After spending night after night rushing into AbsoluteI remain hopelessly fascinated by it. An energetic fantasy that wears comic mantle is a fantastic example of how to make combo-oriented fisticuffs both enjoyable and great. He's a fine brawler, and he'll have to make good use of his hands given the number of killer releases vying for every scrap of attention this month.
Dotema brought the same heat as forging. Streets of Rage 4 back in 2020, this time through an open sandbox combat system. It's not just your typical mix of basic punches and kicks; instead, your core move list acts as a base on which new abilities can be added. With four characters, each representing a different archetype, Absolum is a treat for those who enjoy a bit of side-scrolling action.
And, like all good feasts, there is a mixture – especially edible – of classics and new variations. Those in their 40s who have fond memories of breaking open boxes containing street chickens will be happy here; their back pain will disappear when the occasional pear or loaf of bread bursts out of Absolum's food stalls and barrels in just the right way. And they will notice gaps in the environment, inside which secret chests and bonuses can be found. The spirit of Hayao Nakayama holding the Sega Megadrive will lift them up as they throw ten goblins into the same hole in the floor and cackle maniacally.
In terms of new ideas, a good portion of them involve a mix of roguelite progression mechanics that mix up your journey through the world and the challenges you'll face within it. Your first run through Absolum will be a straight line from home to the first major boss. Maybe you'll go through the forest and chase off some goblins, or maybe you'll head north along the coast and kick some crabs. Standard things.
But along the way, you will notice that the bridge is destroyed or there is a locked gate that you cannot access. Or you notice fog seeping from the chasm and wonder if you will be able to overcome it after all. In my experience with Absolum, this is almost always the case. Completing the game offers rewards not only for mastery of combat, but also for mastering the world itself.
It's on these journeys that you unlock more upgrades, more shortcuts, and more resources, which in turn can be exchanged for new arcane arts. At first glance, these arts may seem like simple expressions of the player's preferences in combat, but they are actually important keys that unlock exciting new combo routes.
Speaking of which, Absolum has a fantastic mechanic that acts as a sort of cash payout for players who manage to maintain a combo long enough. Pressing a single button won't get you very far, but by combining all the attacks at your disposal – say, jumping into the air to catch jumping enemies before they fly out of your range – you'll get a cracking punch that will deal a lot of damage and end your combo. It's exciting – not only does it reward you for figuring out what your character can do, but it also gives you the energy to experiment and find new ways to beat people up. If that's not what a new beat-'em-up should be about, then I don't know what the genre actually is.
So, despite all this praise, I'm a little worried that Absolum will fly under the radar this month. Its release date falls right in between much larger releases, and those who love prestige indie projects are likely still tackling recent hits like Hades 2 And Hollow Knight: Silk Song. I would be extremely depressed if Absolum were to be swallowed up by this chaos – it looks like a forgotten favorite. So: don't lose sight of this.
