Ascendant

Ascendant is a 2D roguelike brawler that combines challenging combat with procedurally generated levels and a rich upgrade system. Players take on the role of demigods battling through multiple seasons, unlocking weapons, spells, blessings, and spirits to customize their playstyle. The combat mechanics—featuring melee attacks, magic, parrying, and launching enemies—are praised for being tight, responsive, and skill-based, offering a high skill ceiling and rewarding gameplay.

Visually, the game features a unique stylized art style with vibrant graphics and an atmospheric soundtrack that many players find delightful. The roguelike elements include randomized rooms, diverse bosses, and event challenges, which add depth and replayability. However, the game’s difficulty is steep, with some players finding it frustrating and punishing, especially against certain bosses and shielded enemies. While the lack of a save system and some repetitiveness in enemy variety can detract from the experience, fans of the genre generally recommend it for its combat and challenge.

Highlights

Players praise Ascendant's combat system for its satisfying mechanics, including dashing, parrying, magic use, and enemy launching. The art style is consistently described as beautiful and unique, with a vibrant color palette and well-designed characters. The soundtrack is noted as gorgeous and atmospheric, enhancing immersion. Replayability is high due to the variety of blessings, spirits, weapons, and spells, allowing for diverse builds. The randomized levels and bosses keep each run feeling fresh. Local co-op mode is also highlighted as a fun addition. Overall, the game is seen as a rewarding challenge for fans of roguelikes and action platformers.

Criticisms

Common criticisms include the steep difficulty curve, which some players find frustrating or punishing, especially without the right build. The lack of a save or pause system forces players to complete runs in one sitting, which can be inconvenient. Some find the enemy variety limited with many reskins and repetitive encounters. The randomness of drops and shops can sometimes hinder progression or feel unfair. A few players mention repetitive music loops and that the combat, while solid, can feel simplistic or clunky during melee attacks. Others note that the story is minimal or nonexistent, which may disappoint those seeking narrative depth.