Review: Absolver (PlayStation 4)

In the ruins of the fallen Adal Empire, you awaken with a mysterious mask on your face, and faint recollections of an esoteric ceremony. Freeing you from hunger, thirst, and even death, the mask is the creation of the Guides, the rulers of these lands, who have placed you here to determine whether you are worthy of becoming part of the elite corps of Absolvers.

Pros:

• Stylish graphics.
• 11.82GB Download size.
• Platinum trophy.
• Graphic options-Auto detect, Resolution, Render resolution, Windowed, Shadows/textures settings, View distance, Effects, Post process, Foliage, AA, V-sync. All settings are low to ultra.
• Can rebind keys for the keyboard and controller.
• Controls-Invert cameras and sensitivity sliders.
• Create a character- Six origins, Male female, Haircut and colour with combat style choices- Windfall, Forsaken and Kahlt method. Each combat style is unique and will determine how you play. So stats like fast moving weak punches or slow with hard punches etc. Origins mean nothing really.
• Melee fighting game set in a online world. The game has it where AI and online players are all in the same world and you dont know which is which until its too late.
• Nice in engine cutscenes.
• Decent soundtrack.
• Opening and ongoing tutorial support.
• Meditation-Where you spend attribute points, STR,DEX,VIT,END,WILL and mobility. Each section has a brief description.
• Earn EXP from defeating enemies and earn attribute points.
• Combat-Lock on and you have heavy and light attacks but also when locked on you can change to 4 stances which change attacks and you can block and if you hit back you can regain your health.
• Stamina based system used for attacking and running. You dont regen stamina when you are blocking. You can also dodge and roll.
• Combat deck-Here you can edit your move sets and assign new moves to the stances.
• Social-Encounters (online) and Invitations (get friends only).
• Combat trials-1V1 online fighting. Earn rewards and rank up in this mode.
• Combat is not a button masher and requires great skill and timing.
• Can revive fallen players.
• Player states- Neutral or hostile. Setting depends how they will approach you.
• Loot- Find rock piles, Random placements and loot from fallen enemies.
• Boss battles.
• Learn moves by fighting and defending against new moves to learn them, If you counter new moves then you learn faster.
• Autosaves regularly.
• Loadout- You can fully equip your character with armour slots and weapons. All equipment has its own stats and appearances meaning it changes it up.
• Huge open world where you can do it how you want.
• Very atmospheric and just emits tension as it is eerily quiet and you never know where an attack will come from.
• Lore is spread out and can be found on items or signs.
• The game just keeps giving you more and more to do with better stuff getting unlocked and available to you as you progress.

Cons:

• Performance is not great with a lot of slowdown, Screen tearing making fighting very hard and ruins the experience.
• Very easy to get overwhelmed from the controls to the fact you can drag so many enemies onto you.
• Offline mode doesnt seem to work that good.
• Lag can really kill the immersion.
• Steep learning curve as you try so hard to not button mash.
• In the heat of the battle the controls can leave you open, In this I mean the quick stance changes really clunk.
• Very troll friendly.