History YMMV / HouseOfAshes

** After the divisive twists to ''Man of Medan'' and ''Little Hope'' where [[spoiler: the whole thing was nothing more than a hallucination]], this game prominently features dangerous monsters that are frequently encountered [[spoiler: without being written off as having never existed by the story]]; instead, the twist boils down to [[spoiler: what ''kind'' of monsters they are, namely that the "vampires" are actually aliens]]. The fans were very pleased with this, especially after the notoriously panned ending of ''Little Hope''.

** Rescuing Salim from the creatures: Serving as the culmination of Jason's CharacterDevelopment, and plenty of action against the creatures and The Ancient One.

-->'''Salim:''' You're going to need me a hell of alot more than I'll need you.\\

* MemeticBadass: Salim became one ot the fans because of how he's willing to go through these vampires with nothing but a steel bean to the heart.

* MemeticBadass: Salim has become one to the fans due to how he massacres the vampires with nothing more than a steel beam to the heart.

* AuthorsSavingThrow: After the divisive twists to ''Man of Medan'' and ''Little Hope'' that reveals [[spoiler:that the entire thing was nothing more than a hallucination]], the game prominently features dangerous monsters that are frequently encountered [[spoiler:without being written off as having never existed by the story]]; instead, the twist boils down to [[spoiler:what ''kind'' of monsters they are, with the reveal being that the "vampires" are actually aliens]]. The fans were very pleased with this, especially after the notoriously panned ending of ''Little Hope''.
** The QTE’s in ''Medan'' were chastised by some for being too punishing, showing up quickly with zero warning. On the other hand, ''Hope''’s warned QTE’s- while also being an AuthorsSavingThrow for some players- were chastised by some for being too easy. This entry has a difficulty setting to satisfy players of both camps, with the option to either warn some types of QTE’s and not others, warn all types of QTE’s, or turn off warnings altogether.
** After ''Little Hope'' didn't manage to deliver on either the faster walking speeds or the end to fixed camera angles that were meant to be implemented based on feedback to both ''Until Dawn'' and ''Man of Medan'', both highly-anticipated improvements finally make their appearance in ''House of Ashes''.

* HoYay: This exchange between Salim and Jason :
-->'''Salim:''' You're going to need me a hell more than I'll need you.\\

* ContrivedCoincidence: Salim loses his assault rifle underground before an attack by a vampire. Luckily, a truck was nearby and its steel beam just happens to be the perfect weapon against the vampires.

** The [[spoiler:assault in the sacrificial chamber, where the main cast faces several vampires at once. Even '''Dar''' gets in on the action, and has some pretty awesome moments with Salim. Several major events, such as Salim and Nick possibly being injured, Dar’s death, the reveal of The Ancient One, Rachel’s potential infection, and Eric’s determinant death, all take place here]].

'''Salim:''' I have to draw a line somehewre.

-->'''Salim:''' You're going to need me a hell more than I'll need you.

'''Salim:''' I'll hold your hand, but I'm not cuddling you.

** After ''Little Hope'' didn't manage to deliver on either the faster walking speeds or the end to fixed camera angles that were meant to be implemented based on feedback to both ''Until Dawn'' and ''Man of Medan'', both finally make their appearance in ''House of Ashes''.

* EnsembleDarkhorse:
** Of the playable protagonists, Salim is the one many players gravitate towards for his DeadpanSnarker dialogue combined with an earnest, friendly demeanor. He also has plenty of woobie points for being a single father struggling with a son who has a bright future if he could control his StickyFingers habits. His arc with Jason is also said to have the strongest writing.
** Jason Kolcheck, a badass ReligiousBruiser NobleBigot who ends up having a redemption arc and undergoing a ''lot'' of character development and growth before the game is done. A lot of players went from hating him to loving him, to the point Jason is the one character who can rival Salim in terms of popularity.

