Absolum Review (PS5)

Roguelike games are everywhere these days, to the point where you're actually surprised when the latest indie release isn't peddling death as a progression mechanic.

It's a dreadfully crowded genre, but if there's any roguelike that deserves your attention this year, it's Absolum.

Fusing the core gameplay of a side-scrolling beat-'em-up with the structure of a roguelike, Absolum's had us addicted to its punchy formula for weeks now. Its 30-ish minute runs feel perfectly paced, and there's always some kind of hook to keep you plugging away.

Set in the fantasy world of Talamh, we'll admit that the storytelling and self-indulgent lore has never quite grabbed us. The bottom line is that there's an evil empire that needs to fall, and your band of outcasts are up to the task.

Directed by an immortal demigod who'll bring you back to the world of the living should you be bested in combat, you'll smack and slash your way through a set of locales that each offer up something a little different on every run.

There are alternate paths to take and secret routes to uncover, adding a degree of player choice. It reminds us of the stunning Dragon's Crown in that sense, letting you push towards different bosses or potential rewards depending on the current state of your run.

Said rewards are, naturally, what'll maintain your run's momentum. Clearing an area usually nets you a prize in the form of a new ability, or currency that can be spent on accessories that grant passive perks.

The abilities — known as 'Rituals' here — are elementally coded. Fire, water, wind, earth — you know the drill. They can enhance your character's existing moves in numerous interesting ways, and yes, the general idea is to try and stack as many advantageous abilities as you can.

It goes without saying that, with a bit of luck, you can put together some seriously strong combinations — and there are a lot of options to discover. Obviously it'll take you a good few runs to really wrap your head around which skills and abilities best suit your style of play, but once the system clicks, the whole process becomes fiendishly addictive.

But of course, in true roguelike fashion, you do end up losing your collected powers upon defeat. Thankfully, though, there are universal upgrades to unlock with crystals — a persistent currency — and you're also able to permanently enhance Ritual effects between runs.

At first, these upgrades may not seem all that exciting — especially when you compare them to the crazy combos you had going on your last outing — but get a few hours in, and they really start to sing.

That's because Absolum isn't just about stockpiling roguelike elements. Again, the gameplay is built on the foundation of an old school beat-'em-up — and it's a damn good foundation at that.

Combat is slick and impactful, a frenetic mix of easy combo attacks, heavier specials, and fairly fast movement. Mechanically, it takes a lot of cues from fighting games, with timed blocks and subsequent punishes opening up your sometimes stubborn opponents.

Defensively, Absolum can come across as slightly awkward — at least initially. Rather than having a dedicated block, you need to dodge into an enemy's attack in order to 'deflect' it. The deflection window isn't overly tight, but training your brain to rush towards oncoming blows, instead of away from them, can take a surprising amount of patience.

However, much like the title's roguelike leanings, it's all so satisfying once you've found your rhythm — and being able to pick between four playable characters brings some nice depth to the experience.

It's not as though our unlikely heroes all boast the mechanical nuance of proper fighting game characters, but their combo routes and specials are just enough to make each lead stand out, and they're all great fun to actually play as.

But standing out in a literal sense can be one of Absolum's only struggles. A problem that 2D beat-'em-ups have grappled with for decades, the sheer amount of carnage unfolding on-screen at any one time can be disastrous, as your character's obscured by countless foes and visual effects.

This lack of visual clarity is a relative rarity, though. Overall, the game's combat encounters, and the enemies that inhabit them, feel tightly designed and thoughtfully balanced. Well, outside of a few foes that are a genuine pain in the arse to deal with — but that's all part of the difficulty curve.

We don't think this is an especially tough title, but sometimes, your runs just won't take shape. That's roguelikes for you, but frustration can seep in when you've just spent the last 20 minutes trying to make the best of a crappy session, pushing your combat skills to the limit, only to get stonewalled because of randomised aspects that are out of your control.

The spectacle of Absolum's boss battles should encourage you to keep coming back, however. These climactic clashes amplify the game's strengths, resulting in memorable fights that challenge both your moment-to-moment reactions and the abilities that you've picked up on your travels.

It'll probably take most players anywhere between 8 and 12 hours to see the main campaign through, but there is an endgame to chew on should your lust for action still burn.

Unfortunately, said endgame doesn't quite live up to the rest of the package and its unwavering quality. Don't get us wrong, there are extra bits and pieces to uncover on additional runs — and some of the game's most unhinged Rituals are locked behind your first successful playthrough — but there's a noticeable lack of progression.

There are no new upgrades to unlock or meaningful modifiers to play around with — it's just a touch anticlimactic, and it feels like there's room for something more.

You can, at least, ramp up the difficulty level and see how far you get. Absolum comes with a small suite of 'Assist' settings, letting you tweak damage values to your liking. Indeed, you can make the game infinitely easier if you want; an option that may be appreciated if you're playing co-op with a less experienced partner.

Speaking of, you can tackle the whole adventure with another player, either locally or online — although when you're online, it should be noted that the aforementioned Assist options are locked.

Bringing a friend along increases enemy health pools, and so lengthy two-player combos are encouraged. As such, co-op gives the game a surprisingly fresh team-based dynamic, and honestly, it might be the best way to enjoy Absolum.

What truly ties the release together is its art direction. It's a very stylised look that may not be to everyone's tastes, but it's superb in motion. Crisp animations sell every swing, the environmental detail is always eye-catching, and the character designs are immaculate.

And then there's the soundtrack. We knew something was cooking when one of the game's earlier bosses was accompanied by a frankly insane sounding metal track — which turns out to have been composed by DOOM's Mick Gordon.

FromSoftware veteran Yuka Kitamura lends her unmistakable talent to the title as well, and even the legendary Motoi Sakuraba is in on the act. It's a bit of an all-star ensemble.

But even beyond those guest compositions, Absolum's music is full of intrigue and wonder. The game's a real treat for the ears as well as the eyes.