ARK: Survival Evolved (ASE) was a survival game released in 2015 that featured dinosaurs. However, it initially had many bugs and felt incomplete. Over time, the game received numerous updates, which added more dinosaurs and different maps. This made ARK more enjoyable and solidified its place within the gaming community. While there were some delays with the release of ARK II, the developers, Studio Wildcard, provided a temporary solution called ARK: Survival Ascended (ASA).

ARK: Survival Ascended serves as a test run for ARK II. While ASE was made using Unreal Engine 4, it is assumed that ARK II will be developed using Unreal Engine 5 (UE5). ASA is essentially an upgraded version of the original 2015 game, featuring the same mechanics but with some changes and improved graphics. Although the development team has acknowledged some performance issues and is actively addressing them, it's important to approach ASA with an open mind and not judge it solely based on its performance. After all, it is still an ARK game.

Gameplay

ARK: Survival Ascended (ASA) retains the familiar gameplay that ARK fans are accustomed to, bugs included. However, ASA does come with some exciting upgrades that enhance the overall gameplay experience.

When I first started playing ASA, I encountered a troublesome issue where the game would crash if I tried to edit my character. To work around this, I quickly pressed the spawn button without adjusting my character, and I haven't experienced any crashes since. Although it was an odd place for the game to crash, it's preferable to consistent crashing that renders the game unplayable.

ASA introduces numerous additions that significantly improve the game, both big and small. As someone who enjoys building structures for bases, enclosures, workshops, and more, I was delighted to find that building has become much easier. My favorite addition is the ability for items to clip onto walls and foundations. For example, when placing a storage box, instead of struggling to align it perfectly with guesswork and awkward camera angles, you can simply push it against the wall and it will clip into place. This not only saves time but also makes building more efficient. Additionally, certain items, such as door frames, window frames, and walls, are now grouped together, further streamlining the building process. And perhaps most importantly, you can now pick up items instead of demolishing them, which reduces the impact of mistakes, particularly in the early stages of the game when resources are scarce.

You'll encounter numerous exciting new experiences out in the wild. One delightful surprise is the presence of baby dinosaurs. They are absolutely adorable! Another interesting detail I've noticed is that when you chop down a tree, it actually falls and affects other trees, instead of disappearing into thin air. This small addition has had a significant impact on my gameplay, adding unexpected moments of tension. For example, while wandering through a forest at night, the sound of a tree falling due to a dinosaur can cause a bit of panic, as you don't know what caused it, only that it must be something big to knock down trees.

Combat and general gameplay have also seen improvements with some simple additions that seem like no-brainers. Previously, the hotbar only allowed for ten items, requiring constant swapping. But now, by holding down a single button (typically "q" by default), you can access your entire inventory from the hotbar, scrolling through all your usable items. Another favorite addition of mine is the ability to quickly switch ammunition types by holding down a button (usually "r" by default), which brings up a selection wheel for easy swapping. These minor changes make a noticeable difference and greatly enhance the overall experience.

Additionally, the introduction of in-game mods is a brilliant move, especially for console players (once it becomes available for consoles). While I didn't explore mods extensively due to the strain they put on my graphics card, experimenting with additional dinosaur mods was pretty cool. The process of adding and removing mods from the home screen is incredibly straightforward.

Graphics and Sound

With its upgraded Unreal Engine 5, ASA has created visually captivating scenes in their game. The water effects are particularly impressive, and the way sunlight filters through trees and illuminates rocks is truly stunning when the game is running smoothly. Thanks to UE5, ARK has become a game that can truly take your breath away, reminiscent of the awe-inspiring moments when you first witnessed the dinosaur-filled valley in Jurassic Park. However, it's worth noting that to fully experience these visual enhancements, you'll need a powerful computer setup.

In terms of audio, some dinosaurs have received a revamp in the sounds they make. While there haven't been many noticeable changes beyond that, it's still a nice touch to have more realistic and immersive dinosaur noises in the game.

Feedback

LET ME CREATE MY CHARACTER! My game ran fine other than not letting me adjust my character for some reason, but like I said in the beginning of this article, the dev team has already addressed the performance issue, so I don’t really have much to say. The game is still Ark so if you weren’t a fan of ARK: Survival Evolved, ASA hasn’t changed enough for it to change your mind. But to me, it’s a journey that you’ll have to stick to if you really want to see what can come out of this.

Conclusion

ARK: Survival Ascended remains true to its roots, offering familiar gameplay with enhanced graphics and a few new mechanics. While it may not introduce groundbreaking changes, it is still an enjoyable experience. If you have been a fan of ARK since the beginning or recently joined the community and were looking for some refreshing additions, ASA is a good starting point. It will keep us entertained until the release of ARK II next year. However, it is important to note that some bugs need to be addressed through updates in order to improve the overall experience. Although far from perfect, I believe in the current state of the game the score I’m giving it is fair since the devs addressed the bugs but if they do not follow through I think the score should go down.

ARK: Survival Ascended is currently available for Steam and will be available on Xbox Series X|S and PlayStation 5 at a later date.