"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 diving into Dotemu's first original IP, titled "Absolum," featuring stunning hand-drawn-style animations by Supamonks and a captivating soundtrack by renowned video game 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 that promises "deep replayability with branching paths to explore, quests, characters, and challenging bosses." My experience confirms this, as the game offers a visually stunning fantasy adventure with multiple player classes. I had the chance to play as the sturdy, tank-like Karl and the agile, ranger-esque Galandra. The gameplay involves battling evil creatures, destroying environments in hopes of finding health-replenishing items like carrots, exploring buildings for treasure or ambushes, facing off against bosses with formidable health bars, and restarting the cycle upon defeat. Additionally, though I didn't get to try it, Absolum supports two-player same-screen co-op.

As someone with fond memories of classic two-player beat-’em-ups from the '80s and early '90s arcades, as well as titles like Golden Axe on the Sega Genesis, Absolum felt nostalgically familiar yet refreshingly modern. The game's Saturday morning cartoon-style art and animation contribute to this feeling. The combat system, while relatively simple with two buttons, allows for varied attacks based on the enemy you're facing. The roguelite mechanics add a layer of modern replayability that sets Absolum apart.

As you progress through Absolum, you'll encounter both hidden and obvious power-ups. Some are equippable active weapons or spells that you activate by pulling a trigger and hitting the corresponding face button, while others are passive items stored in your inventory. These items randomize with each run, and not all are necessarily beneficial. For example, during an early run, I picked up two orbs that boosted my damage by 20% each but reduced my health by the same percentage, resulting in a dangerously small health bar. Fortunately, you can drop unwanted items from your inventory at any time.

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. This feature was not fully implemented in the early build I played, leaving the quality of items and power-ups to chance each time.

My encounter with the first major boss—a mammoth troll wielding a gigantic mace and summoning smaller goblins—was particularly challenging. Unfortunately, I couldn't capture footage of this battle, but I can share images of another formidable boss. The absence of two-player co-op in my session was noticeable, as it would have split the boss's attention and enhanced the experience, much like the classic beat-’em-ups that shine in multiplayer mode.

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 spirit of couch co-op gaming, at least temporarily. I eagerly anticipate playing a more refined version as development continues, and my optimism for Absolum's success remains high.