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Ashen is a supernatural horror-themed FPS developed exclusively for the N-Gage platform. When Seven River City is plunged into chaos, stricken by storms and overcome with supernatural phenomena, Jacob Ward is filled with dread and despair, like most others. Yet Ward knows more about this catastrophe than most, and as its citizens flee, he must return to Seven River City and work to save it. Somewhere in that half-ruined darkness is his sister, a woman Ward believes is responsible for this disaster; a woman who warned him this would happen... [Nokia]
All critic scores are converted to a 100-point scale. If a critic does not indicate a score, we assign a score based on the general impression given by the text of the review. Learn more... 80
GameZone
Once you play Ashen you'll never want to go back to the dated first-person shooters designed for the "other" portable consoles out there. Good levels, good enemies, and good graphics – all in one tiny package.
 76
N-Gage World
If you have spent time playing modern first person shooter games then Ashen may seem a little basic and dated. However taking in to consideration that it is on a handheld then Ashen stands well.
75
IGN
Where Ashen truly excels is in sound. The QD speakers don't exactly pump out thrilling amounts of audio, but if you plug in headphones, you'll really get into the game's soundtrack.
74
Console Gameworld
It’s a very intense, keep-you-on-the-edge-of your seat game that’s really unprecedented for handheld games. The only real problem is that Nokia tried to pack too much into it.
72
Gaming Nexus
After the horrible showing by THQ’s Red Faction, the future of first person shooters on the N-Gage was in doubt. With this entry Nokia has proven to the rest of the world that shooters are indeed possible on the platform.
70
Next Level Gaming
If you are into FPS and you wanna see a good FPS on a handheld then Ashen is your game. But the bad thing is that the controls are a pain to get used to. There are just too many buttons on the N-Gage to have a very enjoyable experience.
68
Just RPG
Despite its problems, like sloppy controls and no save points, Ashen manages to bring a decent first person shooter experience to the N-Gage.
64
IC-Games
If you can handle the slightly awkward key setup (there are two different key settings, but neither are that easy to grasp) you will probably like Ashen.
63
Game Informer
Remarkable visuals, fluid framerate, and stellar animations. Unfortunately, this impressive technology is not backed by inviting gameplay. [July 2004, p.123]
62
GameSpot
But while much of the visual style and sound design in Ashen pay homage to id Software's brand of devil enthusiasm, the game itself is neither as inspired or technically accomplished. But on its own merits, the game does a decent job of bringing first-person shooting to the N-Gage.
60
GamePro
Amazingly, the amount of detail put into the maps makes the graphics far from boring. And although the game’s alien monsters hardly ever show any personality, it’s still an improvement from what we saw in Red Faction for the N-Gage.
60
Game Power Australia
The biggest problem with Ashen's gameplay is its pace. Because there are only a handful of monsters in the game, you'll be gunning down the same creatures over and over again.
60
GameSpy
The painfully slow pace makes it feel more like "DOOM" on Vicodin.
60
Times Online
After squinting at a small, dark screen for just 15 minutes, stabbing at bizarrely allocated number keys with stubby fingers, you begin to wish that someone would press the N-Gage into service in its other guise as a mobile, and interrupt your game with a phone call.
60
AceGamez
However, with mediocre and highly derivate sound, graphics and gameplay, I can only hope someone takes up the challenge of creating something a little more deserving of the N-Gage's capabilities.
50
Pocket Games
The monsters are spread a little far out, making the action a bit slow at times. It's also too easy for creatures to sneak up on you. [Summer 2004, p.19]
40
G4 TV
If you’re hungry for fragging-on-the-go, this game’s eight levels of single-player gaming and four-person multiplayer deathmatch (using N-Gage’s Bluetooth networking) should tide you over until something better comes along. Most other folks will probably find that their gaming time (and gaming dollar) is better spent elsewhere.
30
GMR Magazine
The controls aren't suited to the genre, and stuff just ends up being uncomfortable and boring. [Aug 2004, p.95]
30
1UP
If your idea of a great time is playing a clumsy shooter with Jaguar-level graphics and Game Boy-level controls -- a shooter plagued with cheap ambushes by invisible enemies -- a shooter whose best moments have been cribbed from other games, which did them better -- well, Ashen was made just for you.
Frazzled gave it a 10: Lars O. gave it a 10: Lal. gave it a 10: John S. gave it a 10: Ian M. gave it a 10: |
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