Abathoris a 2D pixel-art hack n slash action platformer game set in Atlantis, where players choose between 4 playable action heroes in a co-op game with PVP elements. InAbathor, players can fight across the game’s vast range of levels as Crantor the Barbarian, Sais the Valkyrie, Kritias the Assassin, or Azaes the demon-hunting Warlock.
There are somegreat retro feel-good video gamesout there, andAbathor’s mix of co-op and competitive gameplay focuses on having fun with friends in a homage to arcade games from the ’80s and ’90s. Game Rant recently spoke with one ofAbathor’s developers, Xavier Garay, about how the modern neo-retro game combines co-op with PVP and how its PVP draws upon Roguelite gameplay mechanics.
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Abathor’s 4-Player Co-op Platformer Gameplay
4-player co-op games are increasingly popular, withTeenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder’s Revengeandarcade games likeStreets of Rageenjoying a resurgence in recent times.
InAbathor, players can join friends and fight their way through at least 50 levels and over 100 different enemies for quick, instantaneous action. Although it’s possible to play the gamesolo, Garay explained the game is best played through local or online co-op, one of the reasons it was designed as a retro game.
You can play the game solo, but the optimal way of playing is playing with up to four friends. The game is designed for four players. We wanted togo back to these kinds of games where you play along with your friends […] Today, it is very easy to have a life without going out of your home, so we wanted to make a homage to these old games where life was easier. You gathered with your friends in person or online, of course, and you press start in these retro games. There are no dialogues in battle, there are no subplots, and there are no long conversations with NPCs that you don’t care about. You just press start and play.
Abathor’s Competitive Roguelite-Style Gameplay
AlthoughAbathoris primarily a4-player co-op video game, it has a unique PVP twist that draws upon Roguelite mechanics. While traversing the terrain, players can also loot chests for offerings to the Gods at the end of each level. The player with the most loot receives a special reward that increases their power alone. As Garay explained,
The other twist is that it’s also a competitive game, and this is the roguelite part of the game. Atlantis is full of treasures to loot and sack. There is this metal of Atlantis called the Orichalcum alleged to be royal, and if you collect this metal that - you could find it along all continents in chests - you’re able to offer the treasures to the Gods.
At the end of the level, all players offer their treasures to the Gods. The player that offers more treasures receives a special item. The item can be better armor, a better sword, a ring with magic, whatever. But it makes the player more powerful in relation to the others. There is only one prize for each level, so the player who has looted more treasure is the one who is going to get this reward. They have to cooperate, but they also have to compete between them. We have been doing some play testing, and it’s very fun to play in this way.
Abathoralso uses a “shared life system” to prevent it from becoming too punishing, like manyRoguelike and Roguelite gamesoften are. Garay explained that players can resurrect their friends at a cost to the fallen companion, and players only lose a life if all players on the team die, with all players resurrected at the start of the next level if only one player is left standing. Although players can’t fight each other inAbathor, the PVP mechanics put a unique twist on the action-platform gameplay, and it will be interesting to see how this affects team dynamics and the overall retro gameplay experience.
