Abstracto

Exciting gameplay that keeps you on your toes. Challenging combat is where this game shines. A ton of moves to mess around with, so once you get used to your kit, you'll be cooking. A lot of bang for your buck too.

The gameplay is pretty solid. It's fun to try to learn the timing for the better version of every move. Boss fights are neat. Some of them are pvp like where they take hitstun. Others are more traditional and just tank everything. Takes about 3-4 hours to beat, just got the good end. Haven't played much of the other characters, yet. The cons i would say are sound design is hit or miss, and you need to get the good end to unlock the other characters. Overall, though pretty good.

Abstracto is easy to pick up and play, but it's hard to put down; a true love-letter to classic platformers and beat em ups from the 8 and 16 bit eras. Appearing as a simple 2D Platformer on the surface, Abstracto has surprisingly deep gameplay mechanics that keep things fresh and fun as you play. As you progress through Forte's story, there are 7 unlockable stones you can switch between with a press of a button, reminiscent of games like Mega Man/Mega Man X with a beat-em-up twist. These stones give you the ability to multiple unique special attacks per stone. Even though there are 7 different stones, they each feel distinct from one another. Each equipped special stone has a unique passive ability as well, enabling you to change your play-style on the fly. Some stones give you enhanced combat abilities, while others give you better mobility through extra jumps or dashes, or improved defenses by increasing your parry window. After completing the story and getting the good end, you can unlock 3 more characters that each have their own special abilities, adding another layer of depth and replayability to an already satisfying gameplay loop. Abstracto takes huge inspiration from classic games from a bygone era. Simple graphics, tight controls, and crushing difficulty lie within, with combat that's easy to pick up, and intensely satisfying to master. If you're a fan of retro games, you owe it to yourself to give Abstracto a try.