Dotemu and Guard Crush Games, the studios behind 2020’s widely acclaimed beat ’em up sequel Streets of Rage 4, are teaming up again for something a little bit different: Absolum, a fantasy themed side-scrolling brawler with rogue-like elements that’s launching this year.
Absolum aims to combine “thrilling arcade beat ’em up action” with “intricate, refined combat” to create what Dotemu is describing as a “rogue ’em up”. There’s talk of quests, branching pathways, NPCs, unlockable items, permanent warrior upgrades, and combinable character skills – all in a fantasy adventure channeling the spirit of classic brawlers including Golden Axe.
Absolum’s action plays out across Talamh, a world of wonder and cosmic horrors gripped by warfare following a cataclysmic magical event. That’s where the game’s four-strong band of rebels comes in, all setting out on an epic quest to oppose the Sun King Azra and liberate Talamh after they’re imbued with powerful magic.
All four rebels are playable (either solo or co-operatively) and feature their own unique skill set and personality, with two having been revealed so far. There’s Galandra, for instance – an agile, sword-clad fighter designed to excel in close-quarters combat – while Karl is a tanklike dwarf armed with devastating punches and a rifle that can bring down opponents from afar.
“Absolum blends arcade-like melee combat with spells, counters, upgradable abilities and uniquely powerful playable fighters,” explains Dotemu, “hosting a grand, high-stakes quest across an array of hand-crafted stages.” Those stages – and Absolum’s striking visual style – have been brought to life by the artists and animators at animation studio Supamonks.
Absolum doesn’t have a release date yet, but it’s coming to PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Switch, and PC (via Steam) sometime later this year.