| Absolum | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Release Date | Gameplay & Story | DLC & Pre-Order | Review |
Absolum is a beat ‘em up and roguelite game that follows a band of outcasts on a quest to overthrow the tyrannical Sun King Azra. Read on to learn how it plays, what it's about, and everything else we know so far.
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Absolum Gameplay
A Unique Rogue ‘Em Up
Absolum is described as a "rogue ‘em up", a balanced combination of beat ‘em up combat and roguelite mechanics. Players will make their way through the many biomes of Talamh, facing down all manner of dangerous beings and factions, including the forces of the tyrannical Sun King Azra, the Crimson Order. For every level they clear, they will have access to a randomly-generated buff, move upgrade, or item that they can collect to aid them on their run. If players are defeated, they will be revived by the enchantress Uchawi and start over. However, due to the game’s meta-progression system, players will also have access to permanent buffs.
4 Playable Characters
Players can take their pick among the game’s four main characters: Galandra, Karl, Cider, and Brome. Each unit will have their own special skills and abilities depending on an individual player’s preferred playstyle. Galandra specializes in mid-range combat with quick combos and powerful finishers using her sword and necromantic powers; Karl is a pugilist who excels in dealing heavy blows, but his blunderbuss also allows him to deal damage from a short distance; Cider gives enemies no quarter with her quick, agile, yet deadly strikes; and Brome uses his staff to strike enemies and unleash powerful spells.
Companions and Mounts
Though players will only be able to control one of the four characters in battle, they will also come across helpful NPCs who wish to join the cause. These NPCs will assist players in battle using their limited set of support abilities.
In addition to random NPCs, players can also obtain mounts that they can ride into battle. These mounts will add additional mobility on top of abilities they can use to gain an advantage in battle. There are four mounts in the game so far: the Dracoraptor, Boar, Sproutling, and Floating Skull.
Absolum Story Plot
Absolum is set in the kingdom of Talamh after it has been left devastated by a catastrophe caused by magic. Soon after the disaster concluded, the Sun King Azra rose to power, heralding an era of resistance against magic and discrimination against all its wielders. Years pass and all wizards are now either enslaved or living in the shadows, save for four intrepid fighters.
Under the guidance of the benevolent enchantress Uchawi, Galandra, Karl, Cider, and Brome set out to overthrow the Sun King Azra. The journey becomes a race against time as the group treks toward the Apex of Aeris, the highest point of the continent, to reinstall the core. Along the way, they must confront the "Echoes," ghostly manifestations of the ancient civilization’s sins, and decide whether the current world is worth saving or if the cycle of destruction is a necessary evolution
Absolum Setting
The world of Absolum is a vibrant, hand-drawn realm where high fantasy meets a crumbling, ancient industrial aesthetic. The story primarily unfolds within the sprawling Floating Continent of Aeris, a series of massive islands suspended in the sky by a mysterious energy source known as Primal Steam.
This setting is defined by its verticality and the stark contrast between its lush, overgrown forests and the jagged, metallic ruins of the Old Engine, a subterranean labyrinth that supposedly keeps the islands afloat. The atmosphere is one of "beautiful decay," where the remnants of a highly advanced mechanical civilization are being reclaimed by nature and magical flora.
Absolum Characters
Galandra
Galandra is a high-risk, high-reward elven swordswoman who wields a massive broadsword with precise, heavy strikes. Her most defining feature is her necrotic arm—a curse that grants her dark, destructive powers at the cost of her own life force.
In gameplay, she excels at parrying and deflecting enemy attacks to open them up for devastating counters. Her design is based on a triangle, emphasizing her sharp, aggressive nature and elven heritage.
Brome
Brome is a scholarly, humanoid frog (known as a Mowlaï) and a wizard prodigy. Driven by a desire to protect the future of his people, he uses a magical staff that doubles as a hoverboard, allowing him to glide across the battlefield rather than walking.
His combat style is built around "wall-bang" combos, using spells and area-of-effect bursts to launch enemies horizontally into walls for massive damage. Visually, he is designed with circular shapes, reflecting his thoughtful personality and his deep connection to his family and community.
Karl
Karl is a stout dwarven fighter who subverts the typical axe-and-shield trope by using a prototype blunderbuss and his bare fists. He is the most beginner-friendly character due to his high health and straightforward rushdown style, which features powerful headbutts and heavy slams that can easily block incoming damage.
While he excels at close quarters, his Arcana skills allow him to fire multiple projectiles, such as rifle bullets or infused shells, providing excellent crowd control and range when needed.
Cider
Cider is a mysterious, sentient clockwork rogue equipped with mechanical prosthetics and two daggers. Designed as the game's combo pixie,
she is the fastest character in the roster and specializes in air juggling and high-speed mobility.
She uses a grappling hook as a starter move to close gaps or reposition mid-air. While she has the highest attack speed, she is also the most fragile; players must master her glitch
teleports and quick dashes to avoid being squashed during high-level encounters.
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