Absolum is Streets of Rage meets Hades, and it’s brilliant
Its been just over five years since the release of the brilliant Streets of Rage 4, and nearly four years since the release of its meaty piece of DLC, which added a nifty survival mode with roguelike elements. I mention those because the minds behind what is perhaps the best entry in the Streets of Rage series are releasing a new game soon. Called Absolum, it very much builds on the roguelike elements in Streets of Rage 4’s survival mode, creating an experience that feels wonderfully unique.
Absolum is perhaps best described as Streets of Rage meets Hades. It welcomes players to a fantasy world where a fearsome foe known as Sun King Azra has seized pretty much all magic, and you want to reclaim it. I’ve been hands-on with a demo for Absolom, giving me access to a selection of its four playable characters, each with their very own skills and style that make them stand out. Though whichever you choose, you’re likely to fall in love with the game’s gorgeous, inky comic book art style, which brings its world and characters to life.
Start a run, and side-scrolling beat ’em up fans will soon find themselves in familiar territory. Generally moving from left to right, you go from one scene to the next, pounding any enemies that stand in your path. One button can be pressed repeatedly to perform a combo attack, and each character also has access to a unique skill, which comes in very handy in certain circumstances. Spicing things up here is a nifty dash ability which can also be used to block enemy attacks if used correctly, and arcane abilities which can also be used once a gauge has been filled.
Being a roguelike, perks and other upgrades are gained during a run, enhancing your chances of success and perhaps also changing how you play. Maybe you’ll get an upgrade that results in you leaving a patch of fire when dashing, for example, or perhaps another which unleashes wind projectiles on your enemies after making use of an arcane ability. In any case, you have plenty of options at your disposal, and each run promises something new thanks to the many variables on offer.
Death is inevitable, though, at least when you first start playing, and as ever, it’s a process that finds you being returned to a hub where you can spend numerous currencies that you’ve earned on permanent upgrades. Crystals can be used to unlock typical boosts to your abilities, such as additional health and increased critical hit chance, while thread-like items can be used to purchase new arcane abilities and more. And so, over time, you’ll find your efforts to defeat the nefarious Sun King Azra getting a little more manageable.
There’s good news for those who generally find roguelikes a little too challenging as well: assist options are available, allowing players to tweak variables such as enemy damage and health. They can’t be used when playing via online co-op, but can be used when playing alone or with another player locally. In any case, after spending a short while with the demo for Absolum, it’s clear that it’s shaping up to be something special. Whether you’re a fan of side-scrolling beat ’em ups or roguelikes, be sure to keep this on your radar.
Absolum launches on PS4, PS5, Switch and PC sometime this year. Check out the demo yourself via Steam Next Fest.
