Absolver is an online melee action fighter developed by Sloclap and published by Devolver Digital.
The Game[]
Absolver puts players behind the mask of a Prospect, who has taken a sacred vow and chosen to join the Absolvers, an elite corps of combatants fighting to maintain stability in the world.
Monitored by the Guides, the new rulers of the fallen Adal Empire, players will wander these forsaken lands and encounter other Prospects online in order to learn their place in this world and eventually become Absolvers.
Along the way, they will learn new combat styles and attacks, and acquire better weapons, powers and armor. Battles between warriors are an intense real-time flow of attacks, dodges, feints and counters, with all aspects of gameplay customizable, including combat styles, weapons and even individual attack sequences in the player's Combat Deck.
Build a team of warriors to fight side by side with you in the dungeon mines of Adal (PvE) or put your skill on display in dedicated combat arenas (PvP) scattered across the land.
Backstory[]
The digital art-book that came with the digital deluxe edition of the game presents the following backstory:
In the earliest days of humanity, as men started organizing into tribes, transmitting culture and knowledge through generations, they discovered the exceptional medicinal properties of a transcluscent rock found underground: the Essence.
Some tribes eventually discovered that the Essence also reacted to primordial incantations. Using the right tones and rythms, it could take extraordinary properties: emit light or energy, become lighter than air, harder than diamond, and more... It soon became the most valuable resource to men.
A nomadic tribe called the Adal, who had become experts in Essence incantations, settled on a source of Essence, which they started exploiting, in a vast mine reaching down the bowels of the earth.
The Adalian tribe grew in power, mining essence, trading with other powers, and as centuries passed, it ended up conquering most of the nearby countries: the Empire of Adal was born.
The Empire of Adal became the economic and cultural center of the known world, and above the fortified walls of the city of Raslan, built the Tower of Adal, jewel of the Empire. In the higher levels of the Tower was the Imperial Library, hosting the secret incantations known only to Adalian channelists.
One spring morning, a rumble was heard from the depth of the mine, and the earth split open, engulfing entire neighbourhoods. Thousands died crushed by the falling buildings, but many more died poisoned by sulfic fumes released in the air - amongst them, the Emperor and his family.
The Empire didn't survive the cataclysms of the Downfall, and the few who survived fled to the provinces near the heart of Adal, which regained their autonomy. It was time for a new order to emerge...
Amongst the survivors were members of a mystical sect, calling themselves The Guides. Their influence grew fast: traumatized by the Downfall, the populations grew to believe their prophecies of doom, and decided to follow the law of Anlek.
The Guides eventually decided to wield hard power, and using Folding magic, created a ritual enchanting masks, allowing them to revive and control their elite corps of combatants: the Absolvers.
In the mountains north of Adal, the Guides built a sanctuary, Towerpoint, in which their central Authority is located, and where they receive Prospects: volunteers who have chosen to wear the Mask, and to join the Absolvers.
Features[]
Fluid Real-Time Combat[]
Position yourself in one of four tactical stances during real-time battles and execute devastating attacks, dodges, and parries. Movement becomes your weapon as you engage in solo duels or intense three-on-three melees battles.
Customizable Style and Flow[]
Players will define their character's playstyle by picking a combat style, a weapon of choice, and arranging attacks in their Combat Deck to design their unique and personal attack flow.
Multiplayer Action + Narrative[]
Prospects and Absolvers will seamlessly encounter others in the world, generating unique stories that emerge through player interaction and choices. These moments are filled with tension as intentions to battle, trade, or befriend are never clear: trust is always a leap of faith.
Encounters will have lasting consequences and transform into meaningful relationships as you make friends or enemies and find mentors or disciples.
PvP and PvE[]
Explore a rich and dynamic world including dedicated PvP battle arenas where champions will receive spoils of victory and progress in the ranks of the Absolvers, and PvE dungeons in which players cooperatively battle to retrieve rare loot and equipment from the depth of the Adal mines.