Str8JaktJimWay back in June 2021 I came across a little indie title called Phantom Abyss. It had just released into Steam Early Access and had a really cool concept: a platforming rogue-lite. I’m not a huge fan of rogue-lites, but I am a huge fan of platforming games.
Most rogue-lite games have you combatting enemies until you die then have to start again, with stage layouts changing. Phantom Abyss keeps the layout changing motif but rather than a focus on combat, players must use their whip to avoid traps and make their way to the end of the stage.
It’s just ticked over into 2024 and Phantom Abyss is exiting Early Access and launching version 1.0.
The Basics Of Phantom Abyss
The controls are pretty standard. WASD keys for movement, mouse for looking around, plus a button for running and crouching. Controller variants are also available. There’s a slide mechanic that can be activating by crouching while running.
Players are aided in their quest by their trusty whip, making Phantom Abyss feel something akin to a tomb raiding Indiana Jones sim. The whip is a key part of the experience, being able to open treasure chests and temporarily disable some traps, as well as providing the ability to grapple to solid objects. This allows for dodging traps or to access out of reach areas.
Along with various traps, Phantom Abyss features Temple Guardian. There are a few different Guardians, each with their own attacks. One shoots a big energy blast with another dropping poisonous balls that dissipate over time. One just plain chases players down and kills them. the music enters this wonderfully frantic state when a Guardian gets closer, my heart rate jumping.
What Remains From Early Access
Phantom Abyss levels are procedurally generated, meaning rooms are different every run. It also keeps things interesting by saying that once a player completes a temple it is shut off forever, meaning no two players are going to be able to complete the same temple. It’s a unique way to challenge players to be the first and only person to complete a run. This mode persists in 1.0 in the Abyss game mode.
The game features asynchronous multiplayer. This means players can’t compete directly with friends, but can race against their ghost to see who can do better. Regardless of if players share their run or not, their ghost lives on, there for others to witness player’s progress. They can be a spur to race through levels or a learning moment, lead gamers to treasure.
It does pay to be faster than others as there is a modifier that causes ghosts to steal all the coins in treasure chests. More on that in a bit.
Phantom Abyss Moves To 1.0
Moving out of Early Access, Phantom Abyss has added a lot of new features. The Early Access release only had the one game mode. Run through the temple, collect treasure and keys, don’t die. Keys were needed to progress to new biomes.
Version 1.0 has changed things up in a big way. The basic temple run of Early Access is still there, but unlocking whips has become more interesting. 1.0 lets players earn whips through challenges. Each challenge has a rating and simply completing it earns you a new whip. These can have abilities such as double jumps, no fall damage or being able to temporarily disable a Guardian.
Upgrades And Collectibles
When starting, a limited selection of challenges (and thus whips) are available. Once some of basic whips have been earnt, additional challenges unlock, allowing for more difficult stages and more powerful whips.
The challenges have a rating indicating their difficulty. This can be changed with modifiers. When selecting them, challenges will show the chances of getting the various keys. By adding modifiers to make them harder, players increase the chances of finding better keys in treasure chests. Completing a challenge at a higher difficulty setting earns better rewards.
Whips aren’t the only thing to be found in challenges. Along with Relics to show off, stages contain various keys. These can be used in the Upgrade Pool to enhance abilities, giving the true rogue-lite experience. Upgrades range from more health and quicker dash recharge to a longer whip and temporary abilities to aid in a level. There is even a Key Exchange. Have plenty of a lower form of key but want a better sort? Use the Key Exchange to buy higher level keys.
Story In Phantom Abyss?
One of the more intriguing additions to Phantom Abyss 1.0 is a story. Players will run across Una, an archaeologist exploring the temple. She’ll give you little tidbits of information and hint at something bigger happening.
Olmek returns as well, although now he is trapped in chains. Completing challenges will unlock his chains. But is that something we really want to do?
Phantom Abyss
Returning to Phantom Abyss has been a joy. The core of what made it fun is still there. The platforming is amazing, and the challenges add another level of enjoyment that I didn’t think Phantom Abyss could go beyond.
Where the Early Access version had a skill level that needed to be reached to progress, players can now instead choose to grind for keys and upgrade abilities, making Phantom Abyss 1.0 more accessible.
It’s a small thing, but the addition of a story also makes the game more fun for me. Just a hint of a mystery that makes me want to keep playing and see where it goes.
Overall, Phantom Abyss 1.0 is a huge improvement over the original Early Access release. So much has been added while keeping the core gameplay intact. If you haven’t played since Early Access now is the time to jump back in. If you haven’t played before but love platformers, this is the game for you.
Phantom Abyss 1.0 launches on January 25th for Steam (AUD$36.50) and Xbox (AUD$37.45).
Chris Inglis
