Abyssus, developed by DoubleMoose Games and published by The Arcade Crew, is a first-person roguelike that has co-op.This game is focused on the roguelike aspect, as with each death the player grows stronger as they progress through this underwater dungeon inspired by ancient Aztec, Incan, and Mayan civilizations.That can be said for the design of the games in some parts, but for the most part players will need to think about what upgrades they will need to get.Other than that, the lore for this game is mostly in the background, creating this foreboding presence that can only be described as ominous.This is spread throughout the environmental details of the lobby and dungeon, with the various enemies often being depicted as everything from mechanical to eldritch beings.Overall, this game is a fun co-op game that fits the definition of couch co-op but for the online genre, so gather your friends and begin the hunt for the brine.
Gameplay-wise, it is quite similar to Quake-styled FPS with a focus on movement control in order to move around the dungeon room.So, players who have played games like Doom, Quake, and any other game of the sort will have an easier time adjusting to the overall pace of combat.This game also focused on other aspects commonly associated with roguelikes, such as repeated deaths and upgrades mid-dungeon crawl with random upgrades focused on certain attributes.These attributes come in the form of various blessings such as “Spirit,” “Blood,” etc., with each one focusing on different abilities the player can use passively to make their run easier.For instance, “Barrier” provides a damage boost to either primary fire, secondary fire, or ability with a primary focus on placing a shield on the player in combat.This is beneficial in some instances, as players might be challenged to clear a section of a run without taking damage. By having the shield, players are allowed to take a hit and avoid missing out on rewards from no hit challenges, granted the shield is strong enough.
Aside from abilities, players have access to a workshop with various weapons and abilities to choose from once they unlock them.The various weapons will need to be unlocked over time as the player keeps on conquering more and more bosses alongside abilities.Aside from the workshop, players can also upgrade themselves by using soul shards. These upgrades can come in the form of unlocking weapon upgrades to be used in dungeons and rerolls for said upgrades in case players are looking for a certain one.Other than that, another important aspect of the game is the multiplayer.
Co-op is a vital and actually important part of the game, as while the game can be completed solo, the addition of a second player makes the game feel more like an arcade game.So, there are some genuinely funny moments that can occur due to luck in certain upgrades. allowing people to put 35 turrets to melt bosses with drones providing bullets to the player to make the game feel easy.However, this is kept in check by the limited recovery items the player has access to in the game. This allows for even broken builds to be kept in check so long as players keep an eye on their health pool. Just make sure to not spam too much, as some players might crash in a co-op session, which, while hilarious, can be a bit frustrating.However, there is something in the background from all the shots being fired and abilities being spammed, and that is the story.
Narratively there are bits of lore here and there as players explore the lobby and the dungeon, so to learn more about the world of Abyssus, players will need to keep on progressing.Moreover, with the lore of the game being scattered across the world, it highlights how strange the world is, with some questioning how they are still alive, with some gags thrown in for laughs.This allows players who are keener on the narrative to speculate as to what is going on in the world and what has caused all this.While this may make the story telling a little more than finding the pages of journals in the area, it does provide some insight as to what is going on in the lives of those who went ahead.
This is the perfect fast-paced roguelite game to play with friends who have never touched the genre.Moreover, this game feels like it was designed just for fun, especially with friends, as there is nothing more entertaining than playing with your friends in a challenging game that tests your skills.So, it’s important to gather your friends and play together and hunt for what gamers crave the most: loot and challenges.DoubleMoose Games, as the developer of this game, has gone far above what they previously worked on and should be proud of releasing Abyssus, as its just way too much fun.
Score: 10/10
Abyssus is available for PC via Steam.
Related: Reviews by Kyle Manila
I would describe myself when interacting with games as a strategist with a pension for stealth and loud explosions.
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