Absolum Review (PS5, PS4, Switch, & PC)

Absolum will probably not ring any bells. It’s a new IP by Guard Crush, DotEmu, and Supamonks. But the core gameplay isn’t at all new. In fact, you’ll probably quickly draw connections to Streets of Rage 4, also developed by Guard Crush. You know, the 2020 beat ‘em up follow-up to the ‘90s trilogy that proved the arcade brawling genre isn’t anywhere nearly dead. 

Merging the retro with the modern proved the next step in beat ‘em up history, one that unites both old dogs and newbies across the gaming world. And now, yet another innovative idea: merging beat ‘em up with roguelite gameplay. 

It’s perfect, isn’t it? Beat ‘em ups already rely heavily on repetitive matches. Somehow, you still find yourself booting up a new run, even when you’re bashing the same enemies and bosses. You just can’t help pulling off slick combos and clearing stage after stage through to the next level. 

With roguelite gameplay, it’s more or less the same thing. Except you’re growing stronger and stronger with every reboot. And when you inevitably die, you go back to the drawing board, tweak some abilities here and there, and your newly improved build brings your character out swinging, far stronger and more powerful to make it farther and farther through the game until you hit the final level. 

The question is, will you still be having a good enough time to stick around till the end? Let’s find out in our Absolum review below.

Wizardly World

Absolum’s world is entirely new. Well, regurgitated familiar lore from the wizarding world: mages and magic and all. You’ve got your elves, the dwarves living underground, imperial soldiers, and many more societies and communities making up this fantasy world. The story goes that a cataclysmic event borne from abuse of magic leads to chaos and mayhem. And in the upheaval, a vicious ruler, Sun King Azra, takes over, imprisoning all wizards and outcasting all who defy him. 

But your protagonist and companion heroes rise against Azra, seeking to restore the natural world order. They fight using the skills and abilities unique to them against the allies of Azra, setting their sights on overthrowing him in the end. From the necromancer Galandra to the brawling dwarf Karl, every hero has their own personal motivations for joining the quest. 

And further, they each enrich your playthrough with unique strengths. No doubt you’ll quickly find your favorites, as you unlock them all across your runthrough. Overall, it’s a pretty lore-rich story that isn’t always told compellingly well. Through cutscenes, dialogue, and environmental details, you’ll unravel the beguiling history of the fantasy world of Talamh. 

You’ll be pressed to root for different characters and communities, as they spur conflicts among one another. Some NPCs you’ll help along the way influence your own journey. They may influence the worldbuilding as well, spinning branching paths that unlock more stories. 

While not on Hades’ level of compelling storytelling, there’s something cool to be enjoyed about unraveling Absolum’s rebel wizards against the Sun King.  

Training Grounds

At first, you’re a weakling with barely any sufficient tools or abilities. And Absolum takes your learning journey slow, teaching you the basics of light and heavy attacks, how to chain attacks, and juggle enemies. You can dodge and parry, with relatively generous timing windows. But not all attacks can be parried. You have special skills, too, and a meter attached to their build-up.

It’s all a standard affair, though, taking a bit of time to fully master, particularly in stringing combos and countering attacks. Once you master stunning foes, leaving them open for a flurry of rage, you’ll then begin to tap into the extensive, punchy, crunchy feeling of Absolum’s absolutely fantastic combat system. It simply feels so damn fluid and satisfying once you’re initiated into the full blend of all the abilities and attacks at your disposal.

And you can spice it up further by grabbing enemies and throwing them on walls or against each other. And certain environmental items can be picked up if you pay close attention. Overall, Absolum’s combat is more than initially plausible. And it’s just so much fun to see it all come together, managing crowds and juggling enemies mid-air. 

Goody Bag

And it gets better, oh so much better. See, the limiting tools and abilities you initially start with soon expand. They add more buffs and upgrades that deepen your toolset. And more so, unlock more tricks up your sleeve. Magic, for instance, infuses into your physical attacks, and the possibilities here are simply too juicy. Fire, ice, or the ability to summon helpers can all be infused with your attacks and abilities. 

And thus, the journey of crafting the perfect build begins. With each run, you head back to base and fine-tune your build further with upgrades and new toolsets. And as a result, discover more strategic ways to take down enemies. 

Surprise, Surprise!

Absolum has done a great job of piquing your interest across every new run. Even when enemy encounters remain the same, you never know which goodies you’re going to find. They’re randomized for every fresh run, and thus offer unexpected ways you can switch up combat. 

Further, completing quests, defeating bosses, and progressing the main story unlock new areas. And not just new regions to explore, but also unlocking hidden areas and branching paths. It feels entirely independent, choosing which branching path to take. And in turn, unlock new secrets and more options for play. 

Even after pouring tens of hours into Absolum, some gamers are still reporting finding new secrets and details in the environment. It’s simply that well-designed, sustaining your interest even after you’ve played multiple runs. 

Above All Else

There’s no debate as to whether Absolum is well designed. Everything from the presentation to the execution of its gameplay feels professionally and creatively done. The 2D hand-drawn art style is so distinctive and vibrant. It’s diverse in the different regions you explore, with a seething personality. Just the perfect balance of retro, but also modernized in crisp visuals. 

And the music, too, is a blast, fusing heavy metal, orchestral rock, and vocals. From somber moments to intense boss battles, the score is fitting of time and place, fueling your run-through with all-around emotions. And for the cherry on top, banging explosions to cement the high in combat. Only the voice performances can be a bit of a letdown, with some annoying repetitive quips.

I wanna say, though, none of that matters as much when the combat reigns supreme. When you’ve built unique character builds, and you have offense and defense moves that feel snappy, what’s more to ask for? 

Absolum has even gone ahead to add satisfying nitty-gritty like temporary invisibility when casting spells. You can unlock projectiles and boost their piercing damage. And the best part is that you can deflect enemy attacks to stun them, leaving them vulnerable for a powerful combo. 

Slight Misstep

Sounds like Absolum is perfect, huh? Well, there are slight issues you might take with it. With roguelites, they can cut a fine line between skill-based and by-the-numbers progress. Should mastery of abilities determine your leveling up? Or should the number of items and upgrades you’ve accumulated? 

I guess it depends on your reason for returning for just one more run in a roguelite. Is it because you enjoy the combat so much that you can’t get enough of it? Or is it for the goodies you gain when you explore a branching path you hadn’t taken before? Hm, a bit tricky. 

Absolum’s structure is that beating certain bosses doesn’t rely on skill, but rather on how many items and upgrades you’ve unlocked. If you haven’t collected a certain number of items and lives, you’re guaranteed to lose certain fights. 

And it gets quite annoying at the final secret boss, in particular, when you instantly die before you can even dip your hand into your hat of tricks and show the game what you’ve got. Worse? As soon as you acquire the items and upgrades Absolum seems to require of you, beating the boss is like a breeze. 

Verdict

Absolutely yes, you should play Absolum. It’s the perfect pick-me-up for true beat ‘em up fanatics looking for something with a modern touch. You’ll still find the thrill of mowing down enemies on the Streets of Rage, but also enjoy a smooth and excellent roguelite take that rewards exploration and persistence. 

Any blandness in the story barely compares to the fantastic combat you’ll enjoy in Absolum. And as far as capping progress by the number of items and upgrades you collect, well, that’s all entirely up to the kind of gamer you are. Either way, it should still be a blast to roam the gorgeous fantasy land of Talamh.