Of Ash and Steel is a bold, deliberate homage to early-2000s RPGs, crafted by Fire & Frost and published by tinyBuild. At its heart lies the unassuming figure of Tristan, a cartographer stranded on a bleak, ash-choked island. Rather than shepherding players with quest markers or guiding arrows, the game trusts them to listen, read, and orient themselves – a design decision that will delight veterans of Gothic and Risen, but may leave newer players a little disoriented.
Exploration in Of Ash and Steel feels genuinely earned. There is no hand-holding: NPCs give cryptic directions, and the lack of an internal quest arrow pushes the player to map their own path. This minimalism evokes a satisfying sense of discovery, but there’s cost in frustration – progress often hinges on carefully parsing dialogue or scouring notes, and it can be all too easy to become lost or stuck in early missions if you’re not used to playing like that. When exploration pays off, though, it’s rewarding: hidden treasures, lore-heavy books, and quiet vistas all reinforce the game’s ambitious scale.
Combat stands out as both its most compelling and most punishing component. The stamina-based system demands careful timing of attacks, parries, and dodges, and overextension leaves Tristan vulnerable. Growth is gradual: new stances, heavier strikes, and active abilities unlock slowly, giving fighters a real sense of evolution. But this deliberate pacing also exposes rough edges – progression can feel slow, and economic returns from loot are sometimes underwhelming, with many items offering little long-term utility.
Visually, the game projects the gritty charm of a low-fantasy world. Biomes shift between dense forests and ashen wastelands, and the day-night cycle bathes landscapes in evocative lighting. However, character models and animations remain functional rather than polished – facial expressions are static and lip-sync can feel awkward, undercutting the occasional emotional moment and giving it a PS3-era feel. In dialogue-heavy scenes, the limitations of the presentation are more noticeable.
Audio design leans strongly into atmosphere. Ambient sounds – rustling leaves, distant wildlife, or the buzz of people in taverns – are layered and immersive, helping ground the world in reality. Music, while sparse, is used judiciously, underscoring exploration rather than overpowering it. The voice acting is earnest and plentiful, though performance quality varies, and combat sequences sometimes feel musically repetitive.
Technically, the game remains a bit fragile at launch. Long load times, some infrequent crashes and looted items that occasionally fail to appear and blocking quest progression all popped up. These bugs weigh heavily, particularly in a title that leans on its systems and world logic. There is also discomfort with the crime and guard mechanics: theft feels imprecise, and consequences are murky, which sours some of the emergent role-playing.
Despite these problems, Of Ash and Steel is a labor of love. For those who remember the grinding tension of old-school RPGs, where exploration, survival, and buildcraft mattered more than cinematic flair, this game will feel like home. It’s a slow, uncompromising journey — one that may be bumpy, but whose rewards are shaped by the player’s own attention and perseverance. As it stands, the game feels like the beginning of something great, if Fire & Frost can patch and polish over the rougher parts. Its lack of polish and technical instability hold it back, but for players who crave authenticity, challenge, and freedom, it’s a compelling world to get lost in.
Score: 7.1/10
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