While I really enjoyed the story and the message it conveyed, it got really repetitive. I completed the game in around five hours, and while I did not achieve a 100% save file, I was pretty thorough in my exploration. Without spoiling anything, the ending was wild and, at least in my case, completely unexpected. It gets heavier and heavier as the story progresses, and I really think the developers did a good job with it.

On a deeper level, the story is about reconciling with the past and moving forward, and this theme is sprinkled throughout the game. You know, just your typical, everyday occurrence.

In essence, Solar Ash follows the story of Rei, a Voidrunner that is trying to activate the Starseed to save her planet from the Ultravoid, a huge black hole. I do have a couple of issues with Solar Ash that prevent it from truly being great, however, including its repetitive nature, performance, and replayability. In my preview of the game, I discussed how excited I was for it because of its unique and intriguing design, fast-paced traversal, and intense combat. Overall, I really enjoyed this game and it lived up to my expectations. You can find all of these, and much more, in Heart Machine’s newest game, Solar Ash. And, naturally, giant sentient beings called Remnants. Skating, grappling, and grinding on rails.

Platforms: PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5 (reviewed on)

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