Guard Crush Games, the developers behind the acclaimed Streets of Rage 4, are teaming up once again with publisher Dotemu to bring us a new beat-'em-up experience. This time, it's Dotemu's inaugural original IP titled Absolum, featuring stunning hand-drawn animations by Supamonks and a captivating soundtrack from renowned composer Gareth Coker. With such a talented team at the helm, Absolum is poised to make a significant impact in the gaming world, as evidenced by my engaging hour-long hands-on session.
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," according to its developers. My experience confirmed this, as I delved into a visually stunning fantasy world. I had the chance to play as the robust dwarf-like Karl and the agile, ranger-like Galandra. The gameplay involves battling evil creatures, destroying environments to uncover health-restoring items like carrots, exploring buildings for treasure or facing ambushes, tackling bosses with enormous health bars, and restarting upon defeat. Although I couldn't try it, the game also supports two-player same-screen co-op, adding another layer of excitement.
As someone with nostalgic memories of classic arcade beat-'em-ups and games like Golden Axe on the Sega Genesis, Absolum evokes a comforting familiarity with its Saturday morning cartoon-style art and animation. The combat system, though simple with two buttons, offers enough depth to keep fights engaging against different enemies. The roguelite mechanics inject a modern twist, enhancing replayability and adding strategic depth to each run.
AnswerSee ResultsThroughout your journey in Absolum, you'll encounter various power-ups, some of which are equippable active weapons or spells, and others passive abilities. These items randomize with each run, introducing a risk-reward dynamic. For example, in one of my early runs, 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. Fortunately, you can discard any item at any time to mitigate undesirable effects.
Absolum - First Screenshots
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True to its roguelite nature, upon death, you return to a realm with a shop where you can spend in-game currency on items or power-ups for your next run. Although this feature wasn't fully operational in the early build I played, it's clear that each run's success depends partly on the random items you acquire.
Facing a formidable boss, a giant troll wielding a massive mace and summoning smaller goblins that viciously attacked, was a highlight of my session. The absence of two-player co-op in my playthrough was felt, as it could have divided the boss's attention and enhanced the experience, a testament to the enduring appeal of two-player beat-'em-ups.
With its captivating art style, engaging animations, classic side-scrolling beat-'em-up gameplay, and the innovative roguelite loop, Absolum holds immense promise. It's a beacon of hope for fans mourning the decline of couch co-op games. As development continues, I eagerly anticipate playing a more refined build, but my current optimism for Absolum is undeniable.
