Solar Ash

 PlayStation 5
Solar Ash Image
Metascore
77

Generally favorable reviews - based on 44 Critic Reviews What's this?

User Score
6.8

Mixed or average reviews- based on 47 Ratings

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  • Summary: Solar Ash is the second game from Heart Machine, the creators of the award winning 2016 game Hyper Light Drifter. Journey through a surreal, vivid and highly stylized world filled with mystery, wild high-speed traversal, endearing characters, and massive enemy encounters.

Trailer

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Solar Ash Trailer | Summer Game Fest 2021

Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 26 out of 44
  2. Mixed: 17 out of 44
  3. Negative: 1 out of 44
  1. WellPlayed
    Dec 3, 2021
    95
    Solar Ash will go down as an absolute triumph of form and function, a storytelling masterclass amongst a perfectly crafted visual and audible feast. They left it to the last moment to drop right near the top of my best of 2021, but Heart Machine should be proud of their accomplishments across the board.
  2. Press Start Australia
    Dec 1, 2021
    90
    By making Solar Ash radically different from Hyper Light Drifter, Heart Machine has avoided boxing themselves into a niche while being able to continue and build a universe they clearly care for. It wears its influences on its sleeve and comes together as a cosmic mix of a few games held dear by many, and as long as they continue to do this, I’ll eat it up until I am far beyond full.
  3. GamingTrend
    Dec 7, 2021
    85
    Controlling Rei in Solar Ash’s beautiful world is an absolute joy, with fluid, precise, and simple controls as well as a diverse set of challenges to overcome. Unfortunately, there are more than a few moments where the normally excellent level design suddenly becomes tedious and annoying.
  4. Easy Allies
    Dec 1, 2021
    80
    With a first run taking 10 hours or less, Solar Ash is a focused affair that delivers on its vision without getting distracted by extraneous missions or checklists. The scale of its massive creatures pairs well with strong level design and interesting characters. It’s hard to avoid comparisons, but bold visuals and a sense of agility help separate Solar Ash from its inspirations and provide a surreal journey that’s all its own.
  5. GameMAG
    Jan 17, 2022
    70
    Solar Ash feels like a middle ground between something like Jet Set Radio and Shadow of the Colossus. Sadly, the new game by Heart Machine lacks any meaningful ambitions or novelty, and yet if you love the genre, Solar Ash is worth a try.
  6. Android Central
    Dec 1, 2021
    70
    Solar Ash looks and feels awesome to play — when it works. When it doesn't, it's a frustrating experience.
  7. Guardian
    Dec 8, 2021
    40
    This unquestionably beautiful game about saving a planet from an encroaching black hole boldly goes where few have remained awake.

See all 45 Critic Reviews

User Reviews

Write a Review
Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 8 out of 16
  2. Mixed: 3 out of 16
  3. Negative: 5 out of 16
  1. Ecow
    Mar 6, 2022
    10
    One of the best Instagram I ever played it the movements it's smooth the design of the world is great and end tattoo design of Moses bosses isOne of the best Instagram I ever played it the movements it's smooth the design of the world is great and end tattoo design of Moses bosses is absolutely great reminds me Shadow of the Colossus… Expand
  2. homayoonjende
    Dec 6, 2021
    10
    kheyli aalie vaghean dasteshoon dard nakone , man o ali fa_ghir neshastim darim baazi mikonim kheyli haal mide
  4. Brnlv
    Dec 4, 2021
    10
    A worthy successor to Hyper Light Drifter. I only wish there was more of it - I finished it in two days, side quests included. A brilliant,A worthy successor to Hyper Light Drifter. I only wish there was more of it - I finished it in two days, side quests included. A brilliant, smart, moody game with wonderful traversal, impressive bosses, tight gameplay, and a pervasive atmosphere of melancholy and wonder. A top-tier indie game.… Expand
  5. etdeagle
    Mar 25, 2022
    8
    The game has a very good rhythm and sense of style, the visuals are simple but aesthetic, the gameplay is dynamic and fluid and the difficultyThe game has a very good rhythm and sense of style, the visuals are simple but aesthetic, the gameplay is dynamic and fluid and the difficulty feels right.… Expand
  6. Jt0429
    Jan 25, 2022
    7
    Pros -
    Art and environmental design
    Soundtrack Platforming is well done and has a good challenge to it Interesting characters and lore    Pros -
    Art and environmental design
    Soundtrack
    Platforming is well done and has a good challenge to it
    Interesting characters and lore
    Boss design is amazing

    Cons-
    Had some frame drops and performance issues
    Rei feels somewhat uneven (bad lines and tonal shifts)
    Some enemies feel like obstacle courses over a real threat
    Combat is average at best    … Expand
  7. LyokoCypherTV
    Jan 29, 2023
    6
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. As a platformer, I got to say the devs did a good job with the movement and the weight of the character you're playing as. Although the Story is minimal, I found the theme of the game very interesting. In Solar Ash, you play as a character named Rie who's main goal is to save her planet from being sucked into a black hole known as the ultravoid. Rei and her co-workers are well-trained agents known as void runners. The story explores the concept of life and death. Should one accept their fate, knowing that they and everything they know will be gone no matter what or or do they do everything in their power to change their fate? Well the story seems cool and deals with heavy subject matter, the game's overall story had no impact on me. The game doesn't do anything that's horribly wrong it was a pretty smooth experience all the way through. There really is not a lot to say so I keep debating with myself whether or not what score should I give this game. Last thing I will say is I love the art style of the game. You can tell the devs were going for a very stylized look. I appreciate they weren't trying to make the game super photorealistic like most mainstream games are for the past 20 years. Overall I say the game is okay. Not horrible but not amazing.… Expand
  8. Thegangstersqua
    Dec 11, 2021
    0
    The story of the game is so stunning for an indie title. Definitly the best game in 2021.

See all 16 User Reviews

Trailers

Awards & Rankings

56
#56 Best PlayStation 5 Game of 2021
74
#74 Most Discussed PlayStation 5 Game of 2021

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