Guard Crush Games, the developers behind Streets of Rage 4, have teamed up once again with publisher Dotemu for an exciting new project. This time, it's Dotemu's first original IP, titled Absolum, featuring stunning hand-drawn animations by Supamonks and an evocative soundtrack crafted by renowned composer Gareth Coker. With such a talented team on board, Absolum promises to be anything but unproven for long, especially after my immersive hour-long hands-on session.

Absolum is a roguelite side-scrolling beat-'em-up action-RPG that emphasizes deep replayability, complete with branching paths, quests, diverse characters, and formidable bosses. From my experience, it's not just a promise but a reality. This game offers a visually captivating fantasy journey where you can choose from multiple player classes, such as the sturdy, dwarf-like Karl or the agile, ranger-esque Galandra. Engage in battles against evil creatures, destroy environments in hopes of finding health-boosting items like carrots, explore buildings for treasure chests or face goblin ambushes, and tackle bosses with massive health bars. And yes, while I didn't get to try it, you can also enjoy two-player same-screen co-op.

For those who fondly remember the classic two-player beat-'em-ups of the 1980s and early '90s arcades, as well as iconic titles like Golden Axe on the Sega Genesis, Absolum strikes a nostalgic chord with its Saturday morning cartoon-style art and animation. The combat system, while straightforward with two buttons, allows for varied attacks depending on the opponent. The roguelite feature adds a modern twist, enhancing both the challenge and replayability.

As you progress through Absolum, you'll uncover both hidden and obvious power-ups. These include equippable active weapons or spells, activated by triggers and face buttons, and passive items that reside in your inventory. The randomization of these items from one run to the next introduces a compelling risk-reward system. For example, during one of my early runs, I equipped two orbs that boosted my damage by 20% each, but at the cost of 20% of my health. This left me with a perilously small health bar, yet I could swiftly defeat enemies. Fortunately, you can discard any item at any time if the trade-off becomes too risky.

Absolum - First Screenshots

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True to its roguelite nature, upon death, you return to a realm with a shop where you can spend in-game currency on items or power-ups for your next run. Although this feature wasn't fully operational in the early build I played, it adds another layer of strategy and anticipation to each new attempt.

Absolum's potential is undeniable, bolstered by its captivating art style, fluid animation, classic side-scrolling beat-'em-up gameplay, and engaging roguelite loop. The developer's experience in this genre further enhances its prospects. If you've missed the joy of couch co-op games, Absolum is poised to bring back that experience, at least temporarily. I eagerly await a more refined build as development continues, but for now, my optimism for Absolum remains high.