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Abathor

An exceedingly well crafted title that wears its influences proudly on its sleeve, Abathor delivers in all departments. Clever thoughtful design, beautifully detailed pixelart and a killer retro soundtrack that is the cherry on top.
87%Game Brain Score
music, gameplay
replayability, optimization
91% User Score Based on 274 reviews
Critic Score 79%Based on 4 reviews

Platforms

Nintendo SwitchXbox Series X|SPCPlaystation 5Playstation 4Xbox OneXboxSteam DeckWindowsPlayStation
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About

Abathor is a 2D arcade action platformer for up to 4 players. You are the last hope in defense of Atlantis, you’ll face hordes of enemies and countless challenges. Enjoy its pixel art and epic music. A cooperative and competitive game to achieve glory or death.

Genres & Tags
Play Modes
Abathor screenshot
Abathor screenshot
Abathor screenshot
Abathor screenshot
Abathor screenshot
Abathor screenshot
Abathor screenshot
Abathor screenshot
Abathor screenshot
Abathor screenshot
Abathor screenshot
+4
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91%
Audience ScoreBased on 274 reviews
music65 positive mentions
optimization2 negative mentions
  • Abathor offers a nostalgic experience with its beautiful pixel art, engaging soundtrack, and tight controls, reminiscent of classic arcade games.
  • The game features diverse character selection and local co-op for up to four players, enhancing replayability and making it fun for both kids and adults.
  • With over 50 levels and a variety of challenging bosses, the gameplay is rewarding and encourages experimentation with different characters and strategies.
  • The game has a steep difficulty curve, with some players finding it frustrating due to punishing mechanics like knockback and limited checkpoints.
  • Certain design choices, such as the lack of a double jump and unclear upgrade mechanics, can detract from the overall experience.
  • Some players have reported performance issues and slow movement, which can hinder the enjoyment of the game.
  • music
    104 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The music in the game has received widespread acclaim for its nostalgic and immersive qualities, effectively capturing the essence of classic 16-bit titles. Many reviewers praised the soundtrack for its variety and catchy tunes, with some noting that it enhances the overall gameplay experience. However, a few critiques mentioned that certain tracks can be repetitive, though the overall consensus is that the music is a standout feature that complements the game's retro aesthetic beautifully.

    • “The pixel art, responsive controls, killer soundtrack, classic enemy designs, and level layouts—it all feels like a love letter to the golden era of gaming.”
    • “The soundtrack is probably the number one element that makes the game burst with nostalgia.”
    • “The pixels are extremely evocative of that golden arcade age and the music is absolutely glorious, very much calling to mind aural titans such as Golden Axe and the like.”
    • “The music could be better, however.”
    • “Music is too repetitive.”
    • “The soundtrack has a solid amount of variety that keeps you interested and only gets better the more you progress in the game.”
  • gameplay
    98 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The gameplay is a nostalgic homage to classic arcade titles, featuring fast-paced action, responsive controls, and a variety of characters that enhance replayability. While many players appreciate the engaging co-op experience and the incorporation of progression mechanics, some criticize the rigid movement and early game difficulty, which can detract from overall enjoyment. Despite these issues, the game successfully captures the essence of retro gaming with its vibrant graphics and a fitting soundtrack, making it a solid choice for fans of the genre.

    • “Great graphics, tons of levels, and the gameplay is crisp with music that feels perfect for the setting.”
    • “The gameplay is fast-paced and challenging, with tight, responsive controls that capture the spirit of arcade classics.”
    • “Over my 30 hours and multiple playthroughs on all difficulties, I can wholeheartedly say that this game checks all of the boxes for me; lore with ties to Greek mythology, different playable characters that vastly change how you approach combat and maneuverability, retro style pixel graphics featuring over 50 stages, a crazy amount of unique bosses to conquer, an arcade style gameplay loop with local co-op of up to four people, a killer soundtrack that fits the theme perfectly, and a secret true ending only unlocked after beating the game on hard difficulty.”
    • “Gameplay is pretty solid, but I do have one serious gripe: as with most modern games now, the first few hours are way too easy and dull, which will seriously reduce the game's replayability as I can't see people wanting to keep redoing those early stages.”
    • “This could have been great but it has horrible moving mechanics, slow, and no block.”
    • “When you take all the mechanics together they don't really work in a unified cohesive way that makes it satisfying to play.”
  • graphics
    60 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The graphics of the game are widely praised for their stunning pixel art and attention to detail, reminiscent of high-budget 16-bit classics. Players appreciate the authentic retro aesthetic, with vibrant backgrounds and animations that enhance the overall experience, although some noted inconsistencies in visual quality across different levels. The combination of beautiful visuals and a fitting soundtrack creates a nostalgic atmosphere that resonates well with fans of the genre.

