Uproot some aliens in this procedurally generated Souls-like with guns. Was Remnant: From the Ashes worth it?
Full disclosure: We received a review code for the Nintendo Switch version of this game. Rest assured that this will not affect the quality or candor of our review.
Table of Contents
Background
The apocalypse happened, and now we’ve got to deal with all the drama that came with it. No bones about it, we are living in the age of the Souls-like. FromSoftware’s impact on the industry can’t be understated, and the conventions from those games are bleeding out into other genres. Stop me if you’ve heard this one before: it’s a souls-like with randomized levels with crafting, weapon upgrading, a bonfire system, and the story is told through breadcrumbs placed throughout the world.
What’s different in this title is that Death isn’t as punishing, which is great since you’re definitely going to get wiped at bosses.
Here’s the TL;DR. It’s Dark Souls with guns (no, not Bloodborne).
If the title sounds familiar, it’s because this game was originally released in 2019 and is just now making it to the Switch. This version also comes with the previously released DLC. This is actually the second game in a series, preceded by Chronos (later rereleased as Chronos: Before the Ashes).
What does Remnant: From the Ashes do well?
The gameplay is quite fun and runs ok enough on this console. Veteran Switch owners will be prepared for the pop-in and lower visual fidelity. Gunplay works well, and the transition from shooting into melee when enemies get in your face is smooth. I’m primarily a close-range player, which was great since the game likes to toss several foes at you at once. I found that staying on them and weaving between melee and shooting was more consistent than kiting.
There’s a lot of freedom with builds and there are some quite fun weapons that wouldn’t be out of place in a title like Borderlands or Unreal Tournament. You can carry a single melee weapon, a handgun, and a long gun, so there’s a lot of room to pick and choose a setup that fits your playstyle. Many of the weapons are a pleasure to use, but if you’re struggling I would recommend prioritizing finding the Assault Rifle or buying the Hunting Rifle.
The game has an element of randomness in how dungeons are structured. If you don’t like what the game is throwing at you, you can reroll. This is also great for when you’re looking for specific drops, since certain items are only obtained through killing bosses in particular ways.
The soundtrack deserves praise, and the sound design as a whole is good. Audio cues are important, but I admit that the constant burbling and gurgling from enemies was more amusing than threatening. Maybe the Root are aggressive because they have indigestion? It took a few hours of play before I stopped checking to see if it was my stomach rumbling.
What could Remnant: From the Ashes do better?
The story isn’t doing any heavy lifting here. It’s the standard post-apocalyptic premise: bad thing happened, enemies everywhere, you’ve got to clear them out, etc. The gameplay is good enough that I feel the story deserves better.
If you get serious about this game, then you’ll want to review some guides. I realize this is a hallmark of the format, but heads-up.
Item Level Ire
Here’s the single biggest issue with the game. Gear is important, and the game relies heavily on an equipment level system. Unfortunately, the system isn’t explained well, and it can be hard to know what your overall level even is. Enemies are tied to your gear level, so it’s possible to upgrade a single item that pushes you over the edge into the next gear level, which means enemies just got stronger. The worst part is that the game won’t tell you that, so you’ll probably get your teeth kicked in at the next dungeon.
Was Remnant: From the Ashes fun?
It’s an enjoyable romp. I will advise that the early game is a bit slow, and is frankly the hardest part of the game. If the early game doesn’t do it for you, try giving it a little longer, as it opens up a lot.
Is Remnant: From the Ashes good value?
You can breeze through the campaign pretty quickly, but there’s a lot of replay value with the different modes and leveling system.
Besides the main campaign, there’s Adventure Mode, which prepopulates the world with enemies and bosses in certain areas, or Survival Mode, which is exactly what it sounds like. If you’re especially masochistic, there’s a Hardcore mode that unlocks rewards that all your characters can use.
Who is this game for?
If you’re into similar games, then this may have already popped up in your Steam recommendations. Souls-like fans who are jonesing for another game in the format will likely enjoy this, and Switch players should give this game a second look.
Was Remnant: From the Ashes worth it?
Don’t be fooled by the generic name, this is a fun game that deserves your attention. I recommend checking out Remnant, and while you’re smashing the Root, don’t forget to smash the crates!
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