Ashes: 2063
By Vostyok - 14 Maps
Format: UZDoom
[Download]
Started: January 10th 2025
Finished: January 13th 2025
Status: Completed
An extremely solid Doom mod that feels just a little too short. Ashes nails the vibe of the post-apocalyptic FPS game I always wanted. The new weapon set is really fun to use, and while the reloading is a bit unwieldy, I got used to it pretty quickly. The enemy variety is pretty limited, but for the short runtime I think it's just barely enough. The soundtrack is insane god tier vibes the whole way through, every track rules and they set the mood for their respective maps perfectly. Ashes' map design is superb too, every map has a real sense of place in the world while also never getting too confusing, all without sacrificing the possibility of fun exploration. I even had a good time finding secrets which is extremely rare for me. The main campaign is a really solid time, it's only about 2-3 hours long but it'll feel a whole lot longer, and I mean that in a good way. Each map goes for a totally unique theme and location, from an abandoned grocery store, to a spooky haunted sewer, and ending on a scorched-earth irradiated cityscape under a toxic storm. Some gimmicks go a bit underutilized, the bike and heavy radiation only get used for a single level each, but while they're there they're really fun. The story isn't complex but it's all you need for a game like this, though it doesn't quite stick the landing with a subpar final map and very abrupt ending. The unofficial-official expansion pack "Dead Man Walking" is a good bit of extra content, with a focus on longer maps and harder firefights, but the maps are just a bit more bland, slightly more confusing, and none of them hit the same highs as the base campaign. The new weapon is fun but you really don't get to use it long enough for it to matter. Overall, Ashes feels like a really solid tech demo for a full game, showcasing a lot of concepts in a really quick and concise way, while still clearly having a lot more potential if expanded on.
Rating - ⭐⭐⭐⭐½
Favorite/Least Favorite Map skipped because this was played before I started doing that system.