trends - 4 / 5 stars Quote Graceful movement and jaw-dropping fights against colossal monsters make Solar Ash a worthy follow-up to Hyper Light Drifter. Easy Allies - 8 / 10 Quote While its inspirations are clear, Solar Ash complements its massive boss fights with agility, strong level design, and bold visuals. GameSpot - 8 / 10 Quote Solar Ash is an exhilarating action-adventure game with strong puzzles and flashy boss fights. Twinfinite - 4 / 5 Quote If you have a few hours to spend and want to play something that is unlike anything else this year, then Solar Ash is absolutely worth checking out. Anyone who is a fan of the action-adventure genre will no doubt enjoy this memorable experience. VGC - 4 / 5 stars Quote Solar Ash is a highly original open-plan platform game. A slim move set that rewards momentum is the perfect means of exploring its swirling, broken landscapes and executing its more exacting challenges. While some of its elements feel overly simple, that doesn’t detract hugely from a clinically focused and fresh experience. Sirus Gaming - 7.5 / 10 Quote Solar Ash is at its best when you can skate a line perfectly and enter that satisfying flow state where nothing can stop you. The only thing Solar Ash asks of you is to fall into its groove and fall in love with its style, and if you can do that, you will have a wonderful time. GameSpew - 7 / 10 Quote There’s a lot more to Solar Ash than simply gliding and grinding around its luscious world, but by god is it good fun. IGN - 7 / 10 Quote Solar Ash may not get everything right, but its kinetic platforming and incredibly stylish presentation make its world a lot of fun to explore. Push Square - 7 / 10 Quote Solar Ash pushes for a sense of momentum and fluidity with its take on 3D platforming, and it does work very well indeed. Wccftech - 7 / 10 Quote Solar Ash makes a good first impression with its silky-smooth controls, eye-catching visuals, and bombastic boss battles, but a lack of character progression or changes to core mechanics eventually drains some of the life from the game. Solar Ash is a solid action-platformer, but it doesn't really rise above the many other indies occupying the same space, and ultimately, you may find your memories of the game disappearing rather swiftly into the void. Destructoid - 6 / 10 Quote Solar Ash offers a collection of promising concepts that don’t quite hit realization. While undoubtedly a visually striking experience, Rei’s journey into the Ultravoid suffers due to a disengaging narrative and repetitious gameplay. Solar Ash’s attractive world struggles to provide the player with captivating experiences. The elements do occasionally come together, however, ensuring that while Solar Ash isn’t quite the adventure it might have been, it successfully retains unmistakable Heart Machine charm. VG247 - 3 / 5 stars Quote It's not far from being a bit special, the kind of indie gem that everyone has to play, but it's unfortunately just not quite there. Eurogamer - Recommended Quote This glorious game about movement and adventure also feels like a rumination on something deeper and more personal. Rock, Paper, Shotgun - Unscored Quote An action-adventure that sees you topple big monsters with your rollerblades. It's stylish and oh-so-smooth when it gets in the flow, but is hampered by repetition. The Escapist - Unscored Quote Video Review - Quote not available Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Commissar SFLUFAN Posted December 2, 2021 Author Share Posted December 2, 2021 I've updated the OpenCritic reviews post. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Keyser_Soze Posted July 29, 2022 Share Posted July 29, 2022 Coming to Steam and Game Pass December 6 On 7/19/2022 at 7:36 PM, Keyser_Soze said: It's certainly an exclusive and assumed it will come to other platforms later. If you want to test this theory see if Solar Ash comes to other platforms in December. @SoberChef Just mentioned this last week in the Stray thread. 🤔 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Greatoneshere Posted July 29, 2022 Share Posted July 29, 2022 I finally played Solar Ash a month ago. I'm a big fan of the studio's previous indie game Hyper Light Drifter and while in some ways this is a completely different kind of game, in other ways it's exactly the same, and I thought the game was stellar and anyone who liked Hyper Light Drifter or enjoys really fun 3D platformers should play this. The poor initial reviews the game has received, particularly from audiences, boggles my mind. Critics at least seemed to think it was at least above average, but even they didn't love it. I think this is better than the reviews say it is. The game isn't particularly hard even on its hardest difficulty level except the need to master the game's intentionally floaty physics during the boss battles. I had a blast with this game and it's not too long either. In terms of tone, atmosphere, vibe, the way the story is told, and more, the game is very similar to Hyper Light Drifter. It's also a game that is a metaphor for dealing with difficult problems and dark thoughts, and the music is still amazing by Disasterpiece (Fez, Hyper Light Drifter, It Follows). 