The Ascent is a shooter built around a single question: what happens when you can hack your own guns and build them on the fly? The answer is mostly fun, occasionally brilliant, and rarely smooth.
Trailer, via PlayStation.
Building Your Arsenal
The core loop is simple. You find salvage, spend it on schematics, and assemble weapons that suit your playstyle. The system rewards experimentation. A shotgun built for close combat feels entirely different from a rifle tuned for range, and swapping parts mid-fight changes the shape of your weapon in seconds. It is the best thing about the game.
New London and Its Dangers
The setting is New London, a ruined city overrun by robots and cultists. The story follows three survivors who split up to find the Ascent, a device that can heal the planet. That setup is fine, but the writing leans on heavy-handed dialogue and predictable twists. It does not hold the attention the way the crafting system does.
Performance Issues
On PC, PS4, and PS5, The Ascent runs well enough, but frame drops are frequent during fights that pile enemies on screen. On Series X|S, the game struggles more, with drops that break immersion during boss fights. None of these systems feel truly broken, but none feel polished either.
Combat and Exploration
Combat is competent, not spectacular. Enemies are plentiful, but the game leans on constant firefights rather than varied encounters. Exploration outside fights is thin. Side paths exist, but they often lead to empty rooms or brief audio logs rather than new gear or lore.
Multiplayer
The Ascent supports co-op, letting friends join missions and fight together. This is where the game shines brightest. Shared salvage and shared builds make late-game content more rewarding, and the ability to help each other through tough spots eases the frustration of solo play.
By The Numbers
- Title: The Ascent
- Platforms: Series X|S, PS4, PC, PS5
- Crafting system: Salvage-based gun building
- Setting: Ruined New London
- Score: 7.1/10
The Ascent is a game about systems that work and a story that does not. The crafting loop is a genuine innovation, the best reason to stick with it. The shooting and world design are solid but unremarkable, and the performance issues on Series X|S keep it from feeling essential. It is a shooter with a great idea, and that idea carries it further than the rest of the package.
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