The subgenre spawned by Getting Over It with Bennett Foddy, which I’m reliably told is called a Foddian game, is one that demands perfection and patience in equal measure, but it’s often when the player’s patience stretches to the breaking point where these titles are at their height. Why, you ask, would someone getting mentally and emotionally devastated by a game be advantageous? Twitch, my friend, Twitch.
In steps Ascending Inferno, the debut title from Canberra-based Oppolyon Studios, that’s aptly labelled as a rage-inducing precision platformer. While the game is out now on Steam, I had the chance to play it before launch during PAX Aus weekend. Playing a demo on the PAX show floor is nerve-wracking in perfect conditions, so sitting down to play a game designed to drive you to the brink had me sweating.
The demo kicks off at a construction site as our protagonist, Dani, is booting around a soccer ball, thinking about her late brother, Vincent. After an errant step, Dani is reunited with Vincent. Unfortunately, it’s in hell. The two quickly establish a plan to ascend the rings of hell and escape, but Vincent is in no shape to climb, seeing as though his soul is now small, spherical and…soccer ball-shaped.
The challenge in Ascending Inferno doesn’t come from getting yourself over, under and through obstacles, it comes from booting your ball of a brother to safety. Dani can utilise a double jump and has a pretty powerful boot on her as well, used to do what anyone with an annoying sibling has dreamed of doing: kicking the crap out of her brother. By no means is the game any easier than its contemporaries, but it immediately felt less malicious and more fair.
Thanks to the core soccer-inspired concept, you can move through the level as Dani to plot your path and scope out the pitfalls (some literal) before committing to your next steps. Admittedly, my time playing through the opening level saw my confidence outweigh my ability numerous times, leading to plenty of expected backtracking, but those steps back always felt like a result of my lack of patience or execution.
Alongside kicks of varying power, Dani can also use her head to keep Vincent out of danger, which I consistently butchered or fluked my way into a good position. Nevertheless, this small but effective arsenal of movement options feels like a puzzle begging to be cracked and exploited by speedrunners far more skilled than myself. In what I’m assuming is an act of mercy, Vincent snaps to Dani’s feet and will travel with you as she dribbles him across the ground. I wouldn’t say this makes the experience any easier, but it definitely avoids needless frustration.
Speaking with the developers, a full playthrough for the average Joe (or average Adam) should take at least a few hours, but they had seen monsters annihilate their levels in minutes. And that’s where I see Ascending Inferno finding a home. Foddian games are perfect for streaming, and this one, in particular, has unique features that allow it to stand out from the pack. They aren’t all mechanical aspects, either. The pixel aesthetic and neon colour pallets depict hell in a standout way, with each of the levels offering a fresh look as well as a twist on gameplay.
Ultimately, this may be a game that breaks me before I break it, but even if my patience doesn’t allow me to see it to its end, I’ll certainly want to watch someone else suffer through the pain.
Ascending Inferno is out now on Steam.
If you have the patience, tell us what you think of Ascending Inferno in the comments or on our social media.

Adam's undying love for all things PlayStation can only be rivalled by his obsession with vacuuming. Whether it's a Dyson or a DualShock in hand you can guarantee he has a passion for it. PSN: TheVacuumVandal XBL: VacuumVandal Steam: TheVacuumVandal
