Since Heart Machine released the indie hit Hyper Light Drifter, the studio has built a solid reputation for aesthetically pleasing games. Now that Solar Ash is finally available, it's safe to say they've lived up to that reputation with flying colors. It may not be a contender for game of the year, but for those who enjoy games as a relaxing experience, Solar Ash's fluid design is a source of great satisfaction.
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If there's one word to describe Solar Ash, it's ‘fluid'. This game has all the necessary ingredients to make you feel like you're in a perpetual motion cinematic sequence. This is a 3D platform game that is full of adventures and trinkets to satisfy your curiosity. However, if you want to get the most out of this world, you'll need speed. That's where skating comes in. By simply holding down a button, you can go from a sprint to a skating sequence where you gently glide through an environment. Obstacles spice up your movements. Whether it's grinding rails or moving from platform to platform, you'll be hard-pressed to find a moment where you let yourself drift.
Solar Ash is not a game that will have you devouring videos of the game's story at 2 a.m. on YouTube. This is an experience that lasts as long as your gaming sessions. The story is okay, but it's clearly not the main focus. You play as a voidrunner tasked with ridding the world of toxic corruption that spreads in the form of black oil spots with glowing red eyes. This is reminiscent of the BTs from Death Stranding.
The encounters with enemies, especially with these strange creatures, are very similar to those in Shadow of the Colossus. You won't have to fumble your way with buttons. Rather, you will have to make your way to the top of the monster's core by hitting the right targets until the last one.
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If speed is at the heart of the game, Solar Ash deserves to take a step back to appreciate it. The dying world is nothing new in video games. In fact, there are probably more indie games in Dying Worlds than anywhere else. However, the depiction of Solar Ash is a pure artistic masterpiece. There are distinctive shapes, vibrant colors and the grandiose scale of what was once an advanced civilization.
Traversing the world of Solar Ash can feel fast at times. But you don’t feel like you’re in a hurry to prevent something. On the contrary, you feel like you're in complete control of the pace. The story can be followed if you want, but you won't feel like you're missing anything if you don't focus on it.
As Heart Machine prepares to release a sequel to Hyper Light Drifter, Solar Ash is the perfect reference for their next project. If so, we have a special game on our hands.
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