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

Guard Crush Games, the developers behind Streets of Rage 4, are teaming up once again with publisher Dotemu for a new beat-'em-up experience. This time, Dotemu is venturing into uncharted territory with its first original IP titled Absolum. The project boasts stunning hand-drawn animations from Supamonks and an enchanting soundtrack by the acclaimed video game composer Gareth Coker. Given the talent involved, my hour-long hands-on session suggests that Absolum won't remain unproven for long.

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 experience confirms this promise. The game is a visually stunning fantasy adventure featuring multiple player classes, such as the tank-like dwarf Karl and the agile ranger Galandra. Players engage in combat with evil creatures, destroy environments to uncover health-replenishing items like carrots, explore buildings to open treasure chests or face ambushes by goblins, and confront bosses with substantial health bars. The cycle of death and retry is core to the roguelite experience, and though I didn't get to try it, the game 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 '90s arcades, as well as titles like Golden Axe on the Sega Genesis, Absolum evokes a nostalgic yet refreshing feel. The game's Saturday morning cartoon-style art and animation contribute to this sentiment. The combat system, while simple with two buttons, offers enough depth to mix up attacks based on the enemy you're facing. The roguelite mechanics add a modern twist, enhancing replayability and keeping the gameplay fresh.

As you progress through Absolum, you'll encounter both hidden and obvious power-ups. These include equippable active weapons or spells, activated by pulling a trigger and pressing a face button, and 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 run, I equipped two orbs that boosted my damage by 20% each but reduced my health by the same percentage, resulting in a dangerously low health bar but quicker enemy dispatch. Fortunately, you can drop any item at any time if the trade-off becomes too risky.

Absolum - First Screenshots

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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 operational in the early build I played, it adds another layer of strategy and progression 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 bite away 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 this promise. If you've missed the camaraderie of couch co-op games, Absolum is poised to revive that experience, at least temporarily. I eagerly anticipate playing a more refined build as development continues, and my optimism for this game remains high.