Ascend to ZERO

Hello Ascenders,

We will continue to fix things up as quickly as possible and continue to shape the best Ascend to ZERO experience. A lot of this has been possible due to the community providing reports and flagging up potential issues. Please continue to letting us know how we can improve the game via the CS forms found here, on Discord in the appropriate channels, or in the Steam discussions. Thank you!

Resolved Issues

• Fixed an issue where the Remaining Time occasionally failed to display on the screen during a play session.

• Fixed an issue where certain Tech Chips incorrectly displayed the same name.

• Fixed an issue where 'Time to Choose' chips displayed a red dot indicating they were unobtained, even when previously collected.

• Fixed a progression blocker in the tutorial where picking up a weapon before interacting with Mimesis prevented further gameplay.

• Fixed an issue where acquiring a specific tier of Tech Chip would incorrectly present players with options of the same or lower tier compared to their previously acquired chips.

Known Issues

• There is an issue where playing the game in windowed-mode certain causes certain images to not appear as intended.

• There is an issue where in certain circumstances on Stage 4, enemies fall through the floor preventing progress. 

Hello Ascenders,

The first major update for Ascend to ZERO has arrived!

We mentioned this in our roadmap, but v1.1.0.0 features a ton of additions that expand Avatar builds by means of Avatar exclusive chips and a roster of chips to compliment them! Not only that, the 'Time to Choose' options have also been expanded and added to start of every stage. With both of these changes, over 100 tech chips have been added to the game. Let's dig right in!

Avatar Build Expansion

When we first mentioned this, we mentioned that we would be improving and adding 10 Avatar builds - but this doesn't really capture just how much has expanded.

When you start a run, you are able to select from 3 Avatar Exclusive chips that determine your style in sense. When you select one of these chips, the way your run plays out is different. Not only do the regular Tech Chips that you can get during a run change, but also your Slot Module Chips as well as Weapon Tech Chips tune to your style. These sets of chips are what we consider Avatar builds.

Each of the starting 5 Avatars got new styles and new chips to go along with said styles. We think Ascenders are going to enjoy the new styles, such as:

1. Golden Gunslinger | Electromagnetic Rail

   • The first time you dash after Time-Stop ends, an Electromagnetic Rail is installed in the direction of said movement. When your own projectile attack enters the Electromagnetic Rail's range, if the direction of the Electromagnetic Rail's arrow matches the travel direction of the projectile attack, that projectile's damage increases by a certain amount. The Electromagnetic Rail is removed when Time-Stop ends.

   • \[Dev Comment] There are many new chips that help Ascenders make the use of this style chip, so go guns a-blazing! This style chip requires some strategy, but once mastered you will be a force to be reckoned with!

2. Windborne Spearmaster | Windflow Spear Mastery

   • Stab attacks consume Stamina to increase Damage by a certain amount while in Aiming Mode.

   • \[Dev Comment] Stamina now not only is used to dash (we see you dash build fanatics), but also can be used to strengthen the Windborne Spearmaster's Stab attacks. There are tons of chips that increase the usage of stamina, increase the limits, or the other way around!

3. Scarlet Pirate | Privateer

   • Defeating an enemy grants a chance to acquire special loot. You can own certain amount of loot items. When Time-Stop ends, removes all loot and fires one Projectile for each loot item removed this way, each dealing Bombard damage.

   • \[Dev Comment] What's a pirate that isn't looting, right?! The Scarlet Pirate can now collect loot items (that have their own effects by the way!) that will get fired once Time-Stop ends, adding MORE power to her Avatar/Hyper Skill!

There is so much for you guys to try and play around with - we hope you enjoy!

But wait! What about my Handbook progress and my achievements??

If you have already gotten the Steam Achievements, these new chips will not affect you! However, for those of you who haven't yet, this does add to the requirements of unlocking the achievements.

As for the Handbook, all of the new chips got added to the "Tech Chip" section!

