Fallen Tear: The Ascension Preview – Move Over, Silksong

It's been a good year for sidescrolling action games. Shinobi: Art of Vengeance was wonderful surprise from SEGA, and Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound could be the first of two great Ninja Gaiden games this year. I'm sure I don't even need to mention Hollow Knight: Silksong either.

At PAX West, I found what could be the next sidescrolling metroidvania to keep the party going early next year, and that's Fallen Tear: The Ascension.

Developed by a small but mighty team in the Philippines, this game has a nice pace of combat, a charming art style, and a solid foundation for what could be a fun adventure.

Classic High-Speed Action

Honestly, my first note I wrote in my notepad for this game was, "That's that good shit." The combat is silky smooth here, reminiscent of games like Dead Cells and Castlevania: Symphony of the Night.

From the jump in the demo, I had access to a robust move set that kept me mobile and engaged. Thre's a double jump, dash, air dash, and a backwards dodge just like Alucard's. There's a basic multi-hit combo attack that you can dodge out of almost whenever you'd like.

The biggest rule-of-cool move here is this warping spear that I unlocked partway through the demo. When it connects with an enemy, you appear slightly above and behind them, ready to rain down a quick combo. Equal parts mobility and offense, it was something I spammed whenever I had the chance.

It opened up a fun way of thinking as well, where I'd sometimes leave enemies alive but with low health. If I was in a corner, one well-aimed spear zipped me away to relative safety.

In general, I found myself always wanting to be on the move because it just felt good to move. And you'll want to stay mobile, with the number of enemies and attacks that the Fallen Tear throws at you.

I thought the healing mechanic was nifty, too, as it rewards aggression. Pressing down on the D-pad spends some meter to heal, though it's pretty minimal. Some enemies drop red orbs when they die, and as long as they're on screen, Hira, the protagonist, will suck them in to heal more substantially.

The Power of Friendship

Fallen Tear: The Ascension also borrows some inspiration from JRPGs, featuring a party of people you can recruit and swap in and out. You meet them along your journey, but they won't necessarily be out and about, wreaking havoc by your side. 

Instead, you sort of "equip" them. You can have up to three at a time, and each one will provide a passive buff. Additionally, they'll each have an active ability that's mapped to when you hold a shoulder button and press a face button.

When three are equipped, you can build up a meter and expend it to do a big group attack using your entire party, which is a great way to unload big damage on a boss.

These characters are more than just combat buffs, though. According to the Steam page for Fallen Tear: The Ascension, you can bond with these party members throughout the story, which is giving Persona social links to me.

Additionally, there's supposed to be a larger focus on these bonds in relation to the story, per its inspiration from JRPGs. I'm all for the power of friendship being a core part of the story, and I hope to see more of it as it comes out next year.

Fallen Tear: The Ascension Preview | Final Thoughts

With its charming, hand-drawn art style, Fallen Tear: The Ascension is a treat to look at, especially in motion. When it pulls you in, it keeps you there with its engaging combat and fluid movement. I can only hope that feeling stays for the long-term as the story unfolds in the full game.

Fallen Tear: The Ascension was previewed on PC at PAX West courtesy of the developer.