Absolver, the upcoming online fighting game from Devolver Digital and French developer Sloclap, is set to become available in a little over a month. In anticipation of the impending release, several introductory videos have been released in the past months to help prepare players for the game’s unique approach to classic fighting game mechanics. The most recent video gives a look into the game’s power-up system, including both magical abilities and the ability to temporarily access unique weaponry.
In a previous video from Absolver, we got a 4-minute long look into the game’s deep and varied combat system. This new video shows more about how combat will be externally influenced beyond just the core combat deck, through special powers.
In Absolver, there are special collectible crystals called “tension shards”, which absorb energy during combat until they are filled. Once they are filled, they can then be used to power special abilities, allowing the player to heal damage during combat, sap stamina from their opponent, or even send out powerful damaging shockwaves to damage others.
The power from tension shards can also be used by the player to “unfold” weapons in combat. The unfolded weapon is then equipped, which has several effects: an equipped weapon will, naturally, enable much more damaging strikes and allow for “chip damage” that goes through an opponent’s block, but it will also engage an entirely new combat deck of maneuvers for the wielder, allowing them to access a new set of moves to keep their opponent guessing. These weapons have their downsides too, though, as a weapon can be disarmed and used by an opponent who successfully lands enough hits. The weapons will also break if used too heavily for too long.
Absolver will be available for PlayStation 4 and PC on August 29.