An addictive blend of musou mayhem and roguelite chaos
By Paul Hunter
The Warriors franchise, developed by Omega Force and published by Koei Tecmo, has long been a staple of the hack-and-slash genre. Known for its frenzied, chaotic gameplay that pits players against hordes of enemies, the series has gained a dedicated following over the years. The latest entry, Warriors: Abyss, aims to shake up the formula by blending the series' signature combat with the randomization of the roguelite genre.
Announced and released shortly after Sony's recent State of Play presentation, Warriors: Abyss transports you to the depths of the underworld. The eccentric ruler Enma has summoned the souls of history's mightiest warriors to aid him in his battle against the awakened evil deity, Gouma, who has seized control of the realm. Your task is to fight your way through the four realms of the underworld, facing off against waves of demonic foes and challenging boss encounters, in a bid to reach and defeat Gouma.
What sets Warriors: Abyss apart from previous Warriors titles is its embrace of roguelite mechanics where each run through the underworld is procedurally generated, with the layout of levels and the enemies you face varying with each attempt. Additionally, the game features a roster of over 100 playable characters, drawn from the Dynasty Warriors and Samurai Warriors franchises, allowing you to experiment with different playstyles and strategies.
As you progress, you'll have the opportunity to forge bonds with these legendary warriors, summoning them to aid you in battle and unlocking powerful abilities and bonuses. The game's meta-progression system also ensures that even in defeat, you'll be able to strengthen your character and improve your chances of success in future runs.
With its frantic hack-and-slash combat, huge cast of characters, and roguelite twist on the established Warriors formula, Warriors: Abyss delivers a fresh and engaging experience for both long-time fans and newcomers to the series. So strap in and prepare to descend into the depths of the underworld as we explore all the features of this thrilling new entry in the Warriors franchise.
The story of Warriors: Abyss begins with an unexpected twist, as you find yourself thrust into the realm of the dead, called upon by the oddball ruler Enma. An ancient evil called Gouma has taken control of Hell and it's up to you, taking control of legendary historical warriors, to put an end to the sinister deity's hostile takeover.
As the story unfolds, you learn that Gouma had been imprisoned for centuries, serving a seemingly eternal sentence. Yet, through mysterious circumstances, this formidable foe has broken free and rapidly extended his malevolent grasp over all realms of the underworld.
This narrative premise sets the stage for an exhilarating roguelite adventure, as you delve into the four distinct regions of the underworld, each guarded by a powerful boss. Your task is to battle your way through hordes of demonic foes, utilising the skills and abilities of the over 100 playable characters, which includes fan-favourites like Cao Cao, Nobunaga Oda, Hanzo Hattori and many more famous faces drawn from the Dynasty Warriors and Samurai Warriors franchises.
One story element I really enjoyed is the dynamic relationship between you, the summoned hero, and the enigmatic Enma. Despite his authoritative position as the ruler of the underworld, Enma is portrayed as a youthful and somewhat awkward figure, prone to outbursts and self-doubt. This unexpected characterisation adds a layer of charm and humour to the otherwise serious proceedings, providing a welcome respite from the intensity of the battles.
The story also encourages you to forge bonds with legendary warriors via a meta-progression system, allowing you to summon them to aid you in battle and unlock powerful abilities and bonuses. This progression system not only enhances your combat prowess but also deepens your roster for each clan, expanding your options for character growth through faction synergies.
At the centre of the Warriors: Abyss experience lies a thrilling blend of 1-vs-1000 hack-and-slash gameplay and the ever-changing nature of the roguelite genre. As you descend into the four realms of the underworld, you'll find yourself immersed in a frenetic battle against hordes of demonic foes, each encounter offering a fresh challenge.
With its large number of playable characters, you'll have ample opportunity to experiment with different playstyles and strategies. Each character boasts their own unique set of attacks—ranging from swords, spears and spells—along with unique abilities and attributes, allowing you to tailor your approach to suit your preferences.
The combat in Warriors: Abyss is delightfully straightforward, with a simple control scheme that emphasises rapid light and charge attack button-mashing to unleash devastating combos. However, the true depth of the gameplay lies in the strategic decisions you make between battles. As you progress through the procedurally generated levels, you'll have the chance to forge bonds with the warriors you encounter, unlocking powerful abilities and stat bonuses that can turn the tide of battle.
It's important stress how key the randomized bonuses new allies grant you are to a successful run. You can focus on strength, which increase your attack power and range, on defense which adds to your resilence and ability to withstand a deadly blow, or other bonuses that increase the potency of your abilities, musou guage or your team synergy guage. There are also elemental bonuses you can focus on, like lightning which can stun foes, fire which burns enemies or wind which can confuse your adversaries. Powering up any particular skill tree to 18 will unlock a super potent ability that will make your run significantly more manageable.
