Savant - Ascent REMIX

by Mikhail Oct 3, 2023 | 1 Votes | 84 Played | 0 Reviews

10 rate

Genres:

Shooter , Action , Arcade , Platformer

Graphics:

Labels:

Dark Fantasy , Shooting , Bullet Hell , Platformer

Platforms:

Savant - Ascent REMIX returns after a decade and is more electrifying than ever. Rise and reclaim the Alchemist’s Tower from a horde of mechanical fiends by listening to 36 groovy tracks. With twin-stick controls and challenging gameplay, you’ll be treated to an outstanding experience. Play Now Similar Games

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Summary Plotline Gameplay Graphics/Sound Conclusion

Summary

I went into Savant - Ascent REMIX totally blind, and judging from the screenshots I saw, I initially thought it was an adventure platformer. Fast forward to a few hours of sore thumbs and pleased ears, I was happy to be treated to a nostalgic yet blissful feeling a kid would find themselves while topping the leaderboard in an arcade parlor.

Savant - Ascent REMIX is a twin-stick shooter that revolutionizes arcade-style shooting gameplay, making you wonder why it took game developers to jump on its gameplay. It’s the sequel to the first game, the award-winning Savant - Ascent, made by Norway’s D-Pad Studio, known for Owlboy. Originally a remake, it boasts a challenging yet simple gameplay routine utilizing two analog sticks, yet it provides great variety paired with an unforgettable soundtrack.

So, should you give this game a shot and help the Alchemist rise to the top of the tower? Let’s check out what it has to offer:

Plotline

You’ll play the role of the Alchemist in Savant - Ascent REMIX, the owner of a tower who was cast down to the ground by an unknown enemy. The plot is told first in an epic cutscene, and it tells you all you need to: get up, ascend the tower, and confront the enemy waiting for you on the top. The story doesn’t play much of a role, and apart from the cutscenes, there is not much of a narrative. Nevertheless, the setting and circumstances are ample enough to let you enjoy the gameplay.

Gameplay

Getting my hands on Savant - Ascent REMIX felt like playing bullet hell shooters at the local arcade. Instead of moving side to side or top to bottom, movement is limited; you dodge left and right, jump, and double jump. There are only two platforms you can move alternately to avoid enemy attacks, and you have to time your movements right or else get hit by a barrage of attacks. To get far in the game requires lots of fast movement, reflexes, and precise timing. There are various difficulty levels, and even the Easy mode requires a fair bit of skill. Moreover, there are other game modes, which are Normal, Hardcore, and Survival mode, with each providing their own quirks and challenges.

Thankfully, you’re not defenseless in Savant - Ascent REMIX. The Alchemist is armed with magic powers that let him fire green magic bullets at enemies. Fire modes vary; you can charge it up by not shooting for a short while, unleashing a multi-projectile homing blast, or firing a more powerful special shot type with a wide spread. It’s important to note you won’t just go up against an individual opponent but concentrated groups with predetermined movement patterns.

The shooting and dodging need to be a tad deliberate; it wouldn’t be a good idea to spam attacks. In a way, you’ll need to strategize and think about your weapon’s usage and pace it correctly, especially when deciding whether to use your special attacks or otherwise. Plus, you’ll also have to time your movement between platforms, especially against bosses that unleash massive AoE attacks.

Speaking of bosses, battling them Savant - Ascent REMIX feels frustratingly difficult yet rewarding. Regardless, the encounters are extremely fast-paced and take multiple phases, each more difficult than the previous one, which can be disheartening. Thankfully, the game doesn’t immediately put you in the furnace but gradually amps the ante. You only have a limited amount of lives, and once you lose all of them, your score will be registered to the leaderboard after going through the game over the screen. Don’t worry, though; the game is pretty generous when it comes to checkpoints.

Graphics/Sound

Savant - Ascent REMIX is a good-looking game with outstanding music. The game features up to 36 tracks you can collect throughout the stages. These high-octane tracks fully complement the action-packed combat since they are in line with the frenetic rhythms of the songs. You could even say that, on some occasions, playing it feels like tapping buttons in a rhythm game.

When it comes to visuals, the game looks like a well-made HD remaster of a retro platformer. It looks excellent and runs relatively smoothly on a mid-tier laptop.

Conclusion

Savant - Ascent REMIX may be a relatively short game, but it gives an exhilarating and frantic gaming experience that puts you on your toes every second. Its impeccable soundtrack contributes to this, making you frantically shoot while banging your head to the sick beats. However, the game is more than mindless spam-shooting; you need to strategize and think about when to use your special shots while dodging incoming enemies.

Savant - Ascent REMIX is undoubtedly a must-have if you like listening to epic music and arcade-style shooters.