Absolver

Absolver is a product of its time. Players are becoming more comfortable with complexity and challenge. They are willing to put in the time necessary to learn intricate systems. And there is a blue sea of opportunity for developers working on martial-arts games.

One of Absolver's inspirations seems to be BioWare's beloved action/RPG Jade Empire. Over the course of the game, players discover new styles and moves and configure their own attacks and counters based on four different stances that can be switched on the fly.

The backdrop for this combat system is a world full of intrigue. The Adal Empire has fallen, and is only held together by the rulers of the land called the Guides. Their elite troops, called Absolvers, are under the leading class' control via masks that the acolytes wear.

You begin the game by awakening in one of these masks but still in control of your free will. While you aren't under the Guild's thrall, you get the benefit of the mask's regenerative abilities. Should you die, you respawn at the nearest altar. Based on my demo, it seems those are the best places to meet other players in the seamless shared world. Sparring near one means you can teach and learn moves alongside other players without having to trek back for another round. Players can also team up for both player-vs-enemy and player-vs-player arena play. The former is set up in a dungeon format with rare loot as the prize. The latter is a test of skill in one-on-one or three-on-three matches.

Most of my demo was combat-based, so I don't yet have a strong sense of how the narrative complements the intricate battles. I'm looking forward to diving deeper into Absolver in the months to come.