Guard Crush Games, the developers behind the acclaimed Streets of Rage 4, are once again teaming up with publisher Dotemu to bring us a new beat-'em-up experience. This time, they're introducing Dotemu's first original IP, Absolum, which features stunning hand-drawn animations by Supamonks and a captivating soundtrack from the renowned composer Gareth Coker. With such a powerhouse of talent involved, Absolum shows immense promise, as evidenced by my hour-long hands-on session with the game.
Absolum is a roguelite side-scrolling beat-'em-up action-RPG that promises "deep replayability with branching paths to explore, quests, characters, and challenging bosses." My experience confirmed this, offering a visually stunning fantasy adventure with a variety of player classes. I explored the game using Karl, a sturdy dwarf-like tank, and Galandra, a slender ranger with a sword. The gameplay involves battling evil creatures, destroying environments in search of health-restoring items like carrots, venturing into buildings for treasure or surprise goblin attacks, facing off against bosses with substantial health bars, and restarting after defeat. While I couldn't experience it myself, the game also supports two-player same-screen co-op.
For those of us who fondly remember the two-player beat-'em-up classics from the '80s and early '90s arcades, as well as games like Golden Axe on the Sega Genesis, Absolum strikes a nostalgic chord. Its Saturday morning cartoon-style art and animation contribute to this feeling. The combat system, while straightforward with two buttons, offers a layer of depth that lets you adapt your attacks based on the enemy you face. The roguelite aspect modernizes the gameplay, adding both a fresh challenge and substantial replay value.
AnswerSee ResultsThroughout the game, you'll uncover both hidden and visible power-ups. These include active weapons or spells, activated by pulling a trigger and pressing a face button, and passive items that reside in your inventory. These power-ups randomize with each run, introducing a risk-reward system that may influence your strategy. For instance, during an early run, I equipped two orbs that increased my damage output by 20% each but at the cost of 20% of my health, resulting in a dangerously low health bar. However, you can drop any item at any time if you decide the trade-off isn't worth it.
Absolum - First Screenshots
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As a roguelite, when you die in Absolum, you return to a realm with a shop where you can spend in-game currency on items or power-ups for your next attempt. However, this feature was not fully functional in the early build I played, leaving the quality of items and power-ups to chance each time.
Facing the first major boss proved challenging without the ability to spend my earned gold between runs. This boss, a mammoth troll wielding a giant mace and summoning smaller goblins to attack, was tough, especially without footage to share. I can, however, show you a later boss that looked even more formidable. While I didn't get to try it, the two-player co-op mode would have been ideal here, not just for splitting the boss's attention but also for enhancing the classic beat-'em-up experience, which is always better with a friend.
With its captivating art style, animation, traditional side-scrolling beat-'em-up mechanics, and the engaging roguelite loop, coupled with the developers' expertise in the genre, Absolum holds significant promise. If you've missed the days of couch co-op gaming, Absolum could be a refreshing addition to the genre. I eagerly await a more refined version as development continues, and remain highly optimistic about its potential to deliver a compelling gaming experience.
