Game Zanda's Review : Absolver

[Zanda]

And here I am again, talking about a game that's in my heart. 
First of all, as I said previously, don't stick to my review alone, especially for this one, it's kinda an odd type of game !
Second... Well, I'm not known for being short in my reviews. So be prepared !
And Finally, hope you'll enjoy the read and if you're not, get to the end to see the sum up !! 

Let's get started !



I'll start with a little introduction to what is Absolver :

Absolver, it's a mix as if Dark Souls and a Versus Fighter had a baby. Not clear enough ?

Imagine being able to roam a small world, where you meet ennemies, or they meet you...But mostly with their feet both in your face.
Clearer ?

There's some boss fight, there's fighting all around, learning curve, gear, stats, but...there is also composition of what makes YOU special. Or more exactly : How you fight is special.
Aaaaand there's player versus player : If you play online, you can encounter ennemies AND players attacking them...or yourself.

You start by creating a character, defining he or she, defining how he or she looks, then... You choose a school.
No this is not Harry Potter type of school...

Windfall, wich avoid and slow down incoming attack.
Forsaken, wich block and stun the opponent.
Kahlt Method, wich absorb an incoming attack to regenerate.

There are two more school wich unlock in game.

Now I'll begin with negatives aspect of the game, compare to a Soulslike, and a Versus Figher. Those are purely subjectives !

First of all, if you intend to play Absolver in solo, FOR the solo (I specify).
No, the world is small, quite beautyfull, but small. It does not have the proportion of a Dark Souls or even worse, of an Elden Ring. Boss are not that complicated,
story is not that trenscendant, but is present wich is already not that bad and kinda mysterious.

An other point on the map, this time the one to orientate yourself. Forget about it. You won't.


(the said map)
An other dark spot on the picture :
In Absolver, you make your "deck" of fighting skills, with what you learn. Attacks you can learn by....fighting others, be it players or npcs.
BUT. There is in total, more than a hundred attacks.
Not so bad you'll say, uh ? We learn fast...Right ?

Let's add some challenge then ! 
Today, I have...86 Attacks learned, 34 currently learning. Yup...Learning.

Because to learn an attack, you'll need to either pary it, dodge it, or use the specifity of your school on it at the right timing.
And it's a long run since you go randomly against randoms deck.

PvP simplify the equation since you do not have to imperativly win, to learn, by opposite with the Npcs.
But getting your ass kicked by Rocky, Bruce Lee, or...I need a lady...Let's say Caitlinn Jenner !
On top of being really unsettling for the last one, I think we all agree to say, it's not really pleasant.

NOW, for the positive side.

The deck. Yup him again.

As I said, a lot of attacks to learn, but that means also a lot of customization and variety of playstyle.
Let me explain : 

The whole combat system wants itself to be fully customizable.
To begin with : an Attack begins in a position, and end in another.
To proceed : the combo that will compose your deck, will have a begining position, and ending position. Combo being composed of three attacks.

There is 4 guard position, so...4 combo possible.
I'll speak as a controller player (Way easier for this type of game in my taste) : Your combo will be on the X.
And the rotation of position will be either on the Y, 

wich will be a specific attack outside of your combos (so 4 more in your deck !), 
Or by manually rotating your guard by pressing a trigger, and moving the joystick in the wanted position.

But if your attacks make you change position, the combos will cycle by itself !
Same if your opponent turns around you, your guard will move by itself ! 

In other words : Really hard to get yourself spammed with the same attack over and over again, and on top of that, the fight is more beautifull than ever ! (even if you get your ass served)

The customization goes also throught your armor : 
up to you to choose if you want speed, damages, and wich defense to prioritize : Blunt or Slicing damages.

And finally, customization goes by your stats wich you gain by leveling up (Up to level 50 or 60...can't recall exactly)

With the last update of the game comes a store where you can exchange crystals (gained in game only) to either buy new fancy gear, or dye it !

A screen shot to get an idea of what I'm speaking of : 
On the left, the combos and the various attacks that compose them.
On the center below, the guard position,
On the right, the extra attacks to switch position.
Now the most important part : the Player versus Player one ! 

The Open PvP can be brutal : you meet a player, and more exactly his feet in your face after an acrobatic leap.
What do you understand ?
If you thought he wanted to mate. You lost.

BUT you'll be able to meet other players to go against one of the boss, or other players.
Being more of the family of : Loyal, Good, and the last of the family : DUMB... I never tried any of those.

Arena PvP on it side, is divided in 1V1 with a duel, and 3V3 with a point capture mode.

Positive Side : 
-Various Deck, you can make YOUR style easily.
-Customization of stats and gear possible.
-Pretty (in my opinion at least...)
-Interesting PvP in arena, and probably more interesting in group.

Negative Side :
-The acquisition of attacks wich can be long, and painfull to feel pass.
-The solo, too short and too simplist.
-The map, in both meaning, the one to locate ourselves, wich does not, and the world wich is small.

Conclusion :
I ain't no PvP player for start, but this game makes me like it.
Because, you make YOUR character with patience, and you'll learn to enjoy getting yourself kicked, and kicking people in return.
I'll say it again, if you intend to play this game for its SOLO part, and only for that, forget about it. The map too small, and if you're not a PvP enjoyer, you'll finish it in 4 hours top (I finished the main story in 6 because I kept getting lost).

If you're curious, and that PvP might interest you...wait for a promotion because there's a chance that like me, you'll enjoy it.

And if you like versus fighters, that Absolver caught your eye, and that you have patience (that's an important part believe me), take your time to seek other opinion,

and once weighted the pros and cons, I for one, recommend it heavily.
You'll probably enjoy it and that's the essential.

You can find it here on steam for 30€ or in promotion on keys website.
https://store.steampowered.com/app/473690/?snr=1_5_9__205
8 out of 10 in my book.
For those who knows, it's a game made by the same studio that made SIFU : Sloclap.

Edited December 4, 2023 by Zanda