Guard Crush Games, the developers behind the acclaimed Streets of Rage 4, are teaming up once again with publisher Dotemu to bring us a new beat-'em-up titled Absolum. This marks Dotemu's first venture into an original IP, featuring stunning hand-drawn animations crafted by Supamonks and an immersive soundtrack by renowned composer Gareth Coker. Given the talent involved, and my hour-long hands-on experience with the game, it's clear that Absolum is poised to make a significant impact in the gaming world.

Absolum is a roguelite side-scrolling beat-'em-up action-RPG designed for deep replayability. It offers branching paths, quests, a variety of characters, and challenging bosses that keep players engaged. During my playthrough, I explored the game's beautifully crafted fantasy world, experimenting with different player classes such as the robust dwarf-like Karl and the agile, sword-wielding ranger Galandra. The gameplay involves battling evil creatures, breaking through environments to find health-replenishing items like carrots, exploring buildings for treasure chests, and facing off against bosses with formidable health bars. The cycle of dying and restarting adds to the roguelite charm, and though I didn't get to experience it firsthand, the game also supports two-player same-screen co-op.

For those of us who grew up with classics like Golden Axe on the Sega Genesis and arcade beat-'em-ups, Absolum evokes a comforting sense of nostalgia with its Saturday morning cartoon-style art and animation. The combat system, while not overly complex, offers a satisfying mix of attacks that can be tailored to different enemies. The integration of roguelite elements adds a modern twist, enhancing replayability and keeping the game fresh with each run.

As you progress through Absolum, you'll encounter both hidden and obvious power-ups. Some are equippable weapons or spells activated by triggers and face buttons, while others are passive items stored in your inventory. These items randomize with each run, introducing a risk-reward system that can significantly alter your strategy. For example, in one run, I equipped two orbs that boosted my damage by 20% each but at the cost of 20% of my health, resulting in a tiny health bar but rapid enemy dispatch. Fortunately, you can always drop undesirable items from your inventory if the trade-offs become too steep.

Absolum - First Screenshots

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As a roguelite, Absolum features a shop in the realm you return to after death, where you can spend in-game currency to purchase items or power-ups for your next run. Unfortunately, this feature wasn't fully implemented in the early build I played, making my experience reliant on the luck of the draw for item quality.

Despite this, my encounter with the first major boss—a mammoth troll wielding a giant mace and summoning smaller goblins—underscored the game's challenge and potential. While I couldn't capture footage of this fight, I can share images of another formidable boss. I'm eager to try the two-player co-op mode, as it promises to enhance the gameplay by splitting the boss's attention and reviving the magic of classic beat-'em-ups.

With its captivating art style, engaging animation, classic side-scrolling beat-'em-up mechanics, and the roguelite loop, Absolum is brimming with potential. Developed by a team with a strong pedigree in this genre, the game holds a high promise of success. For fans mourning the decline of couch co-op games, Absolum is poised to reignite that joy, at least for a while. As development progresses, I eagerly anticipate playing a more refined build, and my optimism for this game remains high.