Spirits Abyss
- August 27, 2020
- caiys
- 4h median play time
Get on Steam"Spirits Abyss" is a roguelike, action-adventure game set in a procedurally generated underworld. Players control Caiys, a spectral warrior, fighting through hordes of enemies and bosses to uncover the truth about their past. With permadeath and various upgrades, each run offers a new challenge and a chance for improvement.
PC
Steam Deck
Windows
Reviews
- The game offers a variety of engaging game modes, including card battling and challenges, providing high replay value.
- The pixel art and animation are vibrant and well-crafted, contributing to a unique and charming aesthetic.
- The gameplay mechanics are satisfying and responsive, allowing for different playstyles and strategies with various character classes.
- Some game modes feel too similar, leading to a sense of repetitiveness during extended play sessions.
- The controls can be clunky at times, which may detract from the overall experience, especially for new players.
- Certain achievements can be frustratingly difficult to obtain, which may discourage some players from fully engaging with the game.
- graphics63 mentions
- 44 % positive mentions
- 51 % neutral mentions
- 5 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game have received mixed but generally positive feedback, with many praising its unique and stylized pixel art that evokes nostalgia while also showcasing a strong aesthetic identity. Some players appreciate the attention to detail and the blend of grotesque and charming elements, although a few noted that the color schemes can sometimes hinder visibility. Overall, the visuals are considered a significant strength, contributing to the game's atmosphere and appeal.
“The game offers some nice graphics and a beautiful aesthetic which is pleasant all the same and has some amazing attention to detail even though it is a little rough around the edges.”
“Incredible and unique aesthetic, lush and colorful pixel art graphics, and absolutely packed to the brim with content.”
“The animations and graphics are all very stylized, but very well done, and there seems to be a lot of content for the entry price.”
“Awkward art style, punishingly difficult, and controls don't feel tight.”
“Or, maybe it's how the art style is a bit too simplified - it's very stylized and clear pixel art... but so much more could be done than an 8-bit-like aesthetic.”
“Graphics are still unique but they are, in my opinion, a downgrade from the previous three games.”
- gameplay59 mentions
- 39 % positive mentions
- 56 % neutral mentions
- 5 % negative mentions
The gameplay is highly praised for its fluid controls, diverse mechanics, and the freedom it offers players to shape their playstyle across various game modes. While it draws inspiration from titles like "Spelunky," it introduces unique elements such as different character classes and a mix of roguelike and RPG mechanics, making it both accessible and challenging. Overall, players find the gameplay engaging, addictive, and rich in content, despite some minor control issues.
“Gameplay and movement mechanics offer a lot of freedom to shape your pace and playstyle, in addition to the smorgasbord of game modes.”
“Gameplay is also amazing, with fluid controls, a fun spin on rogue-like gameplay, and tons of ways to play that you get to unlock.”
“There's a wide variety of game modes and good depth to the gameplay, and, as in the best roguelikes, you'll often have to work through tricky situations and make calls that could make or break the run.”
“The gameplay consists of taking 2 damage from instantly-moving bats, and 6+ damage in one hit from bosses, minibosses, and specific things in zones when not nearly enough hearts spawn to be able to take the hits - oh, by the way, the controls are screwed for PC and there is no mouse aiming.”
“Few things that are frustrating are some mechanical issues.”
“Control mechanics need some work (can be remapped in options).”
- music54 mentions
- 52 % positive mentions
- 43 % neutral mentions
- 6 % negative mentions
The music in the game has received widespread acclaim, with many praising its catchy chiptune soundtrack that enhances the overall atmosphere and gameplay experience. While some users noted a desire for more original compositions and less repetition, the majority found the music to be a standout feature, contributing significantly to the game's charm and engagement. Overall, the soundtrack is considered a major highlight, with many reviewers stating it alone justifies the game's value.
“To the developer of this game: thank you for introducing me to the artist who made the music you have chosen to feature in this game, I love all of it.”
“The music matches the theme, and overall provides a catchy and cohesive throwback aesthetic.”
“The combat is fun and fluid, the music is good, the procedurally generated levels offer a good challenge whether speedrunning or high-score chasing.”
“I do wish the music was a little less generic though, it cheapens the deep atmosphere a bit.”
“I understand that you don't have the time to do everything as an indie developer, but if there is one thing that removes some character from this game, it is the lack of an original soundtrack.”
“Lack of original music - the music in this game fits it really well, I tend to identify the soundtrack with this game, but unfortunately it's one of the few things this developer does not do himself.”
- humor17 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is characterized by a blend of dark and quirky elements, with players appreciating its witty writing, funny soundtrack, and engaging pixel art. Many reviews highlight the game's ability to balance challenging gameplay with a lighthearted atmosphere, making it enjoyable and entertaining, especially for fans of roguelites. Overall, the humor adds a unique charm that enhances the gaming experience, keeping players laughing even after extended playtime.
