The Ascent

About The Ascent

The Ascent is a third-person action RPG with co-op and cyberpunk flair. Neon Giant crafts a large corporate megacity where a sudden corporate collapse leaves society in disarray. You play a lowly worker turned reluctant hero, navigating a world of rogue AI, rival gangs, and black-market tech. Set in a sky-high arcology, the game mixes shooting, hacking, and role-playing. Launched in July 2021 on PS4, PC, and Xbox, it leans into co-op for combat and exploration. The story revolves around uncovering the truth behind the collapse while fending off threats. Short on polish but bold in ambition, it’s a chaotic but ambitious take on the genre.

Gameplay

Combat blends guns, gadgets, and cyberdeck hacking in real time. You and up to three players take on hostile NPCs or co-op to complete missions. The cyberdeck lets you disable systems, rewire security, or overload enemies’ implants. Missions often involve clearing out gangs or sabotaging rival firms. Controls feel responsive but sometimes clunky, especially during fast-paced fights. Sessions vary from 30-minute firefights to hour-long exploration quests. The open-world arcology is segmented into districts, each with unique threats and upgrades. Progression focuses on skill trees and gear, but repetitive side tasks and a stiff AI can disrupt immersion.

What Players Think

The Ascent holds a 71.7/100 on IGDB, with 35% of players completing it in 20 hours. Community moods split between “Chaotic fun” (28%) and “Frustrating but fair” (22%). Critic reviews note “Solid co-op but combat lacks depth” and “Great story but repetitive missions.” 45% of players report average playtime between 15, 25 hours. Achievement completion sits at 68%, with 20% abandoning the game mid-story. Fans praise the cyberpunk setting and co-op synergy, but many cite glitchy AI and unbalanced difficulty spikes. “The cyberdeck mechanics are fun but underdeveloped,” one user writes. “Worth it for the chaos alone.”

PlayPile's Take

The Ascent is best for fans of chaotic, co-op-driven cyberpunk experiences. At $30 (if discounted), it’s a gamble: 35% finish it, but 22% quit due to combat flaws. If you value strong co-op and a bold narrative over polish, it’s worth the $30 price tag. Avoid if you prioritize tight mechanics or open-world depth. The 108 achievements offer 30 hours of grind, but 68% complete them. Play with friends who enjoy experimental design, its flaws are part of its charm. Not a must-play, but a memorable pick for the right crowd.

Storyline

Welcome to The Ascent Group arcology, a self-contained corporate-run metropolis, stretching high into the sky and filled with creatures from all over the galaxy. You play as a worker, enslaved by the company that owns you and everyone else in your district. One day, whilst sent on a routine assignment to make use of your skills with a cyberdeck, you are suddenly caught in a vortex of catastrophic events. The Ascent Group, the largest mega corporation on the planet, shuts down for unknown reasons, causing the automated security systems to go haywire. The survival of your district is threatened: rival corporations are trying to force appropriation and crime syndicates are looking to boost their black-market augmentation trade. You must take up arms to stop them from seizing control and embark on a new mission to find out what started it all. You belong to the corporation. Can you survive without it?