Ashes is, in full seriousness, a better game than a lot of AAA releases, made with a great deal of real passion, talent, and skill. It makes expert use of the engine and its quirks to create an experience that sticks in your memory, and is one of the few games I've played that make good enough use of atmosphere and level design to induce a sense of unease in spooky moments even though I know the flow of the levels by heart. Do you know how rare that is? The guns are distinct and - SMG aside - are all useful. The enemies are likewise distinct both visually and behaviourally, needing different approaches to defeat. The levels are recognizable, memorable, and strewn with secrets, and are well enough designed that I hardly ever find myself lost and wondering where I'm supposed to go, which is much rarer than I'd like. The plot is decent, though as with most shooters it isn't really the focus. It's carried mostly by the world and the characters. The sequel, Afterglow, is a major improvement in every way and while it's not on here yet, I hope it will be soon. Ashes is one of those mods that are so impressive that if it were released commercially, I would quite happily spend twenty or thirty Euros on it, no questions asked, and that is extremely rare for me to say. If you enjoy FPS games, Doom mods, or the post-atomic horror setting, you owe it to yourself to play this. You won't regret it. You're missing out if you don't.
