Absolum is another game that I’ve been following very closely since Dotemu announced it earlier this year. Developed by Guard Crush Games and Supamonks, this brilliantly crafted rogulite beat’ em up action RPG had a spectacular demo over that summer that left me captivated and eager to get my hands on the final game.
After countless hours, days, and runs exploring all that Absolum has to offer, I’m pleased to say this phenomenal title is everything I hoped for and more. It’s not just Streets of Rage meets Golden Axe, but it’s also an elite side-scrolling beat ’em up experience unlike anything I’ve played before. Here are more details on this game and why it deserves your undivided attention, especially if you love beat ’em ups and fantasy adventure games.
An Epic Adventure
Absolum takes place in the fantasy world of Talamh at the height of a magical cataclysm caused by the ambitious actions of wizards. Sun King Azra seizes this opportunity to enslave wizards through his Crimson Order and conquer every region of land up for grabs.
As a countermeasure, the High Enchantress Uchawi and the Root sisters emerge from the shadows with a small group of rebels committed to stopping Azra’s reign of terror. These special individuals wield forbidden magic and intense combat abilities, making them formidable opponents for Azra and his equally challenging underbosses.
The four characters you’ll be playing as are Galandra, Karl, Cider, and Brome. Galandra falls under the warrior class as she carries a massive sword as her weapon of choice. Karl is a badass dwarf who uses a bunderbuss and his bare fists. Cider is a mysterious, yet agile fighter who uses two daggers and a grappling hook. And lastly, Brome is a humanoid frog staff-wielding wizard who can surf through the air. Galandra and Karl are playable from the start, while Cider and Brome are unlocked later on as you progress through the story.
Speaking of the narrative, Absolum is a very well-written and enjoyable story to play through. While each character has their own personal backstory that exposes bits and pieces of their personalities, the world and the supporting cast of NPCs have their own stories that are equally interesting and layered. You can feel how every region is impacted by Azra and his underbosses, which further motivates you to save the day.
In related news, Dotemu recently announced a plan to expand this world even further into an animated TV show. I can’t wait to see how this turns out, as there is no shortage of material to pull from and plenty of adventures for our heroes to go on.
Switching gears to graphics, Absolum looks absolutely incredible from start to finish. The animated intro and cutscenes are reminiscent of an old-school Saturday Morning Cartoon that you can play to your heart’s content. The animation work by Supamonks fits perfectly with the combat design aesthetics, making the game both visually appealing and hard to put down.
I’ve been playing this game on PC and haven’t encountered any performance or technical issues yet. Absolum is also fully playable on the Steam Deck right now. As I mentioned in previous reviews, I encourage you to check out Digital Foundry for comprehensive details on how this game performs across every platform.
Gameplay is the undeniable heart and soul of everything that Absolum has to offer. If you played Streets of Rage 4, then you already have a good idea of what to expect. Using an Xbox controller, simply press X to perform a primary attack, Y for a secondary attack, A to jump, B to run or dash, and the bumper for special attacks. You can also move your character by using the left joystick or directional pad. Overall, the controls feel great and are very straightforward for those interested in trying out the game.
The key element that separates Absolum from other Dotemu-published beat ’em ups is the addition of roguelite features. With unlockable skills, plenty of secret paths to uncover, different rituals to find, and ways to level up your character, it simply can’t be emphasized how much replayability and variety this adds to every run. When you die, you are resurrected by Uchawi and can use your earned currency and crystals to unlock new items and abilities to help you on your next run.
One of the risky aspects of a roguelite ,however, is that you will need to replay the same boss battles over again. While there are different paths you can take and certain areas change for good based on other finished sidequests, you’ll ultimately still encounter the same foes that block your path to Azra. As you continue to play through each run, you’ll learn which skills are worth choosing and you’ll feel a great sense of satisfaction once you’ve reached the end of your journey.
The good thing about going on a run is that you don’t have to do it alone, as there is an option to play with another player locally or online. There’s a matchmaking system in place that pairs you with other players of a similar level ranking. Unfortunately, I couldn’t use this feature during the early review access period because I wasn’t able to find another player. You shouldn’t have this issue since the game is officially out today.
Giving players the option to play together is great, especially for a game as challenging as this one. Currently, there is only 2-player cooperative play, but I hope a future patch update will allow up to 4 players. This seems like a no-brainer because there are four protagonists in the game, but the character balancing and populated enemy difficulty settings will need to be adjusted accordingly if they take this next step.
Absolum takes around 8 hours to complete on the first full playthrough and 30 hours to unlock everything. The game is only priced at $24.99, so you’ll definitely get your money’s worth. We have had the luxury of receiving several outstanding games this year priced well below $69.99, and I’m curious to see how these products continue to sell over time.
One last thing I want to mention about Absolum is the phenomenal soundtrack that has been expertly composed by Gareth Coker. The idea of having tracks from the composers of DOOM Eternal, Elden Ring, and Dark Souls brought in to capture the essence of bosses and their individual biomes really shows the level of commitment to creating a kickass game. Every theme works in this fantasy world and will pull you even deeper into this captivating adventure.
Final Verdict
If you can’t tell by now, I loved every minute of Absolum. If you’re looking for a different type of beat ’em up that will challenge you, this is by far worth your time and money.
This review was based on a review copy of Absolum for the PC provided by Dotemu.
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