Ascent - The Space Game
" Immersive space MMO with vast galaxy and player-driven economy but steep grind and clunky UI "
Ascent - The Space Game Review
Ascent - The Space Game is a player-driven, PvE sandbox MMO set in a massive universe with over 270 billion star systems. Players start with a small ship and gradually progress through mining, trading, colony building, and exploration. The game emphasizes economic growth, resource management, and community cooperation, allowing players to build starbases, colonies, and even stargates. Though still in early access, the developer is highly active and responsive, with a passionate and helpful player community.
Gameplay involves detailed mechanics such as matching asteroid speeds for mining, managing temperature for optimal yield, and conducting research to unlock blueprints and upgrades. Exploration rewards players with systems named after their discoveries. The game features a premium subscription model, which grants access to advanced ships, equipment, and colony-building features. While the graphics are simple and UI can be clunky, the depth and scale of the game have been praised. However, grinding and some bugs remain challenges for players.
Highlights
Players praise the game's deep and immersive gameplay mechanics, especially the interactive mining system and extensive colony building options. The vast galaxy for exploration and player-driven economy provide a unique sandbox experience reminiscent of EVE Online without PvP harassment.
The developer's active involvement and the friendly, helpful community enhance the game's appeal. Despite modest graphics, the atmospheric environments, procedural generation, and first-person ship piloting contribute to immersion.
The game's complex crafting, trading, and political elements add layers of depth, rewarding long-term investment and strategic planning.
Criticisms
Common criticisms include the steep grinding curve required to progress, especially in research and resource gathering. The game's UI and controls are often described as clunky and unintuitive, with some key functions requiring console commands.
Graphics are considered dated and simplistic, detracting from immersion for some players. Bugs, crashes, and stability issues persist, although the developer addresses many over time.
The subscription model, while affordable, is not clearly communicated upfront, leading to player confusion. Limited player base affects market activity and multiplayer interactions, and some features like combat and chat channels are underdeveloped or awkward.
Pros
- • Deep and immersive gameplay mechanics with interactive mining and colony building.
- • Massive procedural galaxy with billions of star systems to explore and name.
- • Player-driven economy fostering trade, crafting, and community cooperation.
- • Active and responsive developer engaging with the player base regularly.
- • Friendly and helpful community supporting new players and collaboration.
- • First-person spaceship piloting adds to immersion and control depth.
- • Complex crafting, research, and production systems rewarding strategic play.
Cons
- • Steep grind and long real-time research delays hinder progress pace.
- • Clunky and unintuitive UI with some features requiring console commands.
- • Simplistic and dated graphics reduce visual appeal for some players.
- • Bugs, crashes, and stability issues occasionally disrupt gameplay.
- • Subscription model not clearly communicated on store page.
- • Limited player base restricts market liquidity and multiplayer interaction.
- • Combat system is awkward and underdeveloped, limiting engagement.
Rating Criteria
Ascent is a PVE sandbox space MMO with 270 BILLION star systems and an emphasis on strong Sci Fi. It encourages Exploration, Colonization, Research, Asteroid mining, Farming, Trading, and Combat. Outside the tutorial sector, everything in-game has been built by players.