After each run concludes, you can spend the game's currency, known as Karma Sparks, to unlock new playable characters and acquire powerful formations that provide additional tactical advantages. This meta-progression system ensures that even in defeat, you'll be able to strengthen your character and improve your chances of success in future runs.
Another unique aspect of the gameplay is the ability to summon allied warriors to aid you in battle. During the heat of combat, you can trigger a special attack that calls upon one of your bonded warriors to unleash a devastating strike, providing a much-needed boost in the face of overwhelming odds. Mastering the timing and synergy of these summons is crucial to emerging victorious.
The procedurally generated nature of the levels in Warriors: Abyss adds an element of freshness to each run, ensuring that no two experiences are exactly the same. As you navigate through the treacherous realms, you'll encounter a variety of challenges, from waves of demonic foes to powerful boss encounters that require strategic positioning and careful dash, musou gauge and team synergy resource management.
While the core gameplay loop of Warriors: Abyss may seem simple on the surface, the depth and complexity of the meta-progression system, character customisation, and tactical decision-making elevate the experience beyond a mere button-mashing affair.
Warriors: Abyss graphically looks fantastic, but this is a game much more focused on fluidity rather than visual splendour. This comes as little surprise given the sheer volume of enemies, easily numbering in the hundreds, that flood the screen during the frenzied battles.
The character models appear to from the previous generation of Dynasty Warriors and Samurai Warriors titles, rather than the more visually impressive assets of the recent Dynasty Warriors: Origins. Similarly, the environments in which the combat takes place are relatively sparse and simplistic in their design, however, this pragmatic approach proves to be a necessary trade-off when hundreds of enemies and multiple allied warriors are unleashing a barrage of special effects on the screen simultaneously. Make no mistake, this is a game all about the flashiness of intense battles.
Fortunately, the game's performance remains impeccable, with the PS5 version maintaining a silky-smooth frame rate even in the most intense skirmishes. The loading times are also commendably swift, ensuring that your descent into the depths of the underworld is not impeded by lengthy pauses.
The audio presentation of Warriors: Abyss is a familiar mix of tracks drawn from the franchise's established library, complemented by a few new compositions, particularly for the boss battles. The voice acting for the characters is serviceable, and they're all distinctly designed, with unique weapons, movesets and visual flourishes that help to differentiate them. The attention to detail in the character models and animations is a highlight, providing a sense of personality and flair that is not always present in the more generic enemy designs.
While the technical performance of Warriors: Abyss is undoubtedly impressive, its the strong character designs and satisfying combat animations that really make this game shine. I've surpassed the 25-hour mark and still immensely enjoying my time with the title, a testament to the exception gameplay loop.
Final Score: 9/10 - Amazing
Developer: Omega Force
Publisher: Koei Tecmo
Genre: Action, Musou, Roguelike
Modes: Single-player
ESRB Rating: T (Teen)
A key was provided by the publisher.
By Paul Hunter
The Warriors franchise, developed by Omega Force and published by Koei Tecmo, has long been a staple of the hack-and-slash genre. Known for its frenzied, chaotic gameplay that pits players against hordes of enemies, the series has gained a dedicated following over the years. The latest entry, Warriors: Abyss, aims to shake up the formula by blending the series' signature combat with the randomization of the roguelite genre.
Announced and released shortly after Sony's recent State of Play presentation, Warriors: Abyss transports you to the depths of the underworld. The eccentric ruler Enma has summoned the souls of history's mightiest warriors to aid him in his battle against the awakened evil deity, Gouma, who has seized control of the realm. Your task is to fight your way through the four realms of the underworld, facing off against waves of demonic foes and challenging boss encounters, in a bid to reach and defeat Gouma.
What sets Warriors: Abyss apart from previous Warriors titles is its embrace of roguelite mechanics where each run through the underworld is procedurally generated, with the layout of levels and the enemies you face varying with each attempt. Additionally, the game features a roster of over 100 playable characters, drawn from the Dynasty Warriors and Samurai Warriors franchises, allowing you to experiment with different playstyles and strategies.
As you progress, you'll have the opportunity to forge bonds with these legendary warriors, summoning them to aid you in battle and unlocking powerful abilities and bonuses. The game's meta-progression system also ensures that even in defeat, you'll be able to strengthen your character and improve your chances of success in future runs.
With its frantic hack-and-slash combat, huge cast of characters, and roguelite twist on the established Warriors formula, Warriors: Abyss delivers a fresh and engaging experience for both long-time fans and newcomers to the series. So strap in and prepare to descend into the depths of the underworld as we explore all the features of this thrilling new entry in the Warriors franchise.
The story of Warriors: Abyss begins with an unexpected twist, as you find yourself thrust into the realm of the dead, called upon by the oddball ruler Enma. An ancient evil called Gouma has taken control of Hell and it's up to you, taking control of legendary historical warriors, to put an end to the sinister deity's hostile takeover.
As the story unfolds, you learn that Gouma had been imprisoned for centuries, serving a seemingly eternal sentence. Yet, