Ashes of Creation Alpha Impressions
After a few weekends and a weeklong expedition into the alpha, here are my thoughts on Ashes of Creation. Think of this as a traveler’s journal from a world still under construction—complete with the occasional pothole and “Caution: Wet Paint” signs.
Getting Started
Installation? Easy peasy. I opted for the standalone installer, which was about as painless as choosing between “Press any key” and “Press ENTER.” Logging in, on the other hand, brought a classic gamer rite of passage: forgetting my password and squinting suspiciously at my keyboard. Once I remembered which secret villain organization my password referenced, I promptly got stuck in a loading screen that had apparently decided to go on a coffee break. One quick restart later, and I was in—no hard feelings, game servers, we’ve all needed a caffeine boost.
Character Creation: The Makeover That Wasn’t
If you’re hoping to craft a warrior with hair so stylish it would make a K-pop idol jealous, temper your expectations. The character creator is currently about as flexible as a rusty sword. Certain features, like changing hair length, just don’t exist yet. My impressive gaming rig (6800 XT GPU, 10700KF CPU) gazed at these low-quality textures like a seasoned chef staring at instant noodles: fine for now, but definitely in need of a gourmet upgrade down the line.
The Starting Area: Goblins on Goblins on Goblins
I rolled a tank character and dived straight into a starter zone refreshingly free of hand-holding. The tutorial basically said, “Here’s a sword, there’s a goblin. Good luck!” So I got to work, and let’s just say the local goblin population suddenly faced some serious downsizing.
After the seventeenth goblin family reunion I crashed, I began to long for enemy variety. Eventually, I met some highwaymen—ah, humanoids! At last, something that didn’t grunt like it gargles gravel for breakfast. The quests themselves were, shall we say, “bite-sized.” They offered minimal experience, and the rewards weren’t exactly the crown jewels. Still, endlessly bashing goblins while slowly upgrading my gear had a certain old-school, no-frills charm—like playing an MMO back in the day, but with fewer people yelling “LFG!” in chat.
Combat: Two Flavors—Vanilla and Rocky Road
Combat offers two modes: traditional tab-targeting (vanilla) and a hybrid action system (rocky road with extra sprinkles). Tab-targeting is as familiar and comforting as an old pair of slippers—nothing fancy, but it works. The hybrid system, however, delivers a more kinetic feel, like dodging dance partners at a crowded wedding reception.
After tinkering with settings and readjusting my expectations, I realized the slightly slower ability times are no accident; the developers didn’t just forget to click “Fast Forward.” Instead, it’s a deliberate choice meant to add weight and timing to each strike. The result is that every fight feels more personal and engaging. Let’s just say this combat already packs more personality than your average fantasy foot soldier.
Talents: Choose Your Own Adventure (Sort Of)
The talent system, at this stage, is like ordering from a menu where every dish kind of tastes the same. Sure, the abilities look cool, but the choices feel linear and lack the meaningful trade-offs that make real progression systems shine. My tank felt more like a glorified punching bag than a heroic protector—especially when it came to group content.
On the bright side, we’re capped at level 25, so I’m hoping future updates add some spice to these talent trees. Fingers crossed that one day I can choose between becoming the tank equivalent of a Swiss army knife or a wrecking ball on legs, instead of feeling like a slightly more stoic punching dummy.
Systems Still Under Construction
I haven’t tried crafting, processing, or gathering yet, so I can’t tell you if making potions is more satisfying than baking cookies (though I do hope for some culinary chaos in the future). PvP also remains largely unexplored on my end. Think of these systems as locked rooms in a haunted mansion—mysterious and full of potential surprises. I’m excited to see what lurks behind those closed doors later on.
Final Thoughts (For Now)
Keep in mind: Ashes of Creation is still in alpha. The character creator may feel as dynamic as a stale loaf of bread, the mobs might not have discovered social diversity just yet, and the talent system could use a personality transplant. But none of these criticisms erase the fact that the core of this game—its world, its combat, its potential—is genuinely exciting.
I can’t wait to see how Ashes evolves. Expect more impressions, more improvements, and (with any luck) fewer goblin cousins looking to avenge their fallen brethren. Stay tuned, my fellow adventurers—the journey has only just begun.
Wake of Ashes 
Leave a comment