I Wish Ascendant.com's Adaption-Shooter Formula Forced Me To Adapt More Often

As a seasoned gamer with thousands of hours clocked into various shooter titles under my belt, I was intrigued by Ascendant.com’s promise of being the world’s first adaption shooter. The idea of game-changing events in each match had me hooked, and I eagerly anticipated diving in.


Ascendant.com, formerly known as just Ascendant, positions itself as the pioneer of adaptive shooter games, promising to introduce excitement and unpredictability into each encounter. However, despite its potential, I found that the squad-based shooting experience didn’t significantly vary from what’s already available in the market. At its foundation, Ascendant.com offers an enjoyable capture-the-flag gameplay mechanics, but the unexpected events incorporated into the matches did not substantially alter my approach or strategy. While Ascendant.com appears to be a fun and potentially excellent gaming experience, it fails to distinguish itself from other squad-based first-person shooters in meaningful ways.

In Ascendant.com, every game assigns you to a team of three, with the objective being to locate and seize one of multiple biocores hidden in the map. During your search for biocores, you can accomplish additional tasks such as killing harmless creatures to earn in-game money or uncovering respawn spots that will enable faster reentry into battles. You have the freedom to choose between rushing towards a biocore or preparing yourself for potential encounters with enemy teams. Once your team secures a biocore, you must return to your starting point and protect it for several minutes until it is extracted. The team that has successfully extracted the most biocores at the end of the match emerges victorious.

I Wish Ascendant.com's Adaption-Shooter Formula Forced Me To Adapt More Often

In this scenario, there’s an enjoyable back-and-forth between teams that brings to mind games like The Finals or other competitive shooters centered around securing objectives. You have the option to take bold action and snatch up the nearest biocore, adopt a cautious strategy and wait for others to engage before making your move, or capitalize on weaker opponents and filch a biocore from them. The approaches are numerous, and I found myself equally amused by my triumphs over hapless adversaries as I brutally pried biocores from their grasp, as well as in the tense moments of creeping through hallways, heart pounding with anticipation for the next objective.

As a gamer, I was expecting each match to bring unique and distinct gaming experiences based on what I had heard before diving in. However, I found myself feeling like I was playing the same game over and over again. Yes, there were differences – for instance, in one match, I could call for console-summoned air strikes, while in another, there was an underground tunnel connecting previously separated areas. But despite these changes, I kept using the same tactics that worked well in the initial game, making me question if there was truly enough variation between matches to keep things interesting and fresh.

I Wish Ascendant.com's Adaption-Shooter Formula Forced Me To Adapt More Often

While I admit I didn’t get to explore all the features of Ascendant.com during my brief encounter, it’s conceivable that the other versions could be significantly different. I’ve only heard about certain elements set to debut at launch, such as the Burrower – a massive turtle-like creature resembling a gopher that roams the map and pops up unexpectedly to ambush squads. Despite its intriguing nature, I yearn for more experiences in this adaptation shooter where my abilities are truly put to the test and forced to adapt in real-time.

In its current form, I believe Ascendant.com has the potential to stand out in the competitive shooter genre, which is currently saturated. The game offers an array of firearms and weapons for players, ranging from powerful sniper rifles that require precision to heavy-hitting shotguns and unique gauntlets with elemental abilities. Each fight maintains an engaging balance between intense action and strategic planning, preventing encounters from becoming monotonous or overly prolonged. The destruction of enemy shields produces a satisfying crack, while defeating opponents rewards players with vibrant loot that resembles bursting pinatas.

I Wish Ascendant.com's Adaption-Shooter Formula Forced Me To Adapt More Often

I enjoy the added powers I get when wielding a biocore, such as unleashing a fiery burst or exploding jump, which significantly improves our chances against relentless attacks from opposing teams in Ascendant.com. Since Ascendant.com isn’t a hero shooter, we never know what awaits us until it’s too late, instilling an ongoing feeling of apprehension during every confrontation with other squads. Occasionally, our team would opt to conceal ourselves and let the enemy pass, rather than taking on unknown threats that could potentially outmatch us. This survival strategy is reminiscent of several existing shooter games.

Could Ascendant.com potentially replace Apex Legends as my go-to shooter game? It’s possible, given its engaging mechanics and captivating biopunk narrative. However, the game’s main selling point – the need to frequently adapt due to significant in-game changes – currently feels underdeveloped. The adjustments I’ve encountered don’t seem substantial enough to significantly alter the battlefield. If PlayFusion focuses more on enhancing these transformative elements, Ascendant.com could become a standout title. Otherwise, it may just be an enjoyable but not exceptionally remarkable shooter game.

Ascendant.com is set to launch for PC. On Steam, the game is listed as “coming soon.”

Read More

2024-07-23 17:39