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

Guard Crush Games, the developers behind the acclaimed Streets of Rage 4, are teaming up once again with publisher Dotemu for an exciting new beat-'em-up. This project, however, marks a significant milestone as it's Dotemu's first original IP, named Absolum. The game boasts stunning hand-drawn animations crafted by Supamonks and a captivating soundtrack composed by the renowned Gareth Coker. Despite being an unproven project, my hour-long hands-on experience suggests that Absolum is poised to make a strong impression 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," according to the developers. And from what I've experienced, it delivers on all fronts. The game is a visually striking fantasy adventure that offers multiple player classes to choose from. I had the pleasure of playing as the sturdy, dwarf-like Karl and the agile, ranger-esque Galandra. The gameplay involves slaying evil creatures, destroying environments in hopes of revealing health-replenishing items like carrots, exploring buildings for treasure chests or to fend off goblin ambushes, and facing off against formidable bosses with massive health bars. The cycle of dying and restarting adds to the game's roguelite charm. While I didn't get to experience it, Absolum also supports two-player same-screen co-op, which is sure to enhance the fun.

As someone who cherishes memories of classic two-player beat-'em-ups from the 1980s and early '90s arcades, as well as gems like Golden Axe on the Sega Genesis, Absolum strikes a nostalgic chord while feeling refreshingly modern. The game's Saturday morning cartoon-style art and animation contribute to its charm, and the combat system, though simple with two buttons, offers enough depth to keep things interesting against different foes. The roguelite aspect modernizes the experience, adding both an edge and substantial replayability.

As you progress through 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 in your inventory. The randomization of items from one run to another introduces a risk-reward system that can significantly alter your strategy. For example, during one of my early runs, I equipped two orbs that boosted my damage by 20% each, but at the cost of 20% of my health. With a drastically reduced health bar, I could quickly take down enemies, but the trade-off was risky. Fortunately, the game allows you to drop any item from your inventory at any time, giving you flexibility in managing these trade-offs.

Absolum - First Screenshots

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True to its roguelite nature, upon death, you return to a realm featuring a shop where you can spend in-game currency on items or power-ups for your next run. In the early build I played, this feature wasn't fully implemented, making my success dependent on the random quality of items and power-ups each time I restarted.

Absolum showcases immense potential, bolstered by its striking art style, animation, classic side-scrolling beat-'em-up gameplay, and engaging roguelite loop. Not to mention, the developers' proven track record in this genre adds to the game's promise. If you've been missing the joy of couch co-op games, Absolum could be the perfect antidote, at least temporarily. I eagerly await playing a more polished version as development continues, but for now, my optimism for Absolum remains high.