Fire & Frost released a playtest version of their debut game Of Ash and Steel that shows serious promise but delivers major headaches. The small development team clearly drew inspiration from beloved classics like Gothic and The Witcher series. Players take control of Tristan as he explores an open world where choices matter and shape the adventure. The game features survival mechanics and diverse activities that make the experience feel more varied. Unfortunately, the execution falls short of the ambitious vision.
Technical problems plague nearly every aspect of the current build. Movement feels extremely floaty and makes both walking around and combat feel unsatisfying. The stamina-based fighting system borrows from Dark Souls but lacks the polish that makes those games work. Controller support remains terrible with one of the worst input schemes players have encountered recently. Visual quality disappoints with bland environments and stiff character animations that look outdated. The absence of basic quality-of-life features makes simple tasks unnecessarily frustrating.
Quest design reveals the biggest issues with the current state of the game. One early mission requires players to step on insects that blend perfectly with the ground color. Another quest asks players to find tools thrown somewhere high up on rocks without giving proper directions. NPCs provide vague clues and never repeat important dialogue, forcing players to rely on an unhelpful journal system. The game remains in development for PC with no confirmed release date yet announced.
Technical problems plague nearly every aspect of the current build. Movement feels extremely floaty and makes both walking around and combat feel unsatisfying. The stamina-based fighting system borrows from Dark Souls but lacks the polish that makes those games work. Controller support remains terrible with one of the worst input schemes players have encountered recently. Visual quality disappoints with bland environments and stiff character animations that look outdated. The absence of basic quality-of-life features makes simple tasks unnecessarily frustrating.
Quest design reveals the biggest issues with the current state of the game. One early mission requires players to step on insects that blend perfectly with the ground color. Another quest asks players to find tools thrown somewhere high up on rocks without giving proper directions. NPCs provide vague clues and never repeat important dialogue, forcing players to rely on an unhelpful journal system. The game remains in development for PC with no confirmed release date yet announced.
