Me oh my, it's a good season for beat 'em ups. Arc System Works' Double Dragon: Revive is just around the corner, and Dotemu's Absolum recently landed on all platforms but the beleaguered Xbox. Not only is Absolum garnering piles of critical praise, it has also sold over 200,000 copies in its first week of release. That's an impressive debut for Dotemu's first game that isn't a remake or a sequel to an existing franchise. It certainly helps that the game is a gorgeous 2D beat 'em up with 2-player local and online co-op.
Official description:
With branching pathways to explore, quests to discover, intriguing characters to encounter, and a deep variety of challenging bosses in store, Absolum’s gripping fantasy tale unravels a compelling adventure channeling the spirit of classic brawlers like Golden Axe and Dungeons & Dragons: Chronicles of Mystara. Unlock items, quests, and permanent warrior upgrades while exploring Absolum’s world through runs steeped in variety, excitement and challenge in a design that maximizes approachability and replayability.
Absolum introduces an engrossing universe and cast co-created with the masterful talent of animation studio Supamonks (Rabbids Invasion: Mission to Mars). Absolum blends arcade-like melee combat with spells, counters, upgradable abilities and uniquely powerful playable fighters, hosting a grand, high-stakes quest across an array of hand-crafted stages.
It's easy to see why beat 'em up fans are enjoying the game. What's more, Dotemu has confirmed that Absolum will receive cross-play in a future update, making for an even better co-op experience.
Absolum costs $24.99 on PlayStation, Switch, and Steam. We'll share co-op impressions and screenshots soon!