"Absolum: Stunning Roguelite by Streets of Rage 4 Creators"

Guard Crush Games, the developers behind the acclaimed Streets of Rage 4, are teaming up once again with publisher Dotemu for an exciting new project. This time, they're bringing us Dotemu's first original IP, titled Absolum, featuring stunning hand-drawn animations by Supamonks and a captivating soundtrack by the renowned Gareth Coker. With such a talented team behind it, Absolum is poised to make a significant impact in the gaming world, as evidenced by my hour-long hands-on experience 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," according to the developers. My time with the game confirmed these claims. It's a visually stunning fantasy adventure that offers multiple player classes, including the robust dwarf-like Karl and the agile, ranger-esque Galandra. Players will battle evil creatures, destroy environments in hopes of uncovering health-replenishing items like carrots, explore buildings for treasure or face ambushes, and confront bosses with massive health bars. The cycle of death and rebirth adds to the game's replayability, and though I didn't get to try it, Absolum also supports two-player same-screen co-op.

For those of us who cherish memories of classic two-player beat-’em-ups from the 1980s and early 1990s arcades, as well as titles like Golden Axe on the Sega Genesis, Absolum strikes a nostalgic chord. Its Saturday morning cartoon-style art and animation evoke a sense of familiarity, while the combat system, though simple with two buttons, offers enough depth to keep fights engaging. The roguelite mechanics bring a modern twist, enhancing replayability and adding a fresh layer of challenge.

As you progress through Absolum, you'll encounter both hidden and obvious power-ups. These can be active weapons or spells, activated by pulling a trigger and pressing a face button, or passive items that reside in your inventory. The randomization of items from one run to the next introduces a risk-reward system that can significantly alter your strategy. For example, during one of my early runs, I equipped two orbs that boosted my damage by 20% each but reduced my health by the same percentage, resulting in a perilously small health bar. Fortunately, you can drop any item at any time if the trade-off becomes too risky.

Absolum - First Screenshots

10 Images

As a roguelite, Absolum ensures that 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 implemented in the early build I played, it promises to add another layer of strategy to the game.

My encounter with the first major boss—a mammoth troll wielding a gigantic mace and summoning smaller goblins—was particularly challenging. These goblins would leap onto you and gnaw at your face like piranhas. I longed to experience the two-player co-op mode, which would not only divide the boss's attention but also enhance the game's enjoyment, as is often the case with beat-’em-ups.

With its captivating art style, animation, classic side-scrolling beat-’em-up gameplay, and engaging roguelite loop, Absolum holds immense potential. The developers' experience in the genre further bolsters my confidence in the game's success. If you've missed the camaraderie of couch co-op games, Absolum is set to revive that experience. I eagerly anticipate playing a more refined version as development continues, and my optimism for this game remains high.