ASKE for Windows

Take down demons in this indie FPS game

ASKE is a free action first-person shooter video game wherein you can relive the classic ‘90s shooting games that inspired many others. Developed by Tomás Esconjaureguy a.k.a. selewi, this 3D indie game is a fast-paced shooter homage to old titles like Quake, Hexen, Unreal, Doom, and many more. You can easily play its demo but the game is still currently under development and will have many eventual changes implemented.

Paying respects

From the very start, ASKE looks like exactly like another Quake game. With blocky pixelated 3D graphics and wonky but grotesque-looking enemies, this fits right in with the retro shooter games of the ‘90s. The environment is a series of hellish corridors and rooms wherein you have to shoot and slash your way out to get better equipment in your fight against the demonic forces. 

The W, A, S, and D keys are for moving around. To automatically pick up an item, simply walk over it. The left mouse button is for using your current weapon. To unlock doors with their buttons, you have to press E to interact with them. Lastly, Spacebar is for jumping, the left Shift key is for walking to avoid falling off thin bridges, and the left Ctrl key is for crouching.

In the game, you have to gun down every threat you come across and you can’t just stand still to aim—unless, of course, you choose the easiest difficulty. Fights can get messy pretty fast and you’ll die quickly if you don’t duck and weave around the map. The sound effects are great and make every hit feel satisfying. However, the dimness of the screen will make noticing whether you’re taking damage or not a tricky ordeal.

A love letter to retro games

All in all, ASKE is a great homage to classic FPS titles and really harkens back to the good old days of shooter gameplay. While the brightness could use some tweaking, the overall aesthetic is no doubt a nice trip down memory lane for most gamers who’ve gone through the golden age of first-person shooters. The game’s demo is short but packs enough punch to show that the project has potential.