A cyberpunk blast-’em-up RPG with co-op? YES, PLZ.
The debut game from Swedish indie studio Neon Giant (comprising ex-Gears of War, Bulletstorm, and Wolfenstein devs) mixes a fashionably neon-futuristic sci-fi aesthetic with retro isometric, twin-stick shooter gameplay. It’s Diablo with lasers, implants, and megacorp schemes.
The Ascent will see players dive into ‘The Ascent Group’ arcology, a self-contained corporate-run metropolis, stretching high into the sky and filled with creatures from all over the galaxy. Taking on the role of an indentured worker, the world starts to go haywire when The Ascent Group shuts down for unknown reasons. Life becomes a case of survival, with rival corporations and crime syndicates looking to fill the empty space. Players will have to take up arms and hold them off. The Ascent begins here.
Other features, according to the press stuff, include “free-roam” level design with an “unprecedented sense of verticality”, custom character mods and enhancements, and support for solo players or co-op for up to four players.
The Ascent launches on PC and Xbox consoles, including Xbox Game Pass, on 29 July.