    • “The pixel art graphics and sprite detail are excellent.”
    • “The graphics remind me of a high budget 16-bit game, with amazing pixel art, backgrounds, and animation all crafted with lots of care, and the music is glorious.”
    • “Beautiful pixel graphics accompanied by a great soundtrack.”
    • “On the same topic, I felt like the later worlds also had better visuals for the tiles, where the first three sometimes didn't have a good texture on the rocks, looked cheaper than the second half of the game, but the effects like water and overall coloring still looked good.”
    • “Like Atlantis looks twice as good as most of the early areas, so it just feels a little odd that you have such gaps in visuals.”
    • “I love the old school graphics and simple gameplay, but the aforementioned knockback and 'gotcha' enemy placements marred my personal experience with the game.”
  • story
    22 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The story of the game unfolds as players progress through various levels set in the mythical land of Atlantis, where they aim to close the gates of Abathor and battle numerous monsters. Players can choose from four unique characters, each with their own backstory and skills, and unlock lore articles that enrich the narrative and world-building. Overall, the story is well-received, with engaging elements that complement the gameplay, though some players express a desire for additional game modes beyond the linear storyline.

    • “Set in the mythical land of Atlantis, players embark on a quest to close the gates of Abathor, battling hordes of monsters and formidable bosses along the way.”
    • “The music, art, and story are really cool!”
    • “The premise of the game is simple: finish each level, set in a unique biome with specific enemies, and progress as far as possible with the lives available until the main mission is completed.”
    • “Every level also makes available some lore text about the characters and world that help flesh out the story and setting.”
    • “I would also love to see some other game modes for when you're looking for something outside the linear story in the future.”
  • replayability
    14 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game offers significant replayability through its diverse character selection, allowing players to choose from four distinct heroes, each with unique abilities and playstyles. However, some players noted that the initial stages are too easy and dull, which may deter repeated playthroughs. Overall, the potential for extended gameplay exists through achievement hunting, co-op play, and pursuing different endings.

    • “Players can choose from four distinct heroes, each offering unique abilities and playstyles, enhancing replayability.”
    • “Abathor lets players choose from four distinct characters, each with their own combat style, strengths, and special abilities — adding a welcome layer of strategy and replayability.”
    • “It might be the longest arcade sidescroller I've ever played, at least 4 to 5 hours on the lowest difficulty, potentially much longer if you play with only 5 credits, not to mention some replay value if you go for the true ending or replaying with different characters.”
    • “Gameplay is pretty solid, but I do have one serious gripe: as with most modern games now, the first few hours are way too easy and dull, which will seriously reduce the game's replayability as I can't see people wanting to keep redoing those early stages.”
    • “It might be the longest arcade sidescroller I ever played, at least 4 to 5 hours on the lowest difficulty, potentially much longer if you play with only 5 credits, not to mention some replay value if you go for the true ending or replaying with different characters.”
    • “Very long for an arcade game, even if you only play it once it still feels very long, not counting replay value with true ending or achievement hunting or playing it with different characters.”
  • humor
    12 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The humor in the game is highlighted by its chaotic and unoptimized gameplay, which leads to amusing moments, especially when playing with friends or family. Players find joy in the shared laughter that arises from unexpected failures, such as falling to their deaths or encountering quirky enemies, making it a delightful experience for both adults and children alike. Overall, the game's comedic elements contribute significantly to its charm and enjoyment.

    • “It's something special when my 7-year-old kid and I love playing the same game, cooperating and laughing our heads off when we failed to kill or dodge a bird mid-air and fell to our deaths.”
    • “This game is a hilariously unoptimized mess.”
    • “But this is not only more bearable (and extremely funny) when you’re with friends, as you can promptly understand what got you as well.”
  • atmosphere
    6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The atmosphere in "Abathor" is highly praised for its engaging retro vibe, which significantly enhances the player's mood and enjoyment. The overworld music is particularly noted for being catchy and perfectly complementing the game's overall ambiance, making it a refreshing change from more competitive titles.

    • “Great retro atmosphere.”
    • “The overworld music is an earworm and fits the atmosphere perfectly.”
    • “Sometimes, after getting frustrated on competitive games like SF6, I switch to a beat 'em up, and everything changes—my mood, the atmosphere, etc. This one is really good, and I've been having a lot of fun since I bought Abathor!”
  • optimization
    4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game is widely criticized for its poor optimization, leading to frustrating gameplay experiences such as unreachable ledges and inconsistent performance that obscures player actions. Overall, players describe it as a "hilariously unoptimized mess."

    • “This game is a hilariously unoptimized mess.”
    • “I still could not reach the ledges I was barely able to reach, bosses still took the same amount of damage, and I couldn't tell if I was running faster due to the horrid performance.”
  • stability
    2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game is praised for its stability, featuring smooth controls and running without any bugs or glitches, ensuring a seamless gaming experience.

  • grinding
    2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Players express frustration with the grinding aspect of the game, noting that it often feels aimless and lacks long-term goals, leading to a repetitive experience focused solely on grinding and crafting.

    • “Just grinding and crafting with no long-term goal on the horizon.”
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79%Critics’ scoreBased on 4 critic reviews
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