Abyssus feels like modern Doom meets Hades

by

Imagine if DOOM, the iconic first-person shooter, was reimagined as a cooperative roguelike game. That’s the vibe I got from my demo of DoubleMoose’s upcoming FPS, Abyssus. You’d find yourself navigating a maze filled with relentless enemies attacking from all sides, maneuvering to dodge incoming projectiles and engaging in some agile platforming. Along your journey, you’d pick up power-ups to help you progress further into the depths. If you’ve played recent DOOM games, this might seem familiar, but the addition of multiplayer and the trendy “roguelike” tag could be the game-changer that sets Abyssus apart.

In their voyage to the ocean floor, Abyssus encounters a team of deep-sea mercenaries called Brilehunters. During this exploration, they stumble upon an old civilization submerged beneath the waves. The demo offers a glimpse into two distinct areas, each teeming with numerous perilous adversaries. Among them are two formidable bosses who presented quite a challenge for me to overcome.

The plot of this game primarily unfolds through journals hidden within the depths, but I found these diaries didn’t provide enough intrigue to hook me on the mystery of Abyssus. However, the thrilling combat sequences were captivating and kept me absorbed during the demo’s duration.

In this fight, the action is constantly quick, requiring you to be on the move, leaping, dodging, and shooting foes simultaneously to avoid getting hit, as health pickups are scarce in the depths below. As you progress through advanced stages, the battles become increasingly intense due to a massive influx of enemies assaulting at once. Overcoming these levels, particularly without sustaining damage, is incredibly satisfying.

Absolutely, a roguelike game wouldn’t be complete without gatherable power-ups, and Abyssus offers several unique mechanisms in this aspect. One of these is soul fragments, which you acquire by defeating enemies and cleaning rooms. These fragments serve as the game’s currency that you carry over to the lobby after dying. In essence, they function as skill points that you can use to permanently upgrade your abilities for subsequent playthroughs.

As I delve deeper into this game, I’ve discovered that temporary power-ups can be acquired or found during my journey, but they don’t persist after I meet my demise. With each new attempt, I unlock randomized blessings that boost my weapon’s potency and infuse my attacks with diverse passive effects. For instance, one of the blessings I appreciate the most is the Barrier blessing, which causes my primary fire to create a protective shield that absorbs damage instead of depleting my health. Furthermore, charms can be found in hidden chests or obtained by vanquishing bosses, and these trinkets bestow various advantages while equipped. I particularly enjoy employing the Lifeline charm, which lessens the damage I take when my health dips below fifty percent. To put it simply, the roguelike aspects of this game remind me a lot of Hades, and I’m quite content with that experience.

In approximately four hours, I explored two levels of the demo. It managed to keep things interesting by offering various weapons and loadout options. I met my demise around four or five times, allowing me to experiment with every weapon type in the demo. Each one had a unique feel that significantly altered the gameplay style. The Brine Revolver, found hidden within a parkour challenge in the main lobby, was instrumental in helping me reach the end of the demo. To unlock all the weapon modifications available in this demo, you may need to invest a few more hours, as most of them are achieved through completing specific tasks.

In other words, although I didn’t have an opportunity to play cooperatively yet, given the intense battles, challenging boss fights, and customizable gear, it seems like teaming up with friends would significantly enhance the gaming experience. While I had a good time playing solo, I can imagine that the game could be even more enjoyable when played together.

Up until now, Abyssus seems comfortably familiar. The swift, tactical first-person battles it offers bring to mind contemporary Doom games, while its roguelike aspects mirror those found in Hades. Engaging the foes lurking within Abyssus’ depths is a tough task, but if you’re ready for it, expect an adrenaline-pumping shooting experience that can be enjoyed with a few companions.

Read More

2025-06-09 01:27