Back in June, Hardcore Gamer had the opportunity to play an early build ofAbsolum,Dotemu’s upcoming roguelite beat’em up. Now, the development team has provided a look at a more advanced portion of the experience, including dual-dagger Cider, mage Brome and an advanced area tied to Brome’s lore.
Mixing Beat’em Up and Roguelite Elements
Absolumis a beat’em up in a fantasy world where magic has been banned by a tyrant. Controlling one of four characters that represent different races and classes, players will have to fight against various enemies, but being defeated means going back to the beginning.
The idea of the game is bringing this classic genre to a modern format that implements some roguelite elements to it. There are multiple paths to explore and the evolution of our character’s abilities depends on which upgrades we decide to take on along the way.
By combining these two genres, the game aims to strike a balance that keeps it consistently compelling. The vibrant 2D art and advancing in a linear sidescroller view makes it feel like classics of yore, but the way players can choose how their build evolves and the way runs work puts it squarely on the modern indie sphere.
More Characters Join the Fray
Compared to the previouspreview, the new build provided a look at Jaroba, an advanced land to the east that is home to the Mowlai tribe. This is the homeland of the fourth playable character, Brome, a wizard that was among the options this time.
Looking like a frog, Brome uses his scepter and flies around with his powers. His magic is flashy and he can even “airsurf” using his wand as a board. Though a mage may sound like a fragile option for close range, this is far from the truth in Brome’s case, as he can even summon an energy field explosion to surround him from all sides.
Out of the four playable options, the mysterious Cider is the fastest, though. Their quick movements with a knife and legs make them the best option for players who enjoy speed over strength. Their special skill extends their hand like a rope to catch the enemy and does wonders for maneuvering and restricting enemy movement.
Along with the powerful fists of the dwarf Karl and Galandra’s longsword, the choices are a good showcase of the classic fantasy setting possibilities. There’s more to it than just weapons, though, as each character has multiple special attacks called Arcana that may fit different playstyles.
No matter which character the player uses, mastering combat revolves around a proper use of movement and the mechanics tied to it. Understanding enemy patterns gives players the chance to abuse them, quickly deflecting or dodging and punishing them with counters right after.
Though a mage may sound like a fragile option for close range, this is far from the truth in Brome’s case, as he can even summon an energy field explosion to surround him from all sides.
Even in its in-development state, getting through a tough crowd with many enhanced enemies or a tricky boss is rewarding. The basic combat movement by itself is fluid and flashy in the way only the best beat’em ups can offer. It feels like the developers understand what players really want from the genre.
Beyond Expectations
With the extended areas of Jaroba available, this new build opened up a lot of possibilities. Even previous areas showed an evolution, with new quests to do and elements that were not present before. A good example of this is a bridge at the south area of the Grandery, which was broken initially, but has been restored to its former glory, opening up a path in the mountains.
Going through this place means taking another branching path which leads to a quest for a character in the hub world. There are many other similar examples of different trails to follow that may significantly change the experience, like a dark woods area in which players may get lost if they don’t find out the trick to go to the next area.
Another special moment in the preview was joining a pirate crew after defeating the Underking. Besides interacting with the other pirates, there’s a locked treasure room there and stealing it leads to a special fight.
Finding all these details and secrets may be one of the things that can makeAbsoluma special project. Beyond all the polish in the combat, the vibrant 2D visuals and the compelling use of roguelite elements in a beat’em up, there may be a lot of fun to find exploring all the hidden corners in the full game.
