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If there’s one thing I’ve loved about the last decade of gaming, it is how bold developers have become. Previously, many would stick to one specific genre without changing the formula that much. At the time, it worked. We were all used to the familiarity of a particular type of game, and we usually stuck with it regardless of how similar it felt. Yet, the gaming landscape has changed, making way for wilder combinations that pay off most of the time. The latest one to bring one of these mixes is Dotemu with Absolum, which bridges beat ’em up and roguelike elements flawlessly.
Beating the Cycle
Recently, I had the opportunity to play a short demo of Absolum. It included three playable characters, one I had to unlock during my runs, and the game’s first area with a few boss fights and many branching paths. I was blown away by every single aspect of it.
For starters, the combat. We all know that Dotemu has been at the top of the beat ’em up genre for years. Games like Shredder’s Revenge have become staples and a standard many other developers need to beat. In that regard, Absolum is yet another proof of the high-quality products these developers can create.
Fighting is snappy, with each of the three characters I tried having impactful and different moves. Galandra, for instance, has a colossal sword she uses to deliver powerful hits and even parry enemy blows. Cider is the nimblest character, with the ability to chain many air attacks and even deploy traps across the battlefield.
Moving around this side-scroller feels great, too. There are many ways to traverse, including jumping around, dashing, and even mounting a velociraptor combined with a dragon. And yes, you can use it to fight as well.
In terms of enemy variety, there was plenty in the demo. I faced a few goblins that ranged from simple soldiers to grenadiers. A few annoying human pikemen and other foes come from the big baddie’s faction and are pretty challenging to beat. And, of course, a couple of bosses with interesting mechanics. For instance, one human boss had an almost impenetrable shield during the first phase, which encouraged you to find a way to break it to land a few punches. Even if it was a small taste, the combat in Absolum is superb, and one of the most strategic and challenging that Dotemu has done.
A Gameplay Loop that Packs a Punch
My biggest surprise was how well Absolum blends roguelike elements into a beat ’em-up game. Initially, you start with nothing but your main weapon, one ability that you can perform after filling your mana bar, and that’s it. However, as the run progresses, you can unlock passive upgrades that enhance your character’s dash ability or other skills, and even a few enhancements that unlock new combos or completely change how a skill works. It was perfect because it never felt overwhelming. Absolum still puts the beat ’em-up aspect front and center, but makes the roguelike part feel impactful without being the sole focus.
However, as in any other roguelike, you’ll also die here—a lot. To stall your demise, you can unlock a few more permanent upgrades or skills once you return to the hub. If you level up, you get currency that you can use to get new starting skills that change how your character’s playstyle works. Take Galandra, for example. Her starting skill is an uppercut of sorts, but you can swap it for a shockwave that attacks enemies in front of you or even a skill that performs a spinning attack in the air.
Furthermore, the roguelike aspect happens outside of fights, too. The area I got to play had several branching paths, with some of them unlocking after doing something in a specific run. For instance, one path had a blocked bridge. After following a different path, I found a way to open that bridge for my character, thus unlocking a new path. In another run, I destroyed a rock and found an entirely new path, which had even more paths within. Variety is a key aspect in Absolum, making the game feel fresh regardless of how many runs you’ve done.
Bridging Two Worlds
Ultimately, this was only a demo, but it left a strong first impression on me. The fact that Dotemu was able to blend two iconic genres into a new, rogue ’em up, as Absolum describes itself, is fantastic. Also, if this was a small taste of the full product, I can confidently say that we’re about to see one of the year’s most intriguing combinations of genres.
At the moment, there isn’t a set release date, but I really hope it arrives here soon. Absolum is one of the most addictive roguelike games I’ve played. But also one of the smoothest beat ’em-ups out there. It is the best of two worlds and a mix that works much better than I thought.
