Of Ash and Steel, a new open world RPG developed by Fire & Frost and published by tinyBuild, is one of those games that could very well become the "next big thing". I've played through a test build of the early hours of the game, and the vibes I get from it remind me of early builds of games like Kingdom Come: Deliverance. The feeling I come away from my time with the demo is one of boundless potential, like an entire world is spread before me just waiting for me to come explore it.
The build I played included a brief tutorial area and several hours of early quests in the main world. The player character is a cartographer who has tagged along with a group of knights on a mission to deliver an important communique. The cartographer's job was to guide the knights' ship through the rocks to their island destination. As the game begins, it's clear that he has failed miserably, as the knights are wet and angry on the shore, looking out at their smashed-up ship.
The tutorial gives the player a bit of starting gear and teaches the basics of combat. But what it really imparts is the idea that the player is not a superhero. He's not even a knight. He's a helpless map maker, and any survival skills he needs are going to have to be learned along the way.
You will be on your own figuring out these skills, as Of Ash and Steel does not hold the player's hand. This is a game that does not offer waypoints, a compass, or a map. Players must pay attention when it comes to navigation and taking directions. However, unlike games like Outward, which left me feeling bewildered and immediately overwhelmed, Of Ash and Steel is a bit more manageable. The game does a great job of guiding the player where they need to go, while still leaving the feeling that you found things all by yourself. It's quite a good trick.
I only began to explore combat in my time with the game; while it is a major gameplay component, it is not the central point of the experience. I found the combat to be challenging, but reasonable. This is not a Soulslike game, but players would still do well to retreat when they are outnumbered, particularly when they are just starting out.
There is a charm to Of Ash and Steel that is difficult to describe. The character work is outstanding, giving even minor characters flashes of personality that do a lot to sell the experience. The exploration feels rewarding rather than frustrating, with the player discovering goodies tucked around every corner. Rather than feeling restrictive due to it's lack of UI elements, Of Ash and Steel gives the player a feeling of freedom. I'm very excited to get my hands on the full game.
Players interested in Of Ash and Steel can learn more and wishlist the game on Steam here.
