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However, not every run will end with the same success, so be prepared to fail until you learn the mechanics.

For the average joe who wants something to play after work, I can’t see it holding much long-term interest. It’ll certainly entertain you for a few nights, and you might even tell some friends about it, such is the novelty of the experience. But it all felt a bit surface-deep for me.

Despite the faults, From the Abyss is a solid dungeon crawler. It does what it does well for the genre, and it is very easy to pick up and play. In the long run however, it's not going to be memorable game.

If I get the Obsidian whip, and I encounter one of those guys that run at mach 3 speed, I just quit, as they blaze ahead of everyone and take the loot.

The secrets are highly satisfying to find, and when a guardian is dropping poison bombs or just relentlessly advancing that can feel like it's working against the necessary concentration or experimentation needed to reach them. A lot of the time it can feel easier to just dash on through, ignoring the intricate room design to reach the door to the next one, and the next and the next until finally reaching the exit. Every once in a while, though, Phantom Abyss manages to balance the speed and exploration, and that's when it's at its best.

Use their successes and failures to your advantage to progress deeper than they ever could have hoped. Blessings from the Gods As adventurers venture further into a temple, offerings of collected treasures can be made at altars to gain a new blessing for the rest of the run. Collect as much treasure as you can to please the gods and gain a double jump, glide jump, extended slide, damage protection, and more! Unlockable Whips Unlock new whips with success and choose from your collection before venturing into your next run. Each whips carries a minor blessing but also a curse that may complicate your attempt at riches and glory. Three modes Complete a series of progressively more challenging temples in Adventure mode, compete for the best time in Daily mode, and undergo the ultimate challenge in Abyss mode. Permanent Upgrades Scour every nook and cranny to uncover rare keys and unlock your full potential. More health, more speed, more power.

’ Early Access journey is young, which means there are plenty of opportunities for the development team to optimise the experience and fill in the blanks along the way.

feel like a retro platformer. While these can be great fun, it did mean that Phantom Abyss Game your whip swings in a very disjointed way. In addition to this, each level feels very basic and somewhat familiar. However, this was mostly down to the fact that they are.

, although its cryptic nature leads to more confusion than any sense of triumph. The most obvious step forward is via claiming the relic at the end of a temple, which is then placed upon one of the dozens of altars in the starting hub section. What isn’t immediately clear are the requirements for unlocking unique relics, as different tiers are reserved for deeper dives into the temple, or by completing runs defended by each of the three guardian types.

It may not sound particularly overpowered at first, but Long Whip grants you excellent horizontal and vertical movement, and can allow you to blitz safely through entire rooms of hazards, especially when used in conjunction with Wings.

And don't forget, that if you get reset to the front of a room because of a crush or fall, then the guardian is that much closer, or possibly where you will respawn and thus it will end your run.

Jon Bitner As fun as the latest in the franchise is, there are plenty of other cooperative shooters worthy of your time.

Take on the all-new Tower multiplayer, explore the jungle level Treetop Tangle, or embrace the look of your favorite friendly mob. The faire is full of surprises – who will you bring to the celebration?