The dev behind TMNT: Shredder's Revenge is making an original beat-'em-up
Dotemu, the developer behind beat-'em-ups like Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder's Revenge and Streets of Rage 4, is back with another slice of side-scrolling retro goodness. This time, however, the company's eschewing a tried-and-true franchise in favor of an original IP. Absolum is a fantasy beat-'em-up that's being co-developed by Guard Crush Games and Supamonk.
The game looks to retain the core beat-'em-up mechanics the developer has become known for, but with some flourishes. Dotemu boasts of "branching paths to explore," which is giving me Castlevania III: Dracula's Curse vibes. The developer has also implemented roguelike mechanics of some kind, with it going so far as to describe the game as a "rogue-'em-up." We don't know the details of these mechanics just yet.
We do know that Absolum will be playable as a solo campaign or in a co-op mode, offering both local and online play. Gamers will be able to choose from four different fantasy-themed characters. Also, the animation looks pretty dang gorgeous. It'll be available for Switch, PlayStation and PC later this year.
Just because Absolum is a brand-new IP, doesn't mean that Dotemu has given up on reviving classics for modern audiences. The company is also publishing Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound, a game that's actually set during the events of the NES original.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Digital Trends
4 hours ago
- Digital Trends
I'm loving how fast and furious Shinobi: Art of Vengeance is
When I think about the 2D action games I loved growing up, 'fast' isn't a word that usually comes to mind. Something like a Ninja Turtles side scrolling beat-em-up looks a little slow in my mind, filled with heavy one on one punch outs. The exact pace changes from game to game, but it's not usually what I'd call quick. So I was in for a bit of a shock when I booted up a demo of Shinobi: Art of Vengeance at Summer Game Fest. Sega's new revival may call back to some of the retro games I played as a kid, but it leaves them all in the dust in its constant blitz of sword slashing. Developed by Lizardcube, the studio behind the terrific Streets of Rage 4, Shinobi: Art of Vengeance looks to take a classic Sega series back to its roots. It's a side scrolling action game where I need to slash through enemies, vanquish bosses, and do a bit of platforming for good measure. My 45-minute demo let me run wild through two of its gorgeously animated levels, getting a feel for the balance Lizardcube is striking here between retro and modern. When I try to describe it on paper, it might sound a little boilerplate. The platforming has me double jumping and air dashing around 2D environments. Combat is a matter of dishing out sword combos, hitting evasive rolls, tossing out a shuriken or two, and spending energy to activate special skills. It's all par for the course, I know, but those familiar ideas are made thrilling once I start to realize just how quickly I can take out a screen full of enemies. Recommended Videos Art of Vengeance is designed in such a way that I never felt like I needed to stop moving during a fight. If an enemy tries to attack me during a combo, I can hit my evasive dodge and exit it into a new combo. If I need to jump in the air to avoid an unblockable attack, I can come back down with a dive kick by hitting my heavy attack button and chain into a combo from there. My favorite detail comes anytime I stun an enemy. When a red mark appears above a foe, I can press both bumpers to launching into a finishing strike that will also ricochet through every other stunned enemy in the room. The more I get all of this down, the more I realize that I simply never have to stop moving once I get on a roll. It feels as much like a fighting game as it does a side scroller. That sense of lethal speed goes a long way towards making Art of Vengeance feel more exciting than a lot of recent retro brawlers that are very similar to it on paper. It aims to make Shinobi feel like a phantom that cut through waves of enemies in the blink of an eye. Even when I'm dropped into familiar scenarios, like when I need to stay on a boat as enemies fall in around me, it feels like I'm playing something entirely new rather than another cookie cutter retro cash-in. I'm eager to see how much deeper it all goes. My demo only gave me a taste of its exploration, as I could occasionally find platforming challenges that led me to hidden collectibles. Each level has five to find and those can be spent at shops to unlock even more maneuvers, like one that extended my combos even further with additional hits. I had tons of moves to work into my attack strings by the end of the second level I played, including a charged punch and a counter stance skill. I hope more moves keep trickling in in later missions, giving me more attacks I can pepper into my ballet of blades. Shinobi: Art of Vengeance launches on August 28 for PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, Nintendo Switch, and PC.
