A chaotic cyberpunk action game from only 12 people, The Ascent is Neon Giant‘s ambitious first game as a studio. It’s coming to us from industry veterans who had previously worked on titles like Bulletstorm, DOOM, Gears of War, and the newer Wolfenstein games – and it shows. The Ascent throws players into a metropolis in turmoil, full of unique characters and thrilling encounters. While it’s not perfect, what is on offer here is one of the best twin-stick shooters of the year and the better cyberpunk game of recent.

An arcology known as Veles was once controlled by the powerful megacorporation ‘The Ascent Group’. Mysteriously, the omnipresent entity collapses and the people divide into a dangerous free-for-all, gangs fighting over districts and rival corporations trying to seize control. As an indentured worker for The Ascent Group before its fall, you’re tasked with uncovering what happened while being caught between haphazard firefights.

A cybernetic, neon world that actually feels alive

Setting, atmosphere, vibe. This is genuinely a cyberpunk world that is in desperate need of order, and you really feel it. Environments range from dark and damp garbage wards with hordes of mechanical Ferals to neon cities with hundreds of creatures from all over the universe, bustling and trading to make a living. You can even visit a local bar and chat with aliens about their recent schemes or a crime they witnessed. It’s a visual feast with so many intricate details to stop and take in that truly immerses you into the world of Veles.

As the story moves on, the ascent through this city is serviceable. The narrative takes you through twists and turns, much of which are genre commons. An underground cyber-hacking syndicate of so-called Netsages helps dive deeper into the neurology of the social construct, a typical neo-yakuza gang who cause havoc, and of course the Corpos who want to be above everything. The personalities you meet along the way are often amusing, such as Poone and 438 Hung. An AI called Imp (short for Personal Imprint) guides you through the entire journey, adding its analytical comments and sometimes comedic quips. There isn’t anything groundbreaking here in writing or story. Yet, The Ascent provides exactly what you’d want from a cyberpunk game.

More shooting, less role-playing and all the better for it

The game is a twin-stick shooter, through and through. Combat is based on aiming low and high, crouching behind cover, and moving around to dodge projectiles. Shorter enemies will run under aimed fire, keeping you on your toes when there’s a crowd of Ferals crawling out of the corners. Fully utilising two weapons on the go, tactical equipment such as grenades or sonic stuns, and two augmentations abilities are essential in firefights. Different damage types correspond to enemies’ strengths and weaknesses, which you’ll only learn by paying close attention to the damage dealt during the often chaotic combat. While the gameplay is very fun, the camera can be tricky to work with at times. When firing at enemies below/south of you, it doesn’t always extend far enough for targets to be within sight, which can be annoying.

The Ascent isn’t as straightforward of a shooter as it seems on the surface. It is hard, and particularly so if you want to rush through the story under levelled. Unlocking new regions results in a difficulty jump, requiring grinding older side quests you haven’t completed, finding new loot, and learning more about Veles. Game over isn’t terribly punishing, sending you back to the last checkpoint, usually only a few minutes prior. It can seem a little too easy just to respawn and continue clearing out enemies, rinse and repeat until they are all gone. How this translates to co-op is unknown right now as no multiplayer servers are live prior to release. Either way, learning the mechanics of combat and getting a hold of the controls, gliding through enemies like a knife to butter, is exhilarating.

One of the most significant concerns The Ascent is getting surrounds its end game. There is little to no extra content besides uncompleted quests and claiming the occasional bounty once the main story is complete. Unlike ARPGs like Diablo or Grim Dawn, this is a condensed experience. Sitting at around 10-15 hours long, depending on your playstyle, this may not be exactly what fans of the genre expect. Neon Giant is planning upcoming patches to the game in the coming months, but there isn’t any news on future DLC. All things considered, The Ascent is here for a good time, not a long time, and doesn’t overstay its welcome.

Intricate environments take advantage of Ray Tracing technology

Graphically, the game is outstanding. As mentioned before, the environments are the shining star in this vivid and grimy cyberpunk world. Impressive DX12 and Ray Tracing technology shows off the fantastic work done on lighting and shadows. There are plenty of gleaming metal contraptions, glowing lights in the world,  and reflections in puddles of water; every scene looks like a futurist painting. Unfortunately, the character models sorely stick out. Low textured faces and bodies look like playdough in clear enough lighting, especially noticeable when customising your character.