Of Ash and Steel, an open-world RPG inspired by the likes of Gothic and Kingdom Come: Deliverance, was released last month. It would be fair to call it an indie RPG, but the game features so much content that it can easily take you over 100 hours to fully complete. Exploration in this game is extremely rewarding, to the point where you are encouraged, and sometimes forced, to venture into different areas off the beaten path.
Exploring open-world RPGs that do not hold your hand is incredibly fun, at least for me. Of Ash and Steel feels like one of the ultimate RPG experiences released this year. While it is not better than Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2, I still think it is a must-play title for anyone who enjoys this genre. As someone who absolutely adores the Kingdom Come franchise, I decided to give this game a try, and it turned out to be a very good decision.
The game’s story is genuinely interesting, and believe me when I say this, there is little to no hand-holding. You are completely on your own for most of the experience. You will not even gain access to a proper map until you complete Act One. That being said, the game is not perfect, so I will be sharing my thoughts on what makes it worth trying, as well as where it falls short.
Table of contents
Overview And First Impressions
As someone who really likes the RPG genre and was upset with Expedition 33 winning the Best RPG award, even though it is my favorite game, I went into this game with high expectations. I was wrong to do that, and I was instantly disappointed.
The game’s performance, to which Henry would say is diabolical. The performance was actually so bad that it was almost unplayable at release for me, and I do not have a bad PC. There are mods you can download to improve the game, which I highly recommend.
It has been a month since the game was released, but unfortunately, the performance issues still linger. However, ignoring this issue, I enjoyed this game to the fullest. Sure, the first impression was not good, and I even thought of uninstalling it. However, after a couple of patches, it came alright, and I started exploring the Grayshaft.
The fact that there was no map at the start was kinda annoying, but later on, it did not matter much as I learned all of the routes I had been on. That made playing this game super fun. I could go from the city to the Free Hunters camp to Narest’s house with no worries.
The graphics are not something to brag about, but that is completely normal in RPGs with a medieval setting. I have seen some people claim that the gameplay mechanics are outdated, but come on, it is a medieval RPG. The combat mechanics, to me, seemed fine and really fun.
That said, traversal was a chore, mainly because of the stamina constantly depleting. The game is fun, and the open world is not extremely massive, but there should have been a fast travel option from the start, or at least a mount for convenience.
Gameplay And Mechanics
Like your traditional RPG, Of Ash and Steel follows the old school pattern for gameplay. You, as Tristan, are on foot and have to travel throughout the Grayshaft. The combat is challenging to master, and that is exactly how it should be. For hardcore RPG players, the combat in this game will feel pretty solid.
It offers the old-school RPG experience, so if you are a fan of that, it is a must-play for you. That said, you do get access to magic in Act 4, but that appears very far away. The developers stayed too true to the old school RPG experience, which is why there is no fast travel.
However, I still think there should have been a mount, like a horse or something similar. That is because traveling on foot is very time-consuming, especially due to the constant stamina depletion. Your stamina should not deplete outside of combat, but if the developers want to add a sense of realism, it should at least be balanced. If you want the best experience, I recommend installing the infinite sprinting mod.
Story And Role-Playing
In an average RPG, your choices matter a lot. You are basically playing the game as if you yourself are the character. For example, in the Kingdom Come: Deliverance games, your choices help you improve or ruin your relationships with others. It also impacts the story and ultimately decides what type of ending you will get.
That is somewhat missing from Of Ash and Steel. It is not completely missing, as your choices do have an impact on the story, but not on that level. You do get to choose between the Order and the Freeman, and that choice will determine what quests you get.
So, your choices do affect the game, but they do not appear as much as they do in Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2. That said, it features a narrative that respects player intelligence. For example, in the quest Impenetrable Fort, you can either kill everyone and finish the quest extremely quickly, or you can drive them out by taking the long road.
One choice would make Kurt happy, while the other would make him angry. So, there are meaningful choices and consequences, but not enough.
Is This A Must-Play Game For You?
If you are a hardcore RPG fan who loves a game where there is no hand-holding, then yes, Of Ash and Steel is absolutely for you. However, if you do not like the medieval setting that much and prefer RPGs like Cyberpunk 2077, then you may not have much fun with it.
If you have played and enjoyed the Kingdom Come games, then I think you will enjoy playing this one too. It is a hardcore RPG that is not meant for everyone. So, if you are a casual fan, you may get frustrated too soon and might end up giving up.
That said, I do not think you should play this game as of now. Do not get me wrong, I really like this game, and it is pretty solid. However, there are many issues with it. The performance issues and bugs will make you quit more than anything else.
While some of the bugs and issues have been fixed, the game is still not perfect. If that does not bother you, then my friends, you should absolutely give it a go without a second thought.
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Obaid Ur Rehman is a lifelong gaming enthusiast with a deep passion for writing about video games. While he enjoys all genres, he specializes in RPGs and Soulslike titles. After tackling some of the toughest bosses, he often unwinds with a cozy game to relax. Outside of gaming, Obaid enjoys watching anime, bingeing TV series, or staying active at the gym.
