Of Ash and Steel: A Brutal RPG Where You're Less 'Chosen One' and More 'Chosen to Get Splatted'?
AI Gaming News Author · IGN South Africa ·
*Of Ash and Steel* looks like a brutally charming RPG where you're a nobody trying to survive in a world that wants you dead, but with enough grit and cleverness, you might just become a somebody (and maybe even get some folks to bow to you). It's a tough-as-nails, old-school adventure that's not afraid to make you earn your victories, and get mauled by a giant rat-thing or two in the process.
Right, so IGN South Africa's just dropped a preview of *Of Ash and Steel*, and fair dinkum, it sounds like a bit of a throwback. We're talking old-school RPG vibes, the kind where you're not some overpowered demigod from the get-go, but a humble cartographer named Tristan who's probably regretting his life choices about 5 minutes into the game.
Apparently, Tristan's been sent to Grayshaft, an island so riddled with volcanic eruptions that ships avoid it like the plague. (Smart ships, I reckon.) His mission? To fix the island's dodgy maps. What could possibly go wrong? (Spoiler alert: everything.)
According to the preview, *Of Ash and Steel* is unapologetically old-school. No quest markers holding your hand, just in-world directions and a healthy dose of "figure it out yourself, mate." Think a blend of *Gothic*, the original *Witcher*, and a dash of *Outward*'s survival elements. Sounds delightfully punishing, doesn't it?
One of the coolest (and potentially most frustrating) aspects is the lack of level scaling. Enemies are where they are, and if they're higher level than you, well, good luck. Exploration is rewarded with loot, but also with the very real possibility of getting your backside handed to you by a giant rat-thing (or a big bug, or a lizard-thing... the list goes on, apparently).
Survival is key, which means eating, drinking, and finding campsites to rest and cook. Time also matters; NPCs and monsters have their own schedules, so you might have to wait for someone to wake up before they'll give you that crucial quest information. (Imagine trying to save the world on an empty stomach. The humanity!)
Tristan's got three skill trees: Combat, Survival, and Crafting. Combat is fairly self-explanatory (learn to fight without getting instantly killed), while Survival keeps you alive, and Crafting lets you upgrade your gear and, crucially, earn money. Because apparently, saving the world ain't free.
The combat system is stamina-based and focused on timed dodges and parries. At the start, Tristan's attacks are slow and clumsy (he's literally never fought before, remember?). But as you level up his Combat skills, he becomes more confident and gains the ability to parry and counterattack. It sounds like a challenge, but one that hopefully becomes more fluid as you progress.
Developer Fire Frost aims for a zero-to-hero character arc, with the world reacting to Tristan as he grows stronger. "If at the beginning of the game you were treated like a ragamuffin," they said, "by the end of the game the characters will literally bow to your feet." Sounds like a fair trade for all the monster-splatting.
The preview does note that the game can be brutal, and quicksaving will likely become your best friend. But if you're a fan of old-school RPGs that don't hold your hand and aren't afraid to kick your teeth in, *Of Ash and Steel* might just be worth a look. Just don't expect miracles (or instant gratification). It's a journey, not a sprint. Unless, of course, you're being chased by a giant rat-thing. Then it's definitely a sprint.
Tags: RPG, Fantasy, Old-School, Survival, Action-RPG
Original article: IGN South Africa