Ascendant Hearts Demo

Video games are engaging enough nowadays to make you forget all about the real world, especially in the case of MMORPGs. The fact that they are usually full of orcs, dragons or various other creatures does not prevent people from confusing reality with fantasy, so it doesn’t matter whether you are playing Grand Theft Auto or World of Warcraft.

Ascendant Hearts is a comical visual novel in which you play the role of a boy by the name of Hayato, who wakes up one day with amnesia and in a world that’s clearly more like a fantasy video game than real life. However, he must learn to adapt if he is to survive, not to mention the fact that some of the other characters offer to help him along with his quest.

Speaking of which, the action takes place in a classic fantasy environment, which means that Hayato has to undertake quests, deal with vicious creatures and earn levels in order to get stronger. There’s also the fact that he respawns after he dies and can equip powerful items in his inventory, so the game is obviously more of a parody than a serious story.

Throughout the adventure your character can make certain decisions that alter the ending, as well as pursue romantic relationships if you feel like it. Don’t expect too much variety in this regard, but then again the whole thing is more about telling a story than letting you control every aspect of it. Even so, at least you feel like you are part of a great tale, and you also get to visit wonderful places along the way.

Speaking of which, the artwork is sublime most of the time, especially when it comes to backgrounds and the characters. Each character is unique and very detailed, not to mention the fact that they also come with multiple facial expressions and emotions. The soundtrack is decent as well, although it’s difficult to say too much about it just by playing the demo version.

Even if Ascendant Hearts is not a revolutionary game with brand new mechanics, it still features enough good parts to keep you engaged. The funny story is perfect for when you just want to relax and have a few laughs. You can support the developers by participating in the game's Kickstarter campaign.