* AuthorsSavingThrow: After the divisive twists to ''Man of Medan'' and ''Little Hope'' that reveals [[spoiler:that the entire thing was nothing more than a hallucination]], the game prominently features dangerous monsters that are frequently encountered [[spoiler:without being written off as having never existed by the story]]. The fans were very pleased with this.
** The QTE’s in ''Medan'' were chastised by some for being too punishing, showing up quickly with zero warning. ''Hope''’s warned QTE’s, while also being an AuthorsSavingThrow for some players, were chastised by some for being too easy. This entry has a difficulty setting to satisfy players of both camps, with the option to either warn some types of QTE’s and not others, warn all types of QTE’s, or turn off warnings altogether.

** Salim is unambiguously the most sympathetic of the characters, being a divorced father who is dragged back into the military conflict against his will and simply wants to get home and see his son again. Salim is prone to responding to compassion with compassion ([[spoiler: one case being that, mid-battle, if Jason, an enemy soldier, spares a fleeing civilian shepherd, Salim won't even attempt to kill him]]) and repeatedly proves willing to cross enemy lines to survive together as a group from early on, urging others to do the same.

* EnsembleDarkhorse:
** Of the playable protagonists, Salim is the one many players gravitate towards for his DeadpanSnarker dialogue combined with an earnest, friendly demeanor. He also has plenty of woobie points for being a single father struggling with a son who has a bright future if he could control his StickyFingers habits. His arc with Jason is also said to have the strongest writing.
** Jason Kolcheck, a badass ReligiousBruiser NobleBigot who ends up having a redemption arc and undergoing a ''lot'' of character development and growth before the game is done. A lot of players went from hating him to loving him, to the point Jason is the one character who can rival Salim in terms of popularity.

* MemeticBadass: Salim has become one to the fans due to how he he massacres the vampires with nothing more than a steel beam to the heart.

* AuthorsSavingThrow: After the divisive twists to ''Man of Medan'' and ''Little Hope'' that reveals [[spoiler:that the entire thing was nothing more than a hallucination]], the game prominently features dangerous monsters that are frequently encountered. The fans were very pleased with this.

** Salim is unambiguously the most sympathetic of the characters, being a divorced father who is dragged back into the military conflict against his will and simply wants to get home and see his son again. Salim is prone to responding to compassion with compassion ([[spoiler: one case being that, mid-battle, if Jason, an enemy soldier, spares a fleeing civilian Shepard, Salim won't even attempt to kill him]]) and repeatedly proves willing to cross enemy lines to survive together as a group from early on, urging others to do the same.

* AuthorsSavingThrow: After the divisive endings to ''Man of Medan'' and ''Little Hope'' that reveals [[spoiler:that the entire thing was nothing more than a hallucination]], the game has you fighting off against real monsters.
* EnsembleDarkhorse: Jason Kolcheck, a badass ReligiousBruiser NobleBigot who ends up having a redemption arc and undergoing a ''lot'' of character development and growth before the game is done. A lot of players went from hating him to loving him, to the point Jason is the one character who can rival Salim in terms of popularity
* TheWoobie: Salim is unambiguously the most sympathetic of the characters, being a divorced father who is dragged back into the military conflict against his will and simply wants to get home and see his son again. Salim is prone to responding to compassion with compassion ([[spoiler: one case being that, mid-battle, if Jason, an enemy soldier, spares a fleeing civilian Shepard, Salim won't even attempt to kill him]]) and repeatedly proves willing to cross enemy lines to survive together as a group from early on, urging others to do the same.

* AuthorsSavingThrow: After the divisive endings to ''Man of Medan'' and ''Little Hope'' that reveals [[spoiler:that the entire thing was nothing more than a hallucination]], the game has you fighting off against real monsters.

* AuthorsSavingThrow: After the divisive endings to ''Man of Medan'' and ''Little Hope'' that reveals [[spoiler:that the entire thing was hallucination]], the game has you fighting off against real monsters.

* AuthorsSavingThrow: After the divisive ending to ''Little Hope'' that reveals [[spoiler:that the entire thing was hallucination]], the game has you fighting off against real monsters.