Developed By: GrabTheGames
Published By: Ratalaika Games
Categories: Adventure
Release Date: 08.25.23
Price: $9.99
*Game Download Code graciously provided for the purpose of review

I like what I see in Ashina. An adventure game that seems more formatted like an RPG as opposed to a point an click. The sprites are cute, the writing is a bit witty, I’m invested. The plot is pulling me in, a young woman can’t find her sister, a belonging is taken by a spirit into another world. A world of the dead.

It’s too bad the game brick walled me incredibly hard nearly out of the intro. So you need to fix a boombox, you’ll speak to a lot of strange children along the way, do a few favors for them. Great, we have all the parts, we know who can fix it…but he needs some booze. Where is it? I’ve spoken to everyone, multiple times, exhausting every dialog option. Where is this drink he needs?

Call this a skill issue, I’ll accept that. But consider this. I have plenty of experience with adventure games and their frankly bullshit solutions for riddles at times. But I cannot find that alcohol for this man. Now imagine someone with no experience with the genre struggling at this part of the game.

I was going to end the review there, but I came back. I ended up looking to a guide. Turns out the alcohol is inside of a medical cabinet. The game became much more of a smooth ride from here on. I was able to fully get invested in this story, much like I wanted. The story is brief, but I wanted to go deeper and deeper.

Final Thoughts

Look in that medicine cabinet. Don’t make the same mistake I did and get lost and just wander. You’ll enjoy this game, it’s wonderful looks, wonderful sounds, and wonderful characters without near the amount of stress. I’ll definitely say getting called Mane by a little spirit boy is something new.