Mobile Watch: Game Of Thrones Ascent

Originally released as a browser-based title, Game of Thrones Ascent has finally migrated from Facebook and Kongregate to a new home on iOS and Android devices.

It’s the first game from Massachusetts-based developer, Disruptor Beam, and can be categorised in an emerging genre I have never been particularly fond of. This brand of game is characterised by its use of a real-time progression and online connectivity via social networks such as Facebook.

Though they share a similar foundation, Ascent and games like Farmville – with its many impersonators – are separated by a myriad of nuances. Instead of letting you build the ranch of your dreams, Ascent throws you into the brutal fantasy world depicted in George R.R Martin’s A Song of Fire and Ice.

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The events of the game pick up not long before the novels and HBO’s smash-hit television series. Players create their very own Game of Thrones persona and are given a small patch of Westeros. Soon after, rumours begin to surface of murder and treachery in the capital following the sudden death of the King’s Hand, Jon Arryn. Knowingly (or unknowingly if you’re not familiar with the series) you soon become embroiled in a conspiracy that will eventually lead to all-out war.

Drawing inspiration from the ongoing HBO series and source material, Ascent throws together a rich display of artwork and music. It’s clearly a game targeted towards those who watch the show, with themed content rolled out alongside each episode. These updates come in the form of story-related quests and purchasable items and gear.

Tracing back to the original Farmville comparison, there is no actual real-time gameplay to be had in Game of Thrones Ascent. Over the course of days, weeks, and months you will expand your stronghold, improve trade links, and meet your enemies in battle. All of this, however, is done via an ever-growing spread of menus.

These come in a variety of flavours with more and more introduced as you go deeper into the mechanics. At first you will spend time building structures which are used to generate silver and produce equipment alongside materials such as furs, wood, and ore. The quest menu is another big section of the game, dominated by dialogue exchanges between you and number of original characters or the occasional cameo.

Recruits also form another big part of the experience; after all, without feet on the ground, how would anything get done? These loyal retainers can be purchased from the store, defined by their affluence in one or more of the game’s three skills: combat, trade, and espionage. Each of these is tied to three actions which can be used during the story or optional side quests, the success rate of which depends on skill level. Those who excel in stealth and skullduggery, for instance, will have a better chance of success if they use the spy, sabotage, or steal actions.

It’s a solid system and one that reflects a central theme of the novel series. In fantasy we usually assume that the stroke of a sword is only way to get things done, but as we’ve seen time and time again, there are always alternatives in Westeros.

The more you build and progress through the story, the more gameplay options will become available. New structures, materials, and equipment will become available, at which point you can also begin to experiment with alliances and Ascent’s multiplayer component. Tied to the core game, you can send recruits to aid fellow players in cooperative missions, winning both rare gear and acclaim for your alliance.

As in just about any mobile or social game, progress can always be expedited with a little persuasion. Only real money can be used to buy the best equipment available, and it allows aspiring lords to hasten the construction of buildings. As once said by Queen Cersei Lannister herself: “When you play the games thrones, you pay or you grind.”

Well, she said something like that anyway.

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Part of the reason why I avoid the social game genre is mainly due to the end goal. Not only is it often uncertain, but the time it takes to reach any sense of reward or achievement could be months away.

With that said Game of Thrones Ascent has continually surprised me. The routine slog of dipping in for a few minutes, tapping a few icons, and logging back out can be repetitive, yet the added quirks give it charm. Collective multiplayer is a feature that continues to intrigue me the deeper I go and the actual writing is superb, perfectly capturing the theme and character of the novels.

5 Comments

  1. When will this be released? Just looked for it on the Play store but its not there yet.

    • Tried to search for it but all I can find is ‘coming soon’, rubbish jargon as ever.

      • Currently available on iOS but will make the jump soonish I’d imagine.

  2. is it free to play?

    hope they release it on the kindle store, it’s running the Android OS but not all the Android apps are released on there.
    i’m not usually big on these types of games, but i’ll gave a GoT themed version a try.

    is there a DC or Marvel game like this?

    actually, i just remembered, there is a Marvel one, based around the Avengers movie, but with other Marvel characters showing up.
    you create a Shield agent and team up with various super heroes.
    Avengers Alliance i think it’s called.

    uhmm.
    anyway, back to this game. ^_^

    it’s such a rich setting for a game, there’s so much going on i don’t know how Martin keeps track of it all.

    also it’d be nice if they made a Playstation Mobile version too.

    • Yep, it’s completely free to play though has an in-game store.

      I wouldn’t hold out for a PS Mobile version. The game has been heavily optimised for tablets but, even then, menus can be fairly dense. Would dread to think of how congested a mobile/vita version would be.

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