A New Dawn: The Rise of Logic Factory
In the early days of space strategy gaming, Logic Factory made a stellar entrance with Ascendancy, a game that aimed to stand out in a galaxy teeming with competition. Founded by former Origin employees, this small developer brought fresh elements to the genre that set Ascendancy apart.
Right from the start, you are presented with choices – universe size, species, and the political climate. Species selection is a unique aspect, as each species possesses a special ability you’ll uncover during your cosmic exploits.
The Guiding Light: A Superb Tutorial
Prepare to navigate the complexities of Ascendancy with one of the most outstanding tutorials ever seen in a game. It takes you on an interactive journey, ensuring you grasp the game’s fundamentals and user interface with ease.
The Quest for Knowledge: A Revolutionary Research Tree
Ascendancy’s standout feature is its remarkable Research Tree similar to the technology advances in Civilization, but presented in a much more visual way. It astounds not just with its innovative 3D presentation but also with the inventive alien technologies you can uncover.
Researching inventions may lead to unexpected discoveries, and sometimes only by combining various technologies will you unveil their intricate interconnections.
This dynamic and exploratory element sets a high standard for future games.
However, the road takes a dark turn.
Avoiding the Abyss: The AI’s Tragic Misstep
Ascendancy’s charismatic individuality and captivating graphics can’t overshadow the gaping flaw of its AI. The AI, or lack thereof, stumbles into the abyss of incompetence, offering no meaningful challenge.
Unleash your cosmic ambitions in Ascendancy, where innovation meets an unforgiving AI.
In the game’s early stages, its inadequacy isn’t glaring, but as time marches on, its shortcomings become painfully obvious. While you prepare fleets for conquest, the computer-controlled players remain motionless, completely oblivious to your actions.
They make no effort to defend themselves, even when your fleet is at their doorstep. This AI deficiency raises questions about whether it can even perform the most basic strategic tasks.
A Glimmer of Hope: A Patch for the Ages
Fortunately, there’s a glimmer of hope in the form of a later-released AI patch by Logic Factory. This patch injects a modicum of intelligence into the computer opponents, although it’s too little, too late to resurrect the game’s commercial prospects.
While Ascendancy is reborn with this patch, its AI is far from challenging, a shadow of the difficulty presented in classics like Master of Orion.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Ascendancy offers an 4x cosmic adventure enriched with innovative concepts and captivating visuals. However, the game’s enduring flaw is its AI, which critically impacts its overall experience.
Play Ascendancy Online
Thanks to emulation, you can play Ascendancy online, in a web browser!