Phantom Abyss Preview (Steam Early Access)

by Jim Smale · June 28, 2021

Our Phantom Abyss Preview shows off this massive asynchronous multiplayer game that casts players into procedurally generated temples and tasks them with retrieving the sacred relics hidden within deadly chambers.

Phantom Abyss Preview Pros:

Decent graphics.
3.67GB Download size.
Roguelike gameplay.
Controller support.
Graphics-fullscreen, resolution, v-sync, field of view slider, graphics preset, and motion blur.
First-person view.
Tutorial support as you play via pop-ups.
Goal- go through a randomized temple and grab the Relic.
Whip to grab and grapple ledges and hooks.
Indiana Jones-inspired gameplay.
Chests contain cash and how much depends if it’s small, medium, or large.
Puzzle elements throughout.
Actions – jump, slide, crouch, and whip.
You have to navigate and go through levels and as you do more things happen like phantoms turning up.
Difficult.
The main hub is for picking a load out.
Blue phantoms are the outlines of players that died before you, they will do what they did to die.
Levels are randomized but it’s from a pool of made levels so other players can play the same level layout.
3 hearts then you die but you can die in one hit like from prison or falls.
When you die your blue phantom is saved to that level.
Adventure code allows you to share levels with friends so you can do the same run.
Unlock new whips with new abilities.
Up to 20 phantoms can inhabit one level.

Phantom Abyss Preview Cons:

Can get very disorientating.
You don’t get told a lot about the hook or what stuff does.
Judging jumps is tricky.
Slow burner.
No Steam achievements yet.
Having loads of phantoms can be off-putting.
You have to roll just as you land to avoid damage but it is vomit Inducing with no setting.
The slowdown in places.
Difficult.