"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 adventure. This time, they're bringing to life Dotemu's first original IP, named Absolum. With stunning hand-drawn animations courtesy of Supamonks and an evocative soundtrack by renowned composer Gareth Coker, Absolum is packed with talent. My hour-long hands-on session suggests that this game 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 its developers. My experience confirmed this, as I navigated a beautifully crafted fantasy world with diverse player classes like the sturdy, dwarf-like Karl and the agile, ranger-like Galandra. The gameplay involves battling evil creatures, smashing environments to uncover health-replenishing items like carrots, exploring buildings for treasure chests, facing off against formidable bosses with massive health bars, and restarting upon death. Additionally, though I didn't experience it myself, Absolum supports two-player same-screen co-op.

As a fan 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 struck a nostalgic chord with its Saturday morning cartoon-style art and animation. 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.

Throughout your journey in Absolum, you'll encounter both hidden and obvious power-ups. These can be active weapons or spells, activated by triggers and face buttons, or 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, dying in Absolum sends you back 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.

Absolum showcases immense potential, bolstered by its captivating art style, animation, classic side-scrolling beat-'em-up gameplay, and engaging roguelite loop. The developers' experience in the genre further enhances its promise. If you miss the days of couch co-op gaming, Absolum is poised 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.