Nephise: Ascension

Nephise: Ascension is the third installment in the Nephise series by Tonguç Bodur, presenting a more ambitious and longer experience than its predecessors. Players explore beautiful, varied environments rendered with Unreal Engine, including seasonal outdoor areas and new dungeon sections featuring enemies like zombies and skeletons. Gameplay expands beyond simple walking simulation to include platforming challenges, puzzle-solving, and light stealth elements, with a stronger narrative focus and the introduction of a visible protagonist model and voice acting.

While praised for its relaxing atmosphere, stunning visuals, and immersive soundtrack, the game is often described as short (roughly 1-2 hours), with some players wanting longer duration and more depth. The story is considered modest and sometimes vague, with mixed opinions on character design and narrative impact. Though platforming and enemy encounters add variety, some feel these elements clash with the walking sim tone. Overall, it is recommended for fans of the genre and series, especially at a discounted price.

Highlights

Players particularly praise the beautiful and varied graphics, including seasonal effects and detailed landscapes.

The immersive soundtrack and voice acting contribute significantly to the atmospheric and relaxing experience.

Gameplay improvements such as platforming, puzzles, and exploration offer more engagement than previous titles.

The storyline, while simple, is more developed than before, and the inclusion of a visible protagonist adds charm.

Chapter selection and achievements enhance replayability and accessibility.

Criticisms

Common criticisms include the short game length, with many players finishing under two hours and desiring more content.

The platforming mechanics are seen as basic and sometimes poorly implemented, frustrating players who dislike this addition.

Enemy encounters, such as zombies, are viewed as incongruous with the relaxing walking sim style.

The story and lore are considered weak or underdeveloped, with some players finding the orb powers overly broad and diminishing stakes.

Character design, especially Nephise's appearance, receives mixed reactions, with some finding it unrealistic or distracting.

Some technical issues like lack of FOV adjustment and occasional graphical quirks are noted.