As far as I’m concerned, Streets of Rage 4 is the best beat-em-up of the last decade. In fact, the only thing I don’t like about it is how short it is, but that’s par for the course for the genre. Absolum, made by the same devs and with very similar combat, is a fantasy rogue-lite beat-em-up that has everything I loved about the dev’s last game and more. I got to take a very satisfying early look at what it has to offer and I am very happy to report that the game seems like it’s going to be a more-than-satisfactory follow-up to a modern classic, all while bringing plenty of new things to the table.
Absolum has a pretty familiar rogue-lite structure. You pick from multiple characters (although I only initially got access to two, with a third unlockable later on) and take them through random level chunks to try and make it as far as you can on one life (at first, anyway.) The starting characters are a Dark Elf and a Dwarf and the game immediately makes no bones about not screwing around. This is a very skill-based game and, if you aren’t making good use of your abilities, you’ll find yourself back at the hub sooner rather than later.
Gameplay-wise, Absolum plays like most beat-em-ups. You move around and hit enemies until they stop moving, then you walk to the right until you reach the next area. Combat here is a lot like Streets of Rage 4, as it’s a standard beat-em-up, albeit with much tighter mechanics and very responsive controls and abilities that actually give you a fighting chance. Characters all have a default basic combo string, strong attack, and super (that you can fire off when you’ve generated enough mana.) But everyone can also dash and dodge out of the way with taps of a button or double taps of a movement direction.
The kicker is that the dash adds a little parry window. If an attack hits you during this window, you’ll deflect the attack (as long as it doesn’t flash red) and you’ll be able to follow up with punish attacks. Similarly, using a directional dodge out of the way while still remaining in range and following up with attacks will also punish. As will be of little surprise to Streets of Rage 4 fans, attacks also open up plenty of juggle possibility. You can knock enemies into the edges of the screen and combo them repeatedly, knock them into one another, and the like. It’s as satisfying here as it is there.
The level chunks are selected at random each time you start a run, but you’ll see new events play out, as well as occasional secrets to find off the beaten path. Each time you start a run, you get to choose between one of two upgrades for it, such as adding an elemental effect to your attacks. You’ll find similar upgrades repeatedly, plus beating a boss can add even more major improvements to the run, such as your strong attack having a three-hit combo instead of the default single hit. While fighting, you’ll routinely collect shards that are used to purchase permanent upgrades. Then there’s experience you’ll accrue after each run that you use to buy new special attacks for characters. There’s a lot going on.
Making a good beat-em-up rogue-lite is a fairly tall order, all things considered. Absolum seems poised to nail this with aplomb, while bringing the dev’s excellent gameplay into a rogue-lite context. Whether you’re going at it alone or playing solo, this is certainly one game to keep an eye on, unless comboing goblins into a juggle while they’re on fire somehow doesn’t sound like a good time to you.
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