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

Guard Crush Games, the developers behind Streets of Rage 4, have teamed up once again with publisher Dotemu for a thrilling new beat-’em-up. This time, they're introducing Dotemu's first original IP, a game titled Absolum, which boasts stunning hand-drawn-styled animations crafted by Supamonks and a captivating soundtrack composed by the renowned Gareth Coker. With such a talented team behind it, Absolum promises to be a standout title, and my hour-long hands-on experience suggests it won't remain unproven for long.

Absolum is a roguelite side-scrolling beat-’em-up action-RPG designed to offer "deep replayability with branching paths to explore, quests, characters, and challenging bosses," as stated by the developers. From my time with the game, it's clear that it delivers on these promises. It's a visually stunning fantasy adventure featuring multiple player classes, such as the sturdy, dwarf-like Karl and the agile, ranger-like sword-wielder Galandra. Players can engage in combat with evil creatures, destroy environments in hopes of uncovering health-replenishing items like carrots, explore buildings to open treasure chests or fend off goblin ambushes, and face off against bosses with massive health bars. The cycle of dying and restarting adds to the game's replay value, and while I didn't get to try it, there's also the option for two-player same-screen co-op.

For those of us with fond 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 comforting sense of nostalgia with its Saturday morning cartoon-style art and animation. The game features a simple yet effective two-button combat system that allows players to vary their attacks based on the enemy they're facing. The roguelite element modernizes the experience, injecting it with both an edge and substantial replayability.

Throughout the game, players can discover both hidden and obvious power-ups, including equippable active weapons or spells that are activated by pulling one of the triggers and hitting the corresponding face button, as well as passive items that reside in your inventory. These items randomize with each run, introducing a risk-reward system that can influence your strategy. For example, in one of my early runs, I picked up two orbs that boosted my damage by 20% but reduced my health by the same amount, resulting in a tiny health bar but quicker enemy dispatch. Fortunately, players can drop any item from their inventory at any time if they find the trade-off undesirable.

Absolum - First Screenshots

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As a roguelite, Absolum includes a realm where players return upon death, featuring a shop where in-game currency can be spent on items or power-ups for subsequent runs. Although this feature wasn't fully operational in the early build I played, it adds another layer of strategy to the game.

My experience with the first major boss—a mammoth troll wielding a gigantic mace and summoning smaller goblins—highlighted the game's challenging nature. Unfortunately, I couldn't capture footage of this encounter, but I can share images of a later, equally formidable boss. I'm eager to try the two-player co-op mode, which not only divides the boss's attention but also enhances the overall experience, a hallmark of classic beat-’em-ups.

With its captivating art style, animation, traditional side-scrolling beat-’em-up gameplay, and engaging roguelite loop, combined with the developers' expertise in the genre, Absolum holds immense potential. It's poised to revive the joy of couch co-op gaming, at least temporarily. As development continues, I eagerly anticipate playing a more refined version of the game, and my optimism about its success remains high.