Xbox Game Passhas no shortage of indie games to keep an eye out for and its vast library provides the perfect place for many of these indie titles to find a greater audience. These indie titles are where once popular genres can still thrive, from metroidvanias to bullet hells. Fans of bullet hells, likeEnter The Gungeon,will love this cyberpunk take on the genre:The Ascent.
Released in 2021,The Ascentis well worth checking out for fans of bullet hells and top-down shooters. With a vibrant aesthetic, great cyberpunk-inspired world, and solid gameplay,The Ascentis an underrated title that deserves a bit more attention. Thosewho loveEnter The Gungeonshould definitely keep their eyes out for it on Xbox Game Passand could add to their top-down shooter library.
Why Enter The Gungeon Fans Would Like The Ascent
Chaotic Top-Down Shooter Gameplay
As seen in its trailer, posted on YouTube by developerNeon Giant,The Ascentis a top-down shooter with bullet hell chaos in a neon-lit cyberpunk world. In terms of combat, the chaotic shooting mechanics aren’t too dissimilar toEnter The Gungeon, although it still manages to offer something different.
Its aesthetic and 3D graphics set it apart. However, the gameplay loop has enough similar elements forEnter The Gungeonfans to sink their teeth into.
It should be noted thatThe Ascentisn’t a rogue-lite, whichEnter The Gungeonfamously is. It is more of an RPG with linear progression, rather than death meaning a reset.
The vibrancy, chaos, and constant dodging of projectiles is something thatEnter The Gunegonfans should be all too familiar with. It has enough for fans ofEnter The Gungeonto get started, but has a brilliantly directed coat of cyberpunk paint for those who love that genre.
Despite Mixed Reviews There’s A Lot To Like
Avoid Co-op At All Costs
The Ascent’s gameplay is solid, the cybperpunk world is competently put together, and the RPG elements function well, but the game has managed to leave a sour taste for several reasons. OnThe Ascent’sSteamPage,the game has dropped to mixed reviews recently, with overall reviews sitting at mostly positive.
However, the complaints aren’t about gameplay. Instead, players have grievances about the game’s bugs, particularly with its co-op functionality. While these bugs have proved to be a persistent issue with co-op and the source of several refunds on Steam, those avoiding co-op still have a lot of love forThe Ascent.
WithThe Ascentbeing free onXbox Game Pass, it’s well worth trying for fans ofEnter The Gungeonor for those looking at more games set in a cyberpunk-style world. There’s nothing to lose, and fans of top-down shooters or bullet hell games might find their new addiction.
