Solar Ash is the latest game from Heart Machine, a studio well-known for its hit title, Hyper Light Drifter. This new action-adventure platformer is set within a giant, encroaching black hole filled with the crumbling ruins of long-dead civilizations, and a host of mysterious creatures set on destroying any intruders.
There's a lot to the world of Solar Ash, and new players diving into the game for the first time might feel a little overwhelmed by all the game has to offer. From wide-open regions to explore to fearsome bosses looming on the horizon, Solar Ash is an ambitious game that is best enjoyed when going in with a few solid tips.
8 Stay On The Move
Momentum is everything in Solar Ash, and has a huge impact on progression and overall enjoyment. The main character, Rei, is equipped with the Voidtech, which allows her to skate across the cloud-like surface of the Ultravoid with ease. However, the world is filled with obstacles that can interrupt this movement.
Keeping up momentum plays a huge role in navigating the world, solving intricate puzzles, reaching valuable secrets, and even taking down bosses. Leaning the ropes of Rei's skating abilities and how she moves are key to making it through Solar Ash.
7 Jumping Cuts Momentum
Rei has a double jump at her disposal on her journey through the Ultravoid, and it comes in handy when trying to reach higher elevations or make it over perilous jumps. The one thing any player should know, though, is that it's very difficult to keep up Rei's momentum after jumping.
Rei's jump is a vital ability in numerous situations throughout Solar Ash, but it can be hard to maintain speed through the jump — and, as mentioned above, keeping momentum is everything. Timing each jump is critical to making it across wide gaps, especially during some of the more difficult boss encounters.
6 Don't Forget To Boost
One of the most versatile tools in Rei's arsenal are the Voidtech boots that allow her to skate through the Ultravoid. They not only allow her to move freely over the cloudy terrain, but they come equipped with a boost feature that can give Rei a quick surge of speed while she's on the move.
The boost is invaluable simply for exploring the world at a faster clip, but it's practically a necessity when facing any of Solar Ash's larger-than-life boss monsters. Hurting bosses requires quick reflexes and precision timing to hit a series of posts on the bosses back, and many of them can't be reached in time without the use of the speed boost. Players shouldn't ignore this tool at their disposal.
5 Use Warping Often
Warping is Solar Ash's fast travel equivalent, allowing Rei to move from one region to another at any time by simply pulling up the world map. While players can only warp to regions they've already completed, it's a handy tool when backtracking.
Progression in Solar Ash often requires players to double back through areas they've already been to, which makes warping the fastest way to keep the story moving. It can also come in handy when trying to find all the secrets hidden in a particular area of the game. Plus, warping is completely free, so there's no penalty for using it often.
4 Explore Freely
The Ultravoid is a beautiful, vibrant world that hides a surprising amount of secrets and collectibles. Much of the game's story is told through hidden items, especially when it concerns the history of those planets consumed by the Ultravoid prior to the events of the game.
Not only that, but the Voidrunner caches that Rei can find reveal more about her planet and the mission that brought her and her fellow Voidrunners to the Ultravoid. There's no rush to get to the next story beat, so take the time to explore freely and experience everything Solar Ash has to offer.
3 New Suits Aren't Just Cosmetic
Rei came to the Ultravoid with a full team of Voidrunners, but they've all gone missing since the last time she saw them back on their ship. They've left behind caches that not only reveal their state of mind while trying to stop the Ultravoid but also reward a piece of their suit for Rei to wear.
While each suit offers a distinct look that changes up Rei's appearance, they also come with an intrinsic benefit that improves some aspect of Rei's character kit. One suit can shorten the length of time it takes for her boost thrusters to recharge, while another will heal Rei with each enemy she defeats.
2 Cyd Stations Can Still Be Used While Offline
One of the first places players should go when entering a new region is to the Cyd station, indicated by a bright red beam of light shooting up into the air. Activating the Cyd station gives players waypoints for the boss' weak points scattered around the area, and also unlocks the various services Cyd has to offer Rei.
Cyd can scan for Void Caches in the area, allow Rei to swap her current suit for one she's unlocked, and even repair broken health units. While Cyd will speak exclusively in error messages before the boss of that region has been defeated, these services are still online even in this broken state.
1 Use The Pulse To Stay On Target
The pulse is a useful feature that allows Rei to pinpoint targets on interest in the environment. This is useful for regaining orientation after getting lost or staying on the right path to reach the next destination. The pulse can pull up things like boss weak point nodes, active Cyd stations, and doors unlocked after defeating a boss.
The pulse is the perfect tool for beginner players not yet used to the layout of each region, but it can still be useful later on in the game when trying to find the nearest Cyd station. It can also identify the next region to go to after finishing one, which makes it much easier to keep the game flowing smoothly.