Underworld Ascendant

Underworld Ascendant is an ambitious attempt to resurrect the design philosophy of classic immersive simulations, aiming to give players a high degree of freedom within a reactive, system-driven world. Developed by OtherSide Entertainment and published by 505 Games, it draws direct inspiration from the legacy of Ultima Underworld, prioritizing experimentation and player-driven solutions over linear progression. The intent is clear from the outset: this is meant to be a sandbox of possibilities where creativity is rewarded, and where problems can be approached from multiple angles rather than solved in a single prescribed way. Set within the Stygian Abyss, the game places you in a sprawling underground realm filled with competing factions, hidden secrets, and environmental hazards. Instead of pushing players down a fixed path, it encourages exploration and improvisation. You are given a wide array of tools—melee weapons, ranged attacks, environmental interactions, and a rune-based magic system—and left to figure out how best to use them. This open-ended structure is where the game’s vision shines. There are moments when solutions feel genuinely personal, when you succeed not because you followed instructions, but because you experimented and discovered something on your own. The magic system, in particular, stands out as one of the more interesting components. By combining runes to create spells, players can craft abilities that suit their preferred playstyle, adding a layer of customization that reinforces the game’s emphasis on freedom. Similarly, environmental interactions allow for creative problem-solving, whether that involves manipulating objects, setting traps, or finding unconventional routes through obstacles. These systems work together to create the kind of emergent gameplay that immersive sims are known for, where the world feels less like a series of scripted events and more like a space to explore and experiment within. However, this freedom often comes at the cost of clarity. The game provides minimal guidance, which can lead to confusion, especially in its darker, maze-like environments. Objectives are not always clearly communicated, and navigation can become frustrating when visual cues are limited. Instead of feeling like an intentional challenge, this lack of direction can sometimes make progress feel uncertain or arbitrary. The sense of discovery is present, but it is occasionally overshadowed by moments of disorientation. Combat and general interaction further highlight the gap between ambition and execution. While the game offers multiple approaches to encounters, the mechanics themselves can feel inconsistent. Melee combat lacks weight and responsiveness, and interactions with the environment do not always behave as expected. This inconsistency undermines the otherwise strong design philosophy, as the tools meant to empower creativity do not always function reliably. The result is a system that feels conceptually rich but mechanically uneven. The narrative is similarly understated, relying heavily on environmental storytelling and scattered pieces of lore. The Abyss is filled with factions and backstory, but much of it is left for the player to piece together. This approach can be rewarding for those who enjoy uncovering hidden details, but it also means that the story lacks a strong, immediate presence. Characters and events often feel distant, making it difficult to form a deep emotional connection to the world. Technical issues further complicate the experience. At launch, the game was widely criticized for bugs, performance problems, and incomplete features, and while some improvements have been made over time, remnants of those issues persist. Animations can feel rough, systems can behave unpredictably, and the overall presentation lacks the polish needed to fully support its ambitious design. These shortcomings make it difficult for the game to maintain immersion, especially during longer play sessions. Despite these flaws, there is a clear sense of potential throughout Underworld Ascendant. Its commitment to player agency and systemic interaction is evident, and in its best moments, it captures the spirit of the immersive sim genre. It offers a kind of freedom that is increasingly rare, allowing players to approach challenges in ways that feel organic and unscripted. For those willing to engage with its systems and overlook its rough edges, it can provide a uniquely satisfying experience. In the end, Underworld Ascendant is a game defined by its ideas rather than its execution. It succeeds in presenting a compelling vision of what an open-ended RPG can be, but struggles to deliver that vision in a consistent and polished way. It stands as both a reminder of the strengths of classic design philosophies and an example of how difficult they are to implement effectively in a modern context. Rating: 5/10

Имеются мелкие баги , но это все перекрывается великолепной атмосферой исследования подземелья в духе классики

Someone *really* loved bloom in this game. So much so that they didn't want anyone to be able to disable it. Why anyone would think using one of the worst post-processing effects to ever exist and ramping it up to max was a good idea is beyond me. I mean, who doesn't love having Vaseline in their eyes? To the developer who thought it a good idea: Clean your specs. Light sources don't have 'bloom' effects. Filthy camera lenses, dirty windows, and damaged corneas do.

id be mad if i paid more than 2 dollars for this. good bones but needs major refinement.

Вспомнил детство, когда играл в Thied Deadly Shadows и Dark Messiah, и, не смотря на отзывы, стелс и боевка в этой игре оказались интереснее! А какие уровни! Вертикальные, со множеством способов прохождения, с ловушками секретами, скрытыми переходами. Исследовать - одно удовольствие. С этим процессом исследования идет рука об руку и прокачка, в которой опыт на выбор умений дается за различные "трюки", среди которых, например, убить трех врагов не получая урона, совершить дальний прыжок, пройти уровень оставаясь незамеченным, составить сложную магическую формулу. Отдельный параграф о магии. Здесь она не просто "перк из прокачки", как в Темном Мессии, а рунная формула, как было в Arx Fatalis. Комбинации рун не только задают суть заклинания, но и подчеркивают в ней отдельные свойства. Магический щит становится прочнее при умножении компонентов заклинания, а лечение - сильнее, призванные монстры выдерживают и наносят больше урона, а пламя огненной сферы горит ярче и жарче. Подводя итог - перед нами классическая игра кикстертерного бума: смелая, инновационная, творческая, забагованная и недоделанная. Да, багов много. Да, игру не довели до конца, ибо она оказалась в эпицентре негодования фанатов - видно, как не хватает нескольких уровней, как не приведен в порядок баланс экономики, прокачки, умений. Разработчик выпустил 3 крупных обновления, но утихомирить фанатов так и не удалось. А жаль, подобных игр катастрофически мало, и вряд ли они снова появятся в ближайшее время.

游戏绝对用心做的迷宫上下和机关系统无半点含糊，你任务需要看地图路线才能过，然后还要上下左右观望地理，这游戏绝对不是你不用脑子就能过去的，这游戏首先它是个有盗贼系统的暗影模式，它的支线任务就是叫你躲避过关不被发现，武器基本靠捡太容易坏了，好的武器会多用点时间，好的武器都是供起来的注意有火光的位置，有的需要拿木箱垫脚有的需要学跳高技能联合必用才能上去，弓把箭头放下边格子里就能射，有任务营阵模式做完升级可以买好装备，要打的话按住重击你一下我一下注意来回后退。任务最后完成了会自动结算然后自己跑回去，如果你最后任务找不到了会有声音提示不要走开那个范围360度去找，一旦知道了以后就不会有困难了。还要那个打怪物桩打下来的魔法球装置是开启大园盘机关钥匙，大本营最上就有一个那个大圆盘机关我去试一下。

Needs more direction on where to go next.

What an f'ing mess!

back to the realms of ultima sweet thank you lord british

A very nice looking game. But not easy to get into. Clunky GUI. The world feels a bit limited. You can't walk everywhere. Lots of locked doors. If you love to solve smaller puzzles then this game is for you for sure.