"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 a new beat-'em-up. This project, named Absolum, marks Dotemu's first venture into an original IP, featuring stunning hand-drawn animations from Supamonks and a captivating soundtrack by the renowned composer Gareth Coker. With such a talented team behind it, my hour-long hands-on experience suggests that Absolum is poised to make a significant impact in the gaming world.

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," according to its developers. My time with the game confirmed these elements. It's a visually stunning fantasy adventure that offers multiple player classes, such as the robust dwarf-like Karl and the agile ranger-esque Galandra. Players will engage in battles against evil creatures, smash through environments to uncover health-restoring items like carrots, explore buildings for treasure or face ambushes, confront bosses with massive health bars, and experience the thrill of death and rebirth. Additionally, though I didn't get to experience it firsthand, Absolum 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 experience. Its Saturday morning cartoon-style art and animation contribute to this feeling. The combat system, while simple with two buttons, offers enough depth to adapt to different enemies. 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 triggers and face buttons, 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 promises to add 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, biting away like piranhas. I longed to experience the two-player co-op mode, which could split the boss's attention and enhance the gameplay, 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 its prospects. If you've missed the joy of couch co-op games, Absolum could be a refreshing return to form. I eagerly anticipate playing a more refined version as development continues, and my optimism for this game remains high.