Ashes is a Post-apocalypse themed total conversion for the GZDoom engine. It combines old school build style level design and Doom style action with a twist of Stalker and Fallout.
Gameplay, level design, artstyle, atmosphere, music,... it just doesn't get better than what this total conversion offers!
Ashes, made by Vostyok, ReformedJoe, TDG, Retromuffin and of course Primeval, is a doom-based indie game that draws inspiration from all sorts of post-apocaliptic classics, from Escape from New York and Mad Max, to Fallout, Metro and Stalker, but it *does not* simply wear its inspirations on its sleeve while remaining largely derivative, it draws the best from them while thriving in its own ways.
It surprised me how much the story and setting of Ashes drew me in, I came in for the (quite enjoyable) scavenging experience, and got involved in a mysterious, suspenseful and well crafted tale, that has left me combing the internet for discussion and speculation, and also wanting to play the game again immediately after I beat it. If that isn't a sign of an addictive game, I do not know what is haha.
Gameplay is quite solid, it's a modern "doom clone" or "boomershooter" experience, with modern mechanics such as reloading, inventory management and weapon upgrades, although no ability to aim down sights, except for a select few mid-game sniper weapons, there were some situations were I wished I could zoom in a bit more, so I crafted a keybind to swap between an FOV of 120 and 70, so that I could aim a bit better at enemies that were at extreme ranges. If I could make a request to the dev team for their upcoming projects, this would be it, a built-in zoom key for when you're aiming at punks and gasbags across the large cityscapes.
The art style of Ashes is iconic, its world feels quite lived in, or rather, it feels like it was lived in decades ago, before everyone's lives were interrupted by the apocalypse, and now all that remains is an urban corpse, carefully cannibalized by its new inhabitants.
I want to make special mention of the astonishing sound design and Primeval's work with the soundtrack, these factors, combined with the lighting work and the clever and considered pacing, made this a very special experience, it is wild to me how the soundtrack and ambience can make you feel like you are the most dangerous thing in the wasteland in one moment, and then in the next one, smoothly transition into making you feel like you are stuck in a dimly lit bunker, with the *actual* most dangerous thing in the wasteland.
Ashes makes you the hunter, and it makes you the prey, and it's immensely compelling in both of these moments. This sense of empowerment diluted in the dread you are immersed in, gives the game a sense of exciting "realism", relative to your character's capabilities, you're carying a one man army's arsenal, but will it be enough for what you'll find down that corridor with the flickering lights?
Bit of a tip for anyone having problems with the game's motorcycle (yes, there is a motorcycle!), I used a keybind to alter the game's speed with the command i_timescale and a value like 0.6 or 0.7, to improve my ability to respond to the changes in the road, and that made the driving a much more enjoyable experience, things happen too fast while you're blazing down the roads (and the... non-roads) but if you got a bit more time to think and drift around corners (preferably running over enemies in the process), the bike is actually pretty fun.
If you weren't already downloading Ashes while reading this, then you should do it now, playing this game is something I guarantee you will not regret!
Episode 1 and 2 back to back are awesome. Would gladly buy this if it were published on steam (Please do)
One of the most atmosphaeric mods out there and my absolute favorite total conversion
I really like mods that basically add a whole new experience.
Ashes 2063 was really good. Lots of enemies and weapons combat.
Afterglow, on the other hand, was very elaborate. Almost too much, in my opinion. Players have to pay a lot of attention if they want to know where to go or what to do. It's very easy to get lost. Even though I feel like I did just about everything, I also feel like I missed some quests. It's hard to tell. It's set up like the Doom Strife mod; very open-world with character dialogue options. Decisions will affect various outcomes.
My biggest beef was that, despite choosing standard difficulty, I felt it was too difficult. Had I known that before I had gotten a decent length into it, I would have chosen something easier. Instead, I had to slog through some parts with constantly low health.
"git gud n00b" - Because some annoying fanboy is thinking that.
Ultimately, this is a very well-made mod and I recommend it to anyone who's a fan of dystopian open-world FPS games. Beware of the difficulty and pay attention to the dialogue.
Utterly phenomenal total conversion campaign. 2063 and Afterglow are some of the best single-player FPS games you can play currently.
Action packed, spooky, vast, and insanely immersive considering the engine.
Fantastic sense of art direction, level design, sound effects, soundtrack, it all comes together.
Must play for any fan of classic Doom, post-apocalyptic settings, or fast-paced brutal shooters.
One of the best TC for Doom I've ever played.
mod/standalone game is very well done. Lot attention to the details, good atmosphere, good story. Best Doom mod I've ever seen, it shows story inspired by Metro series
You guys are talented! Your game is so great, love every inch of it!
Episode one was already cool, but the second became a big improvement over the first one. Recently I have been playing many 2.5D classic shooters for the very first time and have to say that you exceeded these games in many aspects, bravo!
Levels are interesting to explore, so much joy in opening all these shortcuts and finding stashes. Even when I thought there was nothing to find, and place looked like a rough part of the map, there was actually laying some loot. Never was dissapointed. Fantastic soundtrack, superfun gameplay, cool world building and story, I join to the kind words that others have already said. Ashes is a masterpiece, no doubt!
Thank you for the expirience! I wish you be inspired and full of strenght to keep doing wonderful games of yours. Hope to see Episode three!
Honestly, one of the best Doom TC mods ever made!
Perfectly crafted from start to finish, if this were being sold on Steam or GOG I'd buy it in a heartbeat! ^^