The Ascent - Damn, it's pretty

CheeseOnToast · Jul 2021

Congrats to Tor Frick and the rest of team. I'm about an hour in and loving it - so much to look at. Static screenshots don't do it justice.

Image: https://us.v-cdn.net/5021068/uploads/editor/9z/5jpxdzal811x.jpg

LaurentiuN · Aug 2021

I'm 9 hours in and it's pretty dope! Some minor bugs but the game is amazing. Well done to the team!

ScoobyDoofus · Aug 2021

Yeah, just wanted to jump in and say the Neon Giant team really made something special here. I've also hit a few minor bugs, but it's a lovely game, made by a fairly small team.

Polynaught · Aug 2021

Been playing it for some hours now. Haven't had any bugs so far.
Visuals are impressive although I'm missing out on the real time reflections (no RTX). SFX are great, music fits the theme (could use some more tracks).

Story is ok. To be honest: I focus on the shooting. Dialogues are more of a hindrance for my play style anyway

I was so shocked on the first big mech encounter... the size, the armament, the music - and there I was standing trying to admire all the details. Good job, Neon Giant.

R3D · Aug 2021

Awesome job!

JacqueChoi · Aug 2021

WOOT!

Tor Frick: The Game!!!

Looks amazing!

oglu · Aug 2021

Some background info.
https://www.unrealengine.com/en-US/developer-interviews/11-person-studio-neon-giant-delivering-next-gen-passion-project-the-ascent

Polynaught · Aug 2021

I'd be quite interested in how Houdini helped with the level design. I guess they created some modular pieces in a CAD software of their choice and piped them into a procedural graph that spat out complete buildings and backdrops. But that part of the interview can also mean anything else really.

Isunoj · Aug 2021

wonderful job. All environments are beautiful. Congratulations to the entire team.

littleclaude · Aug 2021

Great job, is there a break down anywhere? Would love to hear how a small team made such a spankingly good looking game.

KrashDer · Aug 2021

I am impressed how pretty it is. congratulations to the whole team. good job

fearian · Aug 2021

I've been loving it, It feels like a classic Tor Frick modular environment thread became an entire game. I hope it grows even more!

Wesley · Aug 2021

I've been loving the game and have been blown away at the art. Saw this today and it's really impressive how solid everything is closer up, too.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JCKrMsRh5FA

pior · Aug 2021

littleclaude said:

Great job, is there a break down anywhere? Would love to hear how a small team made such a spankingly good looking game.

Look up the modeling and texturing methods of the creative director in charge. He's been developping clever shortcuts and scalable art creation techniques for years now, and without a doubt this had a big influence on what was achievable by the team.

Snefer · Aug 2021

Had to log in for the first time in years for this! I can confirm this is very much my old modular environments but on steroids and applied on every level across an entire game. The whole game was built by 4 artists including techart, and with zero concept art.

vemadesign · Aug 2021

@Snefer Wow, honestly, hearing you say that makes this game and art even more incredible then it already is. Congrats to you and the team!

jStins · Aug 2021

@Snefer I'd love to hear more about how Houdini was used by your team. Beautiful stuff and looking forward to trying this out. Not necessarily the type of game I typically enjoy, but looking forward to wandering around these stellar environments none the less.

melviso · Aug 2021

Snefer said:

The whole game was built by 4 artists including techart, and with zero concept art.

Thats remarkable. I am guessing Houdini really helped speed up a lot of the workflow process and made things easier. I am curious how much of Houdini is implemented by a lot of companies nowadays.

I am not sure if Maya, 3dsmax or Blender might stay relevant in the next 5 to 10 years as Houdini is already incorporating those tools with each new release. Would love to learn it but need to find time.

Snefer · Aug 2021

Vast majority of regular models were built in Modo, but we used Houdini for certain types of assets like pipes, cables, destruction, and a ton of cool generation like signs etc. We also used it for a basepass of placing meshes like walls. Many small and big tools all over the place, both in Modo, Houdini and Unreal. Extremely proud of the sheer amount of wizardry that went into this.

BradMyers82 · Aug 2021

Very cool to hear about this, will get this NOW!

Cody · Aug 2021

Just got it. Did such a great job! First game I've bought in awhile. Super fun and the visuals are great. I was very impressed with the town u go to right after the title sequence. The level design is superb, the world feels very alive and fleshed out.

I tried to mention it to a bunch of friends, but they all already had it! haha. Hope its selling well!