Summary
Crowdfunding platform Kickstarter continues to be a boon for the development of indie games, with the Metroidvania genre, in particular, having plenty of success on the platform. One of the more recent titles to quickly gain attention and reach its funding goal in just a matter of hours isFallen Tear: The Ascensionfrom CMD Studios. Prior toFallen Tear: The Ascension’s Kickstarter launch, the game gained plenty of early positive buzz thanks to its eye-catching hand-drawn visuals and silky-smooth platforming and combat, drawing more than a few comparisons to what’s arguably one of the great modern Metroidvania titles:Ori and the Will of the Wisps.
While bothOrigames and their twin emphases on satisfying platforming and combat form the backbone ofFallen Tear: The Ascension’s gameplay influences, the title’s Kickstarter page lists two other noteworthy series as major inspirations. The introduction of a wide-ranging cast of recruitable heroes and JRPG mechanics is attributed to taking influence from Konami’s legendarySuikodenseries, while the lush vegetation and varied environments present throughout the game’s 26 different biomes take inspiration from the environmental and world design ofThe Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild. WithFallen Tear: The Ascensioncurrently at over 200% funding, it’s clear those disparate influences are resonating with the game’s backers.
Fallen Tear: The Ascension’s Visuals and Movement Immediately Call Ori to Mind
Fallen Tear: The Ascensioncasts players as the diminutive Hira, a young warrior just awakening to a suite of mysterious abilities who sets out on a journey to save his dying world. Hira’s size and speed immediately stand out as two of his greatest assets, especially when juxtaposed against the impressive scale and depth of the world of Raoah in whichFallen Teartakes place. The contrast between a small, agile character and a visually lush, yet dangerous, world is something that should feel intimately familiar to anyone who has played either oftheOrigames, and diving intoFallen Tear’s combat and platforming only serve to strengthen that comparison.
Combat and platforming are both fast-paced, with players needing to stay nimble in order to survive encounters with tougher foes. Of interest is Hira’s ability to throw a spear and teleport to its terminus, which players can use to combat ranged enemies or reach foes that are out of melee range or on hard-to-access platforms. Tying it all together areFallen Tear: The Ascension’s lush, hand-crafted 2D visuals and fluid animation, both of which give the game a distinctive sense of style and motion not unlikeMoon Studios' impressive work on theOrigames.
A New Steam Demo Gives Players Hands-On Experience With Fallen Tear: The Ascension
As a bonus for the game’s surprisingly fast funding on Kickstarter, CMD Studios has recently madeFallen Tear: The Ascension’s “Boss Rush” demo public on Steam, allowing players to try the game out for themselves before deciding to crowdfund or wishlist the title. Though the title of the demo indicates that it’s a standard gauntlet of challenging foes, the reality is that it’s a small slice of gameplay that gives players a taste ofFallen Tear: The Ascension’s fundamentals – from its snappy and fast-paced platforming and combat to its surprising inclusion ofJRPG mechanicsand its impressive audiovisual presentation.
Fallen Tear’s demo affords hands-on time with a game that takes a wide range of influences and melds them into something cohesive, with the obviousOriinspirations standing front and center. While it’s still roughly a year away from its 1.0 launch, fans ofstory-driven Metroidvaniaswith captivating art styles have a lot to look forward to withFallen Tear: The Ascension. That its large map and estimated length of 20-40 hours are earning it early praise as the “Elden Ringof Metroidvanias” is all the more reason to keep an eye on the title as one of 2025’s anticipated releases.
Fallen Tear: The Ascensionis currently in development for PC, PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch, and Xbox Series X/S.
Ori and the Will of the Wisps
WHERE TO PLAY
The little spirit Ori is no stranger to peril, but when a fateful flight puts the owlet Ku in harm’s way, it will take more than bravery to bring a family back together, heal a broken land, and discover Ori’s true destiny. From the creators of the acclaimed action-platformer Ori and the Blind Forest comes the highly anticipated sequel. Embark on an all-new adventure in a vast world filled with new friends and foes that come to life in stunning, hand-painted artwork. Set to a fully orchestrated original score, Ori and the Will of the Wisps continues the Moon Studios tradition of tightly crafted platforming action and deeply emotional storytelling.
