By Eric Curtis on July 15, 2014 at 9:58pm
When ATLUS helps with a game, you instantly know you're in for something new. This new thing can be good and bad or just one of the two. "Abyss Odyssey" definitely hits that mark, but which side does it fall on?
Presentation
"Abyss Odyssey" really nails its atmosphere. The graphics are a weird blend of what looks to be 3D models and cell shading to some degree. The look works for the game except in the actual dungeons themselves. The dungeons seem to just be a passing thought, traps blend in with the terrain way too well, hazards are completely missed, and the characters just look out of place. Its a shame to see some nice character models on a bland background and setting. I can't help but wonder if so much time was spent on the characters that the dungeons got left out of the polishing phase. This can also be said for the look of blocks and when your character takes damage. It seems to lack the finishing touch fitting into the world.
The HUD is minimal but confusing to navigate. Figuring out the right buttons to press to see weapon stats or item functions are blurred in the interface. The whole look and feel of the game just leaves you irritated.
Story and Characters
Normally, this is the part where I talk about characters and the story of the game. Sadly, there isn't much to say. Starting the game, you are granted access to one character, but two others are unlocked through your playthrough. You are greeted with a very minimal tutorial on the basics and then thrown into the fray.
You begin as Katrien, a woman who is the dream of a great warlock intent on taking over the world the humans live in. This dream world makes up the monsters and dungeons you will be playing in and fighting against. You are allies to these Civil War era soldiers who are all confused at what's happening and even about who you are. And that's it. There's a dungeon, so go fight stuff. There is no real drive to do what you're doing.
Gameplay
A tutorial is much needed for this game. It's absolutely crippled, because it doesn't explain all the in-depth mechanics at work here, so I'll do my best. Dungeons are randomly generated and follow a metroidvania style of play with the feel of an old "Prince of Persia" game. One by one, you explore rooms and fight monsters.
The fights are engaging and infuriating all at once. You have a basic attack, a special, a block, and a dodge. The AI is really smart, so these battles can be tough, sometimes too tough, but the reward is great when you drop monsters with the precision of your strikes. Blocking and dodging are key, because monsters do crazy damage, and aren't likely to be able to help killing your allies in the process of the fight, either. Recall that little guidance is provided, generally speaking, so you make your way and hope for the best.
Once you reach the end of a room in a dungeon, you can look at a map that shows you the layout and what might be lurking in the next room, allowing you to plot out your trip. Some rooms will have an altar where you can adjust your skills or peruse merchant goods. You are only allowed one weapon and that's it, so that decision is a fairly simple one. As you level up, you can put points into your skills and learn new ones. It's a basic system that doesn't feel like it makes much of a difference in actual combat.
The bad thing about the gameplay is that it's just not fun. You just sigh when you see the monsters show up knowing that this could be your last battle. The mechanics fall apart from time to time, and you find yourself in a dodge contest with the AI. Special skills consume mana. If you max out your mana, you can capture an enemy's spirit and carry it with you to transform into. This is a crucial mechanic you're never overtly told. You just have to stumble upon it and figure out what it means. It's pretty much a second life bar with weaker attacks.
The checkpoint system further adds to frustration. The altars function as a checkpoints, but the save must be purchased using a token. These tokens are highly expensive, meaning most of the time when you get rushed by a group of monsters, you die and have to start the dungeon all over again.
Sound
The music is a good part of this game, a very good part. It blends going from combat to exploring environments flawlessly. The tone is set perfectly and seems to match the characters and the bland dungeons it exists in. Music is often an overlooked component to gaming, but "Abyss" doesn't let you ignore it, pulling you in throughout your adventure.
Conclusion
"Abyss Odyssey" is a game for the hardcore dungeon crawlers seeking that ridiculous challenge. The game isn't all bad; the nice art and the sound really keep things together, but the lack of story and clunky combat makes it fall short. If you're really into not being told at all what to do or what anything means with a killer difficulty spike, then this is up your alley. I just hope you can look past the flaws of the combat to get some enjoyment out of it. Some games benefit from added difficulty, but come on.
Disclosure: Player Theory was provided with a review copy of the title from ATLUS for PC and PS3.
