Game Review: Remnant: From The Ashes – Souls with a Rifle, or Cowboy Post-Apo in a Cloud of Absurdity - 7 years later
I didn’t think I’d get this hooked. In fact, I was convinced that after playing the more polished sequel, the first game would taste like a reheated meal from a questionable cafeteria. Instead, Remnant: From The Ashes turned out to be a game that, despite its obvious flaws, wouldn't let me put the controller down. Is it a matter of my weakness for the "cowboy with a revolver" vibe reminiscent of Hunt: Showdown? Or maybe this strange dish from Gunfire Games just has a secret ingredient?
Souls, but… with a Barrel instead of a Blade
If you had to describe Remnant in one sentence, it would be: "Dark Souls with firearms." And that’s not just a marketing slogan. We have everything fans of the genre love (and hate): equivalents of bonfires, Estus flasks (here: Dragon Heart), and demanding bosses. However, instead of learning to parry with a shield, you must master instinctive dodging and manage not only stamina but also ammunition.
Don’t be fooled by the easy start, though. I chose the "Normal" difficulty level and initially thought the game was too forgiving. I was quickly served a "slap in the face." Even in the sewers, the game shows its teeth special enemies appearing with a characteristic sound can really ruin your day, especially the guys with two swords serving as shields. This is where I learned that in Remnant, hearing is just as important as sight.
Mechanics That Don’t Hold Your Hand
The game has a certain rawness to it that I highly respect. The tutorial ends with the basics of movement. Everything else how to upgrade gear, install weapon mods, or where to find rare resources (like Galvanized Iron or Simulacrum) you have to figure out for yourself. This approach makes every Dragon Heart upgrade or new Trait feel like a real achievement.
The upgrade system is solid, though the grinding can get tedious. Farming Glowing Fragments is, let's not mince words, an absolute slog. It’s boring, repetitive, and designed to make you appreciate your life outside the monitor. On the other hand, smashing crates and barrels in the DLC is the best anti-stress therapy I’ve seen in games in years. Nom nom.
Atmosphere, Graphics, and... "Fluid" Controls
Visually, Remnant runs on Unreal Engine 4 and looks… impressive, though specific. The aesthetics remind me of a "darker Fortnite." The biomes are diverse from a destroyed city to deserts and swamps. Granted, I play on the lowest settings (as a "son of Thorus," I prefer the old school and zero eye candy), but artistically, the game holds its own.
Unfortunately, the controls are a polarizing topic. While they didn't bother me, more experienced players (shoutout to Dawidek!) complain about the "clunky" feel. Dodges don't always register as perfectly as in Dark Souls, and the character can sometimes get stuck on a simple obstacle. The camera is also placed too close, which in fights against enemies like the Totem Father means you get hit by things you physically couldn't see.
Bosses: Challenge or Irritation?
There are a total of 37 bosses in the game, though in a single playthrough, you’ll encounter about 1/3 of them (procedural generation of maps and bosses is a great trick for replayability!). The encounters themselves, however, are uneven. The developers rely too often on "cheap" tricks, swamping the player with hordes of smaller helpers (adds). The boss fight then becomes less a duel of skill and more a chaotic attempt to survive a siege. Interestingly, the final boss is laughably easy compared to those in the DLC or even some elite enemies from mid-game.
On the upside, the rewards for these encounters are juicy. New modifications, like the one that lets you strike lightning like Zeus, or a weapon that fires a swarm of insects, genuinely change how you approach the next biomes.
Verdict
Remnant: From The Ashes is a "mega-average" game that somehow became something more. It’s a game with soul that tastes best in co-op, but a lone cowboy will still find 25-30 hours of solid fun here. It has its bugs, it can be frustrating with the summoning bosses and clunky dodging, but its gameplay loop is addictive. If you like Souls and the smell of gunpowder, this is a must-play especially in the edition with all the DLC.
PROS:
+Satisfying Gunplay: Shooting and modifying weapons is a blast.+Replayability: Randomized bosses and dungeon layouts encourage multiple runs.
+Post-Apo Atmosphere: A mix of cowboy aesthetics with dark fantasy and sci-fi.
+Music: Solid tracks that build the atmosphere of exploration.
+Trait System: Real impact on character build and playstyle.
+Destruction Therapy: Destroying the environment in the DLC is pure gold.
CONS:
-Add-Based Bosses: Too many minions instead of pure boss mechanics.-Clunky Movement: Controls and dodging can be stiff and imprecise.
-Grinding: Farming Glowing Fragments is a chore.
-Holey Plot: The story has potential but is presented in a chaotic way.
-Technical Bugs: Characters getting stuck in textures during critical combat moments.
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