I first played Absolum at Tribeca Games earlier this year and left extremely positive. The demo featured a satisfying intro to the gameplay and captivating world-building. Though the demo was extremely engaging, I reserved final judgment of the complete package until I was able to play the complete game. Now that I have, I can excitingly boast that Absolum is a fantastic genre-bending adventure with an intriguing story, fantastic gameplay, and top-notch music.

In the world of Absolum, players find out immediately that a cataclysmic magical event occurred where the world turned itself against magic and those with the ability to wield it. Seizing this vulnerable opportunity, Azra, the Sun King, has outlawed all magic and begun the enslavement of any magic users. To counter this, a resistance led by Mother Uchawi, hopes to stop Azra and bring peace and magic back into the world. This premise quickly captured my attention and hooked me instantly into what exactly was transpiring within this fantasy world. Even after beating the game the first time, I quickly jumped back in to see what exactly is transpiring within the world and that the ending of one run isn’t necessarily the ending of the game…

Even moreso, the world feels very fleshed out and fully realized, leaving plenty of intrigue, while also gradually providing context for the various interactions players engage with throughout the game. There is a past, present, and future to this story and uncovering all the lore bits and connective tissues was a real treat to find and discover throughout the various runs of the game.

Absolum’s gameplay is an interestingly new blend of a roguelite with beat-em-up mechanics. You begin each run as one of two characters to start, though you unlock two more as you progress through the game, where each encompasses a certain playstyle. Galandra, for example, is a quick-paced character that primarily focuses on punches and fists, but on heavier moves, busts out her giant sword to slash through enemies. Karl, a more stout and burly fighter, focuses on his fists for most attacks and garnishes his gun for more powerful and distanced attacks. All the playable characters also start off with one Arcana attack, essentially a powerful skill that needs time to charge before using. As you progress, you’re able to unlock more of these abilities and tailor your character build to your own specific playstyle.

Though I’m not typically a beat-em-up kinda guy when it comes to my gameplay, I thoroughly enjoyed the quick-paced action within each fight. Since each fight was so quick-paced, I never felt like I was just bashing buttons incessantly, but rather doing my best to be mindful and diligent with my timings for the best outcome. Even more lengthy fights with bosses aren’t more than a few minutes, so if you have a tough time with one during your run, you’re not overly frustrated by a massive time sink just to start over again.

As the run continues, the world of Absolum begins to expand and grow much more than I originally anticipated. Players can find secret entrances and exits in numerous areas, hidden chests, and surprising side quests throughout this adventure. I was surprised at how expansive not only the world’s lore was, but also how many secrets there were to find. The multitude of characters you find within the game to engage with out of combat further fleshes out the world and shines a light to all the pockets and people of this world.

Not only does the world expand, but the customization for my character also expands. After each fight, players are either given some currency that can be used to upgrade your character, coins to purchase items, or boons to adjust your character’s abilities for this run. Increasing damage output, expanding your health points, or adding secondary effects to attacks and more were options that I saw throughout my 20+ hour experience. Since these extra bonuses were so prevalent and available throughout each run, I was able to quickly customize my character and expand on a certain build. Maybe my first boon was to provide extra damage to aerial attacks, then, for the rest of the run, I focused primarily on piling on all the enemies with aerial attacks to keep that momentum going. Would I ever use an aerial attack if I didn’t get that boon? Sure, but now that there’s a bonus, then there was no reason not to be that guy plopping on all the enemies.

With all this, I really love how Absolum uses the death of a character as part of the lore of the game. After each death, Mother Uchawi brings you back so you can continue your fight against the evil Sun King. This conceit gave great connective tissues between the gameplay and the game’s story, something I always find extremely appealing and forward thinking.

Additionally, Absolum has gradual and persistent upgrades throughout the game. Some can feature increased health, additional damage, and more, where you can pick and choose the ones that will best help your overall gameplay style. These upgrades will work with whichever character you choose to use, so this way you aren’t pigeon-holed into sticking with one character for all your runs.

Let’s take a moment to highlight the incredible score from Absolum. With all my time with the game, I constantly had the music bumping to pump me up through all the fights and adventures. The epic moments become even more epochal with the ambiance and intensity of the rock-choral music. Pair this with the fantastic voice acting throughout the game and you have an audio feast for the ages.

It is also worth noting that the game emphasizes co-op as a feature of the game. Though I wasn’t able to play locally with another person, during the review process, I was able to play several runs with another online player via random matchup. The matching was quick and the connection was stable the entire time. We were both able to participate in the schimages, fight over loot, and upgrade our characters seamlessly. The only form of conversation were through emoticons, but it was enough to quickly decide which routes to take and provide some positive vibes throughout our time together.

Now, I know roguelites can be punishing for many players to wrap their heads around and they may be inclined to jump ship. Happily, Absolum features various customizations for players, primarily increasing/decreasing the amount of damage your character takes and receives. This can ramp up the difficulty for hardcore players, but more importantly, it can allow players who are having a challenging time progressing the opportunity to complete certain bosses or the game itself in a more enjoyable fashion. These assist options can be adjusted on the fly, further customizing the experience for any player.

Breakdown

Game: Absolum

Developer: Dotemu, Guard Crush Games, Supamonks

Publisher: Dotemu, Gamirror Games

Availability: PC, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4/5

Game Length: 15-25 hours

Reviewed on PC via Steam Deck

Final Thoughts

Absolum captures your attention and holds it throughout your entire adventure. With an alluring world, solid action, and captivating gameplay loop, I was thoroughly engaged from start to finish. Though the beat-em-up gameplay wasn’t an immediate hook for me, all the elements came together to offer a satisfying and enjoyable experience. If you’re looking for a roguelite with its own flair and spin to the genre, then Absolum is absolutely worth checking out!