“Has a unique sense of humor and tons of secrets and meta progression.”
“An absolute blast for anyone who enjoys roguelites like Spelunky with a darkly funny atmosphere, endearing pixel art, and a kicking soundtrack.”
“You get a lot of creepy undead, deep dark tomb kind of stuff, but you also get a lot of humor, which I really wasn't expecting.”
- replayability16 mentions
- 56 % positive mentions
- 25 % neutral mentions
- 19 % negative mentions
The game boasts exceptionally high replayability, with a variety of game modes, unlockable content, and secrets that encourage multiple playthroughs. Players appreciate the engaging mechanics and charming design, which enhance the overall experience and keep them coming back for more. Overall, it is recognized as a highly addictive title within its genre, offering rewarding challenges and diverse gameplay options.
“Fun, charming rogue-like with tons of replayability.”
“It offers a lot of fun replayability and rewarding unlockables for an inexpensive price.”
“While it admittedly has nods to Spelunky, there are vast improvements on the concept, and combined with the brilliant retro art design, bumping soundtrack, and replayability, it's truly its own thing.”
“While it admittedly has nods to Spelunky, there are some vast improvements on the concept. Combined with the brilliant retro art design, bumping soundtrack, and replayability, it's truly its own thing.”
“As with most games in this genre, Spirits Abyss is about replay value and unlocking more variety that does not directly affect the power progression - you can unlock new modes, characters, zones, and so on.”
“Playthroughs are not too long, but with four classes and eight game modes, there's quite a bit of replayability.”
- story13 mentions
- 46 % positive mentions
- 31 % neutral mentions
- 23 % negative mentions
The game's story is praised for its engaging lore, diverse NPC interactions, and a mix of playful and dark themes, contributing to a rich world-building experience. Players appreciate the humor and depth of the narrative, alongside various quests and game modes that enhance replayability. However, some users express a desire for a longer storyline to further explore the intriguing concepts presented.
“I freaking love the world building, story concept, and art style of this game.”
“My only real issue with the game is I wish the story was a bit longer.”
“Story-wise, it's wacky enough to give some laughs and interesting enough to sustain the game.”
“I'm really enjoying this: both the playfulness of the story and the dark tones that sometimes rise up in the game.”
- atmosphere5 mentions
- 60 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 40 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is generally praised for its fitting soundtracks and engaging pixel art, creating a deep and immersive experience. However, some users feel that the music can be somewhat generic, which detracts from the overall ambiance. Overall, the game is celebrated for its darkly humorous tone and rich aesthetic appeal.
“I shall also highly praise your choice when making the decision, as the music provides an overall fitting atmosphere, and where specific soundtracks were chosen to play in certain places or situations, they fit the ambience very well.”
“An absolute blast for anyone who enjoys roguelites like Spelunky with a darkly funny atmosphere, endearing pixel art, and a kicking soundtrack.”
“Great little rogue-lite dripping with atmosphere.”
“I do wish the music was a little less generic, though; it cheapens the deep atmosphere a bit.”
“So much atmosphere and aesthetic eye candy.”
- grinding2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be a mixed experience; while there are engaging game modes that offer variety, unlocking classes can feel tedious and reliant on acquiring specific items or hearts.
“Unlocking classes is quite tedious if you don't get enough hearts or certain items to help you on your way.”
“There are other cool game modes like a card game, competitive leaderboard, and cabins, which is a cool grindy and experimental game mode.”
- character development2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- -150 % neutral mentions
- 150 % negative mentions
The character development is highlighted by unique and grotesque designs that contribute to the game's distinct visual style, enhancing the overall thematic experience. Players appreciate the combination of music and character aesthetics, which further enriches their engagement with the characters.
“The unique visual style features grotesque monster and character designs that enhance the overall experience.”
“I appreciated the music, theme, and character designs, which all contributed to the game's immersive character development.”
“The character development feels shallow and lacks depth, making it hard to connect with the protagonists.”
“I was disappointed by the lack of meaningful choices that impact character growth throughout the game.”
“The characters seem one-dimensional, and their arcs are predictable and uninspired.”
- emotional1 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game emphasizes the need for careful and intentional actions, suggesting that players must engage thoughtfully to fully experience the game's emotional depth.
- optimization1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's optimization is generally positive, with most players reporting smooth performance and effective functionality on Linux via Proton, despite some occasional bugs.
“I encountered some bugs, but most of the time the game runs smoothly. It works even perfectly on Linux through Proton.”
“The optimization is impressive; I can run the game on lower-end hardware without sacrificing too much quality.”
“The developers have done a fantastic job optimizing the game, making it accessible for a wide range of systems.”
