Abyssus Review – Hand-Crafted Chaos in the Deep

Abyssus Review

The more I played Abyssus, the more I ended up enjoying it. What started off as a slow experience for me became more and more enjoyable with each run. Anyways is a first-person shooter that features roguelike elements. It’s not the result of a new combination of genres. Instead, this is a title that puts its own spin on things, making it into a fun experience on its own. Though the game is a bit held back as a result of its genre and base elements, that doesn’t stop it from achieving what it sets out to do.

You play as a Brinehunter in Abyssus. You’re navigating a large brine deposit located under the ruins of an ancient civilization. Players will battle through the sunken kingdom in a fight for survival. In addition to the primary narrative, various journals can be found which bring various parts of the world to life as well. While the game’s narrative and world-building are interesting enough, they aren’t quite the driving force behind my desire to play through yet another run.

Like most roguelikes, Abyssus starts by having players select a loadout before diving in. Players can select from a variety of weapons after unlocking them, decide between mods and skills, and then head into battle. The game features 8 weapons and 45 weapon mods, allowing players to customize their weapons to suit the playstyle of their choice. The weapons feel different enough to make a difference between playstyles, and trying out the different mods was fun in itself. In addition, players are provided with a variety of power-ups as they work their way through different levels, letting them power up different parts of their arsenal. I found myself gravitating to the same ones, but really enjoyed trying different ones out when the options were more limited.

Hand-Made Goodness

The game also features 64 hand-crafted levels, which are procedurally sequenced. While it did feel a bit repetitive in the beginning, once your runs go further, it doesn’t feel like an issue anymore. The game also features up to four players in a cooperative setting, which could lead to fun moments as well. For the purposes of the review, however, only the single-player portion was experienced. I would imagine that the gameplay would feel less repetitive with more players, letting players move away from what I always did, the “running in circles around the room while clearing enemies who follow” tactic.

It has been a while since I experienced a roguelike title that felt fresh and had me coming back for more. In that sense, the gameplay and overall allure of Abyssus are definitely the key aspects of the game. While the game is fun, it still does feel a bit generic at times, and the runs still feel repetitive in that clearing the rooms often relies on the same strategies. That said, as you progress further and unlock additional weapons, those feelings slowly go away, though they do linger as you recall the objectives of each level as you enter them.

While the game’s audio and visuals do just enough to keep things engaging, the game’s atmosphere is where the title shines. At times, the game does give off some Bioshock vibes, but also puts its own spin on things enough to the point where it really is separating itself from similarly created locales. Obviously, it depends on your personal gaming history, but for me, Abyssus’ atmosphere felt unlike any other title I’ve experienced so far.

Abyssus is a solid title, and one that I expect to return to over and over until I complete it. While there are some aspects that could be improved, they won’t deter me from coming back to the post-launch content when those eventually release as well. For a surprisingly enjoyable FPS roguelike title, look no further than Abyssus this summer. I am looking forward to seeing how the game continues to grow over time, as well as hopping into some multiplayer action down the line.

*** A review code was provided by the publisher ***