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ShreddieMercury Posted June 5, 2023 Share Posted June 5, 2023 Checking in three years later... Did anyone else play this? I see it's on sale during Days of Play, and I'm desperately looking for something for my new PS5, which seems so far like a bit of a worthless purchase. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Greatoneshere Posted June 5, 2023 Share Posted June 5, 2023 1 minute ago, ShreddieMercury said: Checking in three years later... Did anyone else play this? I see it's on sale during Days of Play, and I'm desperately looking for something for my new PS5, which seems so far like a bit of a worthless purchase. I played it and liked it! I reviewed it in my post directly above yours (from July 2022). 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ShreddieMercury Posted June 5, 2023 Share Posted June 5, 2023 21 minutes ago, Greatoneshere said: I played it and liked it! I reviewed it in my post directly above yours (from July 2022). I saw that, it was very helpful! Just curious if there are other impressions. I don't understand how this flew so far under the radar. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Greatoneshere Posted June 5, 2023 Share Posted June 5, 2023 Just now, ShreddieMercury said: I saw that, it was very helpful! Just curious if there are other impressions. I don't understand how this flew so far under the radar. Same, it is surprising. More impressions would be good. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ShreddieMercury Posted June 5, 2023 Share Posted June 5, 2023 Just now, Greatoneshere said: Same, it is surprising. More impressions would be good. I would like to be excited about their next project, but it's a roguelike so I'm immediately out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Greatoneshere Posted June 5, 2023 Share Posted June 5, 2023 4 minutes ago, ShreddieMercury said: I would like to be excited about their next project, but it's a roguelike so I'm immediately out. Ugh I didn't know that. If they do it somewhat akin to how Hades or Returnal did it I'm still interested. But if it's all randomized nonsense, etc. I'm not too interested. Co-op is back from Hyper Light Drifter at least. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stepee Posted June 5, 2023 Share Posted June 5, 2023 I never see this one pop up on sales lists and just forget about it though it is something I’d probably give a shot. They should make it a psn monthly or gamepass game at this point. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Keyser_Soze Posted June 5, 2023 Share Posted June 5, 2023 16 minutes ago, stepee said: They should make it a psn monthly or gamepass game at this point. Well it was supposed to come to gamepass in December as the twɘɘt above says, but it never came to Xbox. 🤷♀️ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ShreddieMercury Posted June 5, 2023 Share Posted June 5, 2023 53 minutes ago, Keyser_Soze said: Well it was supposed to come to gamepass in December as the twɘɘt above says, but it never came to Xbox. 🤷♀️ I saw that and wonder what happened. I'd rather play it on Xbox. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Greatoneshere Posted June 5, 2023 Share Posted June 5, 2023 4 hours ago, ShreddieMercury said: I saw that and wonder what happened. I'd rather play it on Xbox. I played it on PC and it worked great. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Xbob42 Posted June 5, 2023 Share Posted June 5, 2023 I have absolutely no recollection of this game in any way, shape or form. Huh. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ShreddieMercury Posted June 6, 2023 Share Posted June 6, 2023 1 hour ago, Xbob42 said: I have absolutely no recollection of this game in any way, shape or form. Huh. Yeah that seems to be the common consensus haha. Except for @Greatoneshere, who has great taste. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Keyser_Soze Posted June 6, 2023 Share Posted June 6, 2023 1 hour ago, ShreddieMercury said: Except for @Greatoneshere, who sometimes has great taste. Fixed 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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