Space Hulk: Ascension

Did You Know?

• The game includes a fog of war system not present in its predecessor.
• An upgrade system based on experience points replaces some of the randomness of the earlier title.
• Players control Space Marine Terminators fighting Tyranid Genestealers aboard space hulks.

Release

Full Control, based in Copenhagen, Denmark, announced Space Hulk: Ascension on August 12, 2014. It launched for Windows, Linux, and OS X on November 12, 2014. Downloadable content packs such as Salamanders and The Dark Angels were released. A PlayStation 4 version was announced on January 13, 2016, and released on October 4, 2016, followed by an Xbox One version on April 19, 2018. This was Full Control's final game before ceasing development of new titles.

Reception

According to Metacritic, the PC, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One versions received mixed or average reviews. Brett Todd of GameSpot noted that the game preserves the spirit and mechanics of the original board game while expanding on the design for PC. Bradly Halestorm of Hardcore Gamer called it the more complete and refined version of the 2013 title. Sascha Lohmüller of PC Games stated that the Ascension edition improves on its predecessor in every regard, with well-crafted Warhammer atmosphere, though the presentation remains somewhat barren and the hot-seat multiplayer from the first Space Hulk is absent. Adam Smith of Rock Paper Shotgun remarked that a good game exists within the grimdark corridors, and that Ascension has taken two steps forward and one step back, with the backward step being twice as costly.