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

Guard Crush Games, the developer behind the acclaimed Streets of Rage 4, is teaming up once again with publisher Dotemu for an exciting new project. This collaboration brings us Dotemu’s first original IP, titled Absolum, which boasts stunning hand-drawn animations crafted by Supamonks and a captivating soundtrack by renowned composer Gareth Coker. After spending an hour with this game, it's clear that Absolum has the potential to quickly become a proven hit in the gaming world.

Absolum is a roguelite side-scrolling beat-’em-up action-RPG that promises deep replayability with its branching paths, quests, characters, and challenging bosses. From my hands-on experience, the game delivers on these promises. It's a visually stunning fantasy adventure featuring various player classes, such as the robust Karl, reminiscent of a dwarf, and the agile, sword-wielding Galandra, similar to a ranger. Players will engage in combat against evil creatures, destroy environments to uncover health-replenishing items like carrots, explore buildings for treasure chests, face ambushes from goblins, and battle formidable bosses with massive health bars. The cycle of dying and retrying adds to the game's roguelite charm, and though not tested, the game also supports two-player co-op on the same screen.

For those who cherish memories of classic arcade games from the 80s and early 90s, including titles like Golden Axe on the Sega Genesis, Absolum will feel nostalgically familiar. Its Saturday morning cartoon-style art and animations evoke a sense of nostalgia, while the combat system, though simple with two buttons, offers depth by allowing players to adapt their attacks based on the enemies they face. The roguelite elements bring a modern twist, enhancing the game’s replayability and giving it a competitive edge.

Throughout your journey in Absolum, you'll uncover both hidden and visible power-ups. These can be active weapons or spells triggered by pulling a trigger and pressing a face button, or passive items that reside in your inventory. Each run features randomized items, introducing a risk-reward system that can influence your strategy. For example, in one run, I acquired two orbs that boosted my damage by 20% but at the cost of 20% of my health, resulting in a dangerously small health bar but quicker enemy dispatch. Fortunately, you can discard any item at any time if you find the trade-offs too steep.

Absolum - First Screenshots

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As a roguelite, dying in Absolum means returning to a realm with a shop where you can spend in-game currency on items or power-ups for your next run. Unfortunately, this feature wasn’t fully operational in the early build I played, leaving the quality of items and power-ups to chance on each new attempt.

Absolum presents a formidable challenge, as evidenced by my struggle against the first major boss—a mammoth troll wielding a gigantic mace and summoning smaller goblins to attack. While I couldn't capture footage of this encounter, I can share images of another, equally tough boss. Experiencing the two-player co-op mode, which could divide the boss's attention and enhance the game's enjoyment, would have been ideal. As anyone who fondly remembers classic beat-’em-ups knows, these games truly shine in two-player mode.

With its captivating art style, smooth animations, classic side-scrolling beat-’em-up gameplay, and engaging roguelite loop, coupled with the developer’s expertise in this genre, Absolum holds immense potential and a high likelihood of success. If you've missed the camaraderie of couch co-op games, Absolum promises to revive that experience, at least temporarily. I eagerly anticipate playing a more refined version as development continues, and my optimism for this game remains high.