Hitoshi Sakimoto knocks it out of the park with a stream of stunning, sweeping musical pieces.

Locale and background is drawn in stunning detail. Each race is afforded aĭazzling design, from the lizard-like Zeft to the endearing Migmies, and each It’s a good thing the art and music do so much heavy For such a lengthy RPG, it’s a shame not to be invested in the characters that drive it. Ultimately, none of them are given the time they deserve to truly stand out. Each character’s biggest moment comes in a flashback. When hints of it poke through, such as when the youngest, Eko, decries the lack of respect he’s given-after all, he’s been with them for 2.75 years, hasn’t he, and he’s giving up just as much as them- Astria Ascending quickly moves along. That sacrifice at the core of everything affects the plot, but rarely the hearts and minds of the characters. They’ve already made their peace with their circumstances. To start, we’re dropped not at the beginning of these Demi-Gods’ careers, but in the last three months. It’s that sense of connection that’s largely missing. The narrative is at its best when it explores the characters’ impending doom, but it does so infrequently that it’s hard to remember just what it is the characters are giving up. Up until the last five hours, I was still unlocking subclasses, support classes, and abilities that transformed the ways I approached the combat.Īs for the story, Astria Ascending features an intriguing hook: eight people are chosen to become demi-gods, given the power and responsibility to protect the world’s harmony at the sacrifice of their own lives. Where other games stumble in the second half, whether simplifying dungeons to streamline the finish or stagnating without new gameplay hooks, Astria Ascending maintains a confident stride. Artisan Studios suggests completionists will be able to wring out double that. The entire journey is pulled along by the new: new classes, new music, new art, new distractions…indeed, the game never rests for the developer-suggested run-time of 25-35 hours (for the main story it took me 37. From corner to corner, it is filled to the brim with stunning art, fresh enemy designs, strategic boss fights, puzzle-filled dungeons, and even a complete, token-based mini-game. They’ve succeeded in crafting something special.īut even special isn’t without its frustrations. Those are some big names from some even bigger projects.Īnd for the most part, together with Artisan Studios,

There’s some serious pedigree behind this project: Kazushige Nojima (FFVII Remake, FFX, FFII) worked on the narrative Hitoshi Sakimoto (FFXII, Valkyria Chronicles) did the music and Hideo Minaba (FFVI, IX, and XII) and Akihiko Yoshida (FFXII, Nier: Automata) led the art direction. Keep following the path east, working your way through the area until you reach the last area where a cutscene will trigger as you approach a man.Get stuck in with the beautiful Astria Ascending if you can handle debilitating battles and missed opportunities.Īstria Ascending is a stunning, hand-drawn, turn-taking RPG inspired by the classics- and written by them too. Do this just as the cart goes over the switch so Ulan will drop down onto it opening the door. You’ll need to switch places with the statue using the alternate power. Keep doing this until you reach the sealed door at the bottom. Quickly jump down and stand on the platform to stop the fire, allowing the cart to pass through. When you reach the puzzle where you have to move the cart along the track, use the earth power of the Zodiac Ring to summon a statue and place it on the cart to get it moving. In its second form, everything is the same except its weakness changes to lightning.

Defeat it! In the first form, it’s weak to air, resists water, nullifies dark and drains earth. Enter the temple and head east to trigger a cutscene followed by a fight with Amalthea, The Capricorn Astrae. Head to the Broken Bridge in the Grand Canyon and head west through five areas to reach the Capricorn Temple. Obtained: Given to you automatically as part of the story from Yuno in Chapter XI. This is a guide for the Capricorn Temple side quest in Astria Ascending.

Astria ascending reviews