Solar Ash asks players to run, dodge and fight through walls of flame. The game puts players in the middle of a burning world, and it never lets them stop moving.
Trailer, via IGN.
Across the Islands
The game takes place across a series of islands, each covered in ash and fire. The sky is dark, and the ground below is lit from below. Smoke fills the air, and the bright colors stand out against the black space around them.
Moving Through Walls
Running is the whole idea of Solar Ash. Players move along walls, slide down ledges and spring off enemies. The controls answer fast, and the game rewards players who learn the moves early.
Facing Enemies
Enemies come in waves, and each one adds a new way of fighting. Some hit from the side, some rush forward, and some fly through the air. Players need to switch between weapons and shields to survive.
The Hard Parts
The game gets hard fast. Boss fights test timing and memory, and some parts ask for exact button presses in quick order. Players who want to see everything will need to try again.
What Works
- The look of the game stands out, with smoke and light that change with each island
- The running system feels natural once players learn it
- The difficulty pushes players to master the controls
What Falls Short
Some levels repeat ideas that players have already learned. The game also asks for a lot of patience in the middle part, where bosses demand careful study of their attacks.
The look of the game stands out, with smoke and light that change with each island
Final Word
Solar Ash is a strong game that asks a lot of its players. It looks great, plays well and pushes players to keep trying. The difficulty can be too much, and some parts feel familiar after the first few hours. Still, the core idea of running through walls of flame holds up from start to finish.
Solar Ash scores 8.2 of 10.
