Absolver - A Fighting Game/Pseudo MMO

This game had sooooo much potential. I love the idea of picking up fighting moves like you pick up weapons in an MMO. It's really sad it was dead on arrival.

You know, it saddens me to see such an interesting concept get abandoned like this. We never got to see bo staffs get implemented to this game, or anything outside the game's sandbox and the Downfall update. I've been wondering how it would've been if this game had succeeded. Would we have been able to fight off lions in the desert? Or perhaps defend ourselves from pirates while sailing in raging seas? The little crumbs of lore I got from reading the object descriptions still haunt me to this day.

I see Absolver as a proof of concept. A new genre of fighting game. Can't wait for a sequel. I still play from time to time.

Absolver hooked me for almost 2 years straight

PEOPLE FINALLY REALIZED ITS GOOD🙏🏾

I think Absolver might still be my most-played game ever on Steam. It's still #1 in my Top 3 favorite games. Nothing has come even remotely close to feeling as good as this game does. Not even Sifu. There's too much in that game that feels outside of my control, particularly compared to Absolver. Here's hoping SloClap does us forever fans the justice of giving us the sequel we deserve. To this day, I still play Absolver off and on and I don't think I'll ever stop. It's that good. Sifu just doesn't hold a candle to Absolver for me for one simple reason: Everything I do in Absolver belongs to me. I defeat my enemies based on a combination of moves that I came up with. Absolver's entire core design philosophy is "Knowledge Check: The Game," from your Deck on up to every Deck you face in combat. Not only that, I can differentiate between multiple versions of that Deck, or even do totally different ones if I want to focus on Sword or Gauntlet, or compliment any of the other Styles. Sifu isn't even close to comparable in that sense of ownership. Also, the drip in Absolver is fucking awesome. 😆

I have yet to see a fighting game that offers as much customization, expression and vicerally satisfying PVP than Absolver. I love the combat Building aspect, of building combos and alternative combos, mixups and interrupts in. its also a visual and auditory feast with every punch and kick feeling awesome.

An excellent breakdown! I'm seconding what Heb said in that this definitely feels like you took the time to really absorb the game and come back with an honest explanation of it! Bravo!

I like the vid man. Always cool to see new people's views on the game. I think you pretty much hit the nail on the head for the core aspects of the game. But honestly, Deck building isn't too bad, especially once you understand the whole stances thing and the gold link timing. Good video! Also, the whole story of Absolver isn't all too deep in game. Most of the extra details and backstory can be found on the official website in case you want a quick lil fun read

When this came out i actually REALLY liked it, i dropped over 200 hours playing it over and over helping newcomers get through tough parts, and only quit when I'd have to restart just to see other people

actually pretty apt description of the pve experience! i like that you had original points and didn't regurgitate views from other people who made an "absolver is kinda fun but kinda bad" review. i gotta say tho, the deck building aspect is easy to pick up and hard to master. the different combos you can make, taking frame data and true pairings and all the fun nerdy elements under the surface is really what sold ME when i was looking into the game. i saw opportunities for creation, expression while also putting together these puzzle pieces, all these different moves that have to compliment eachother to create a whole functional deck. i feel like you also skimmed over what really makes up the largest part of absolver (at least for most people), the PvP and community that stands behind it. we have a pretty bustling community of fighters, a competitive circuit, community leaders who teach new players different techniques and fundamentals- just saying, if i were to make an absolver review i'd include a dialogue on all facets of the game, especially the ones that serve as the playerbases main focus

After being on the fence about Absolver for a while you've convinced me to play it.

This game was like the martial arts version of for honor, for me. I wanted something more complicated and more fighting game like than for honor and it’s… waiting-focused combat. Absolver was the answer and a darn good one. As a gojuryu practitioner myself, it’s karate blocking and striking was on point!!!! So good 😊

I basically spent most of my free time in middle school and freshman year of high school playing this game. I met tons of people through it and still talk to them today. It really pains me to see this game fall further into obscurity since it was a pretty big part of my life when I was younger

One day I might try Sifu out but it's 90 games down my list. I really like the idea of this game's system for building your own movesets though, cool concept.

All this games needs is one good balance patch in touch with the community, and we'd have a genuine competitive fighter

Seems pretty interesting, the combo menu kinda gives me God Hand vibes! Definitely need to check this game out ☺

I absolutely love this game. I constantly shift between a fun deck, a good deck, and moves I can perform when I train. All in all 10/10. I look like an avian jack the ripper

please dont say that everyone should play this masterpiece and not only settle for sifu this shit is fun as fuck and if you get into it you might even spend hours upon hours trying to perfect your moves list and drip and you can do it with FRIENDS

God I miss this game, just playing friends and learning each others moves was awesome.