All New 'Time to Choose' Functions

Just like the Avatar Build Expansion, the roadmap kind of undersells just how much has been added.

Currently, when you start a run and when certain conditions have been met, you unlock the 'Time to Choose' selection where you can choose from multiple options that give you an advantage to your runs. This was only offered in Stage 1 to get Ascenders into the fray faster with each passing run.

With this update, not only are there more options for 'Time to Choose', but 'Time to Choose' will appear at the starting points of all stages after certain conditions have been met.

Conditions:

• Once a player has cleared a stage, they will be able to unlock the 'Time to Choose' for that stage via the Fate Editor in the Underground Bunker.

There are some really unique options for Ascenders to try out, such as:

1. Me of Another World | Grants an Avatar Tech Chip from another Avatar.

2. Storm of Possibility | Challenge Events always offer three choices.

3. Future Manipulation | The grade of the next reward you acquire changes to Legendary. Lasts until you select a reward.

Give them a go and let us know what you think!

+ Expanding Attack Options

Aside from the Avatar Build Expansion and the 'Time to Choose' related chips, the team has also not only buffed most Slot Module Chips (in terms of damage and activation conditions), but also added a few more chips to add a bit more balance in the way of paths that have the least growth - specifically Tech Chip attacks, Slot Module attacks, and dash attacks.

Currently, certain chips provide an attack that Ascenders can use to bolster their arsenal. Slot Modules generally provide a secondary attack once conditions are fulfilled and certain tech chips add an attack when dashing or moving. However, those specific attacks aren't really able to be augmented in any way.

With the new chips that has been added (as well as some unique 'Time to Choose' options), Ascenders will now be able to make those secondary attacks even better. We encourage Ascenders to find these chips and try out new styles of play!

+ Overall Balance Changes

We didn't just add a bunch of chips - we tried to make sure existing chips work well with one another. With over 100 chips coming into the game, we also took the time to balance some other existing chips so that they all play well together. If you have any feedback, please don't hesitate to let us know in our Discord or the Steam community!

+ Miscellaneous Changes and Fixes

• Adjusted Slot Modules so that selecting one can increase damage based on the weapon's tier.

• The tier-based damage correction is determined at the time the Slot Module is equipped.

Improved the usability of Windborne Spearmaster's Avatar Exclusive Chip Precision Transmission.

Increased Golden Gunslinger's Avatar Skill damage.

Increased Golden Gunslinger's early-game weapon Attack Power.

Significantly increased regular monster HP.

Slightly increased boss HP.

Generally decreased enemy Attack Power.

Increased EXP gain from regular monster by 25%.

Decreased EXP gain from Elite and boss monster.

Decreased Attack Power of monsters in Multidimensional Mode.

Decreased level of Challenge Event monsters in Multidimensional Mode.

Changed the mechanics of Windborne Spearmaster's Tech Chips, Too Slow! and Speed Shift.

Removed the following Tech Chips of Windborne Spearmaster.

• Steel Bulwark

• Eye of the Storm

• Pantomime

Reduced Skill Damage and Hyper Skill Damage gained from Avatar Enhancement.

Fixed an issue where Golden Gunslinger's Avatar Exclusive Tech Chip Echo of Death was not correctly receiving Projectile Damage increase effects.

Fixed an issue where Golden Gunslinger's Avatar Exclusive Tech Chip Counterforce Explosion's "Projectile Damage +10% on Ricochet" option was not correctly receiving Projectile Damage increase effects.

Fixed an issue where attacks summoned by Tech Chips were receiving Final Damage Increase effects twice.

Fixed an issue where Critical Hits were not occurring with Chrono Child's Avatar Exclusive Chip Event Horizon and Singularity.

Fixed an issue where Tech Chip Damage Increase effects were being applied to radiation-damage Tech Chips, causing abnormally increased damage.

Fixed a performance issue with Legendary rarity of Chrono Child's Tech Chip Paradox of Delay.

We hope you enjoy the first major update of Ascend to ZERO!

— Ascend to ZERO Team

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