Doomsday Ascending (Game)

Doomsday Ascending is a multi-part RPG designed by Bhaalspawn in RPG Maker. The game focuses on story and narrative, with little in the way of combat or typical RPG gameplay. It follows the storyline of the fanfic of the same name, albeit with several liberties taken to allow for minor player choice. Much of the game progresses through cutscenes.

Development
Doomsday Ascending was initially a small project so the designer could exercise his ability to work with the cutscene tools that RPG Maker had built in, using the first chapter of Doomsday Ascending as his training ground.

As work continued, he made plans to adapt the entire story into a number of games, released in several installments, each one making use of new gameplay designs and scripts.

Gameplay
The player controls Ascentia Kortai on her mission to exterminate the Equestrian race, as it follows in the story. At several moments in the game, the player is given control of Twilight Sparkle and her friends, though it is little more than to advance to the next cutscene.

A major feature is the game's choice system. Upon meeting several characters, the player is given the choice to either ease their spirit (Embody) or break their spirit (usually killing said character). These choices are counted against the player later in the game to give the player a choice-related stat increase for the two boss encounters. Breaking every character up to that point will give Attack boosts, embodying every character gives defense boosts, and choosing a mix will give speed and critical boosts.

Breaking the spirit of a pony will also unlock a pornographic image to be viewed, though the game will ask the player if they wish to view it.

According to the developer, the canon for each choice is as follows:

Fluttershy - Ignore Applejack - Ignore Sweetie Belle - Embody Derpy - Break Shining Armor - Break Twilight - Embody

Future episodes will not use the Embody/Break system.

Requirements
Being a standalone game, Doomsday Ascending does not require Enterbrain's Runtime Package to be installed before playing.

Operating System: Windows XP/Vista/7 Processor: 1.0 Ghz or better Video Card: 128MB or better RAM: 512MB or more Hard Drive Space: 600MB for each episode

There is currently no support for Mac OS or Linux.

Reception
An extensive Let's Play of the first installment was done by Youtube User NintendoGal55, who praised the game's narrative and character design, and the insight into a larger world beyond Equestria.



External link(s)

 * Part 1 Download