A new trailer forSolar Ashmade its debut at the PlayStation 5 reveal event today. It is the second game from Heart Machine, the studio behind 2016’sHyper Light Drifter, and it shares many of its vivid colors and aesthetics. While the trailer was short on footage showing how the game would play, it provided a good look at the strange settings and creatures the sword-wielding protagonist will encounter.
The PlayStation 5 reveal show was a major event, finallyunveiling the PS5 consoleto the world. Before the big reveal, a plethora of trailers were shown, making it easy for some games to slip between the cracks, butSolar Ashmanaged to make an impression with its otherworldly characters, brilliant hues, and fast-paced gameplay. The aptly named “Introduction Trailer” acquaints audiences with the game’s protagonist while they explore strange locales. The main character, who has yet to be named, is a dark and mysterious figure that wears clothing reminiscent ofHyper Light Drifter’s hero – also wielding a sword and donning a cape. But the two games are very different in a lot of ways.
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For one, Heart Machine is ditching the 2D, 16-bit graphics of its previousindie game, lettingSolar Ashtake advantage of the PlayStation 5’s powerful hardware. Furthermore, the action is much quicker. The main character is seen moving through wormholes and navigating the landscape with the grace and speed of an ice skater while, at moments, defying gravity. The world itself is surreal and intriguing and filled with wondrous creatures, something worth exploring when the game is released sometime in 2021.
In the meantime, those who haven’t playedHyper Light Driftermight want to give it a go. The action role-playing title channels older games of the SNES era, and was well-received by critics and audiences alike. It even uses a similar visual style of that console generation, which is part of its charm and a perfectgame for those who love pixel art. The story is mostly left up to interpretation and there is no spoken dialogue. This puts the focus mainly on the gameplay itself. However, theending toHyper Light Drifterrequired some explanation as a result.
