Available on PC (Windows, macOS); Consoles (Steam Deck, Switch 1/2, PS4/PS5, Xbox Series X/S)
Where does one even begin with Absolum?
It’s a delicious combination of a beat ‘em up sidescroller with a dash of roguelite flavors. You can play this on single-player or in co-op. So far, I’ve had no issues with either. No glitches or bugs. Maybe the occasional lag, but not enough to ruin a run.
The story centers on the rebels who are opposed to Sun King Azra, a tyrannical ruler who exploited people’s fears of magic after a cataclysm brought on by unchecked wizards. A battle against the Crimson Order, wizards that Sun King Azra has enslaved, begins.
At the start, you either play as Galandra or Karl. Both have their own unique set of skills and playstyles. However, it has to be noted that this is for when you play single-player. I’m unsure how it would be with multiple players, or if you can start the game with multiple players. Regardless! You’ll be able to recruit two other characters on your journey. And if more than one person wants to play the same character, well, you can. So if, in a co-op, you want to form a group of all Karls and smash your way through, you’re free to do so.
The 2D animation is my favorite part. It feels very much like I’m playing through moving comic pages! The scenic environments, the music, the enemy designs? The artistry in this popped off! You can feel the whirlpool of ideas and creative passion that drove the devs with each area you traverse.
Absolum encourages you to try and try again. There are branching stories, locked areas, and side plots that help immerse you without making you feel like this is too much of a grind.
It does take some time getting used to, though. But what game doesn’t? There’s just a bit of an adjustment when trying to figure out placement on the field because you mainly move up, down, left, or right; it’s kind of a struggle to move diagonally during combat. But once you’re used to that, and you study the enemies and their attack patterns, things definitely become more manageable.
I suggest taking it slow at first. This isn’t a button-smashing type of game. The animations take a while to kick in. It can get a little annoying when you click to dodge in some instances, but it barely registers because you’re in the middle of an animation. I know, I know. The temptation to just repeatedly go at an enemy is strong, but if you get hit with a big attack, that could just be it for that run… Unless, of course, you find a way to heal yourself.
There’s food you can pick up, and rest points you can use. And if you’re playing co-op and a friend goes down, you can take some time and bring them back up! I really enjoy that as an option. Obviously, the enemies don’t care that you’re trying to save someone, so you’re going to have to time that rescue or risk the same fate.
Aside from being able to eat food to heal, there are other drops that you can pick up. Gems to upgrade things back at the base. Coins to upgrade things on your journey, or even hire some people at rest areas to help you in your fight. And throwable items to use during combat! You can even make your build revolve around those throwable objects. Just pray that the RNG gods give you a lot of stuff to throw.
Last but not least… mounts. MOUNTS. You can get mounts at random points in random areas! Sometimes the enemies will be riding atop them, and you can snag them. Different mounts have different abilities, and unfortunately, the mounts aren’t permanent (I know), so don’t get attached to the lil guys. I would love for mounts to be available right from the start. Being able to “adopt” one would be such a nice detail. It also just makes sense, of course, our heroes need mounts! It’s a long journey!
Another thing I’d really love is for more characters to be available. Don’t get me wrong, I love the current four we have! But it’s because I love them that I want to see what other characters the devs can cook up. More team comps and skill combos to play around with would up the replayability so much. I honestly wouldn’t mind paying for a DLC if that’s what it came down to. And if they decided to add more storylines on top of that, great! An NG+? Even better.
For now, I’ll wait for the February update that adds more challenges and upgrades existing elements.
Absolum is absolutely fun, worth its price, and maybe more, so go and grab your own copy and save the world of Talamh!
