Featured Indie Game
Abathor
By Yorch la Torch
Abathor is set to take the world by storm. Inspired by classic arcade games like Golden Axe, Rastan, and The King of Dragons, Abathor is a 2D arcade roguelite platformer for 4 players that defines itself as "a cooperative and competitive game to achieve glory or death". Developed by the Spanish studio Pow Pixel Games, Abathor is set in a fantasy world reminiscent of Conan The Barbarian, where you and your teammates need to save Atlantis while also competing with each other for loot and spoils. Releasing this July 25th, here are:
5 reasons to buy and play Abathor
1. The Gameplay
Just like the arcade action platformers of old, Abathor lets you play on single-player mode or up to 4 players simultaneously. The game lets you choose from four different characters, each with individual stats and combat styles. As clearly evidenced by its influences, Abathor also combines different gameplay mechanics. It features stages that are classic 2D side-scrollers, while also putting players on mine carts and even riding sea animals in an exhilarating chases. Think TMNT: Turtles in Time or Battletoads. The boss fights look epic and grandiose, which are more than welcome in this type of games.
2. The Setting
Abathor will make you feel like you are watching an 80s fantasy film. Sins and arrogance have unleashed fierce demons and terrible creatures upon the Atlantean civilization. The game's 4 heroes need to close the Gates of Abathor to put a stop to the formidable threat unleashed by the gods. Huge flying beasts, massive snakes, minotaurs, and ferocious demons plague the land. Abathor's literary inspirations are none other than Plato's writings and the famous Athanasius Map. The game features more than 50 stages of increasing difficulty, and challenging boss battles that will test your wits and skill.
3. The Soundtrack
Abathor's creator, David Garay, wanted to collaborate with a Japanese legend of the 16-bit era. Well, he certainly got more than he originally envisioned. Soyo Oka, composer of the original Mario Kart, plays a crucial role in elevating Abathor's soundtrack to epic levels. The game also features music by Gryzor98 who composed Abathor's main theme, along collaborations with Daniel Teles and Gatex. The game's soundtrack is truly an anthology of amazing music, and a testament that indie games are fertile ground for artistic synergy.
4. Co-op
Abathor differs to beat 'em ups like The Simpsons Arcade because it not only encourages players to beat a stage, but to also compete with one another for loot and favors from the gods. In an age where we seldom see 4 player 2D action platformers, Abathor slashes the trend by giving us a memorable experience that can be perfectly enjoyed in single-player mode, but truly shines in co-op.
5. Physical release
If Abathor being a homage to classic arcade platformers is still not good enough reason for you to buy and play it, the following proposition will certainly grab your attention: there's a physical version including an illustrated manual just like NES, SNES and Genesis/Mega Drive titles used to have. Done in collaboration with Tesura games, Abathor's physical version is a complete celebration of arcade gaming.
Abathor releases for Steam, Switch, Xbox and PlayStation on July 25th. I highly recommend you giving it a try.