Geek Tyrant
20 hours ago
- Geek Tyrant
Rad Poster Art For G.I. JOE: THE MOVIE Created By Artist Alex Arizmendi — GeekTyrant
Check out this fun poster art for the classic 1987 animated film G.I. Joe: The Movie , which comes from artist Alex Arizmendi. This is a private comission, so unfortunatly you can't buy it, but I had to share it because I love this freakin' movie! G.I. Joe: The Movie expands on the lore of the G.I. Joe universe, diving headfirst into science fiction and ancient evil. The story follows the elite military team G.I. Joe as they face a new threat: Cobra-La, a hidden ancient civilization that predates humanity and secretly controls Cobra Command. When Cobra-La's leader Golobulus plans to wipe out humanity using mutative spores, the Joes must race against time to stop the global catastrophe. The film was originally intended for a theatrical release but ended up going direct-to-video and airing on television due to production delays and the box office failure of other animated films like Transformers: The Movie . Still, G.I. Joe: The Movie is remembered for its ambitious expansion of the franchise's mythology, the darker tone compared to the series, and its infamous scene where Duke is mortally wounded, only for a last-minute voiceover to declare he miraculously fell into a coma instead of dying. softening the blow for young fans. Despite its tonal swings and mixed reception, it remains a cult favorite for fans of the franchise.
Geek Tyrant
21 hours ago
- Geek Tyrant
Review: PREDATOR: KILLER OF KILLERS is an Ultra-Violent, Visually Striking Evolution of the Franchise — GeekTyrant
Predator: Killer of Killers is an absolute blast! It's brutal, beautifully animated, and emotionally rich in ways I honestly didn't expect going in. This thing does not hold back. From the opening scene to the final surprising frame, the movie barrels forward with a savage intensity that makes it feel like you're being hunted right alongside its characters. The violence is unapologetic, the action is jaw-dropping, and the whole experience feels like someone finally decided to let the Predator franchise be as bold, artistic, and brutal as it was always meant to be. What really hooked me, though, were the three distinct stories that make up this anthology. Each one focuses on a different warrior throughout history. 'The Shield', 'The Sword', and 'The Bullet', and they're all three are not only packed with killer action, but also grounded in emotional stakes that give the chaos weight. Whether it's the Viking raider guiding her young son on a bloody quest for revenge, the ninja in feudal Japan who turns against his Samurai brother in a brutal battle for succession, or the WWII pilot staring down cosmic death in skies, the writing never skimps. I found myself fully invested in each of them, not just for how they fight, but why. The character development across the anthology is strong, especially given the limited runtime for each segment. There's a sense of intimacy in the awesome storytelling, even when the action ramps up to an eleven, that makes each chapter feel personal and mythic at the same time. Each of the settings feel immersive and meaningful to the story being told. These aren't just action vignettes, they're reflections of the characters and the cultures they come from. Then there's the incredible animation. Director Dan Trachtenberg explained that the style was inspired by the concept art from the live-action Predator films, and you can really see it. It has this rich, painterly quality that gives it a kind of storybook-for-grownups look. The action in the film is stylized and theatrical, like you're watching a violent ballet unfold in slow motion… before it all explodes in blood and flame. Each segment feels like a visual poem about death and survival. There's an badass elegance to how they're built with tight structure, great pacing, haunting atmosphere, and then the Predators show up and wreck everything in the most spectacular fashion. The final act, where all the stories tie together, is where the film kicks into a whole new gear of awesomeness. The ending is one insane, fist-pumping beat after another, and it was incredibley greakin' amazing! I also love how the movie expands the Predator universe. This isn't just another cat-and-mouse hunt. Predator: Killer of Killers takes the core idea of a Predator hunting the fiercest warriors and uses it as a lens to explore humanity… our pain, our pride, our violence. It respects the lore while pushing it into new, exciting territory. If this is where the franchise is headed, I'm all in. Let Trachtenberg run wild with it for as long as he wants. Honestly, I wish I could've seen this on the big screen. It's just too damn cool to be confined to a streaming service. Between the jaw-dropping animation, the emotional storytelling, and the sheer scale of its ambition, Predator: Killer of Killers isn't just one of the best Predator films, it's one of the most artistically awesome entries in the sci-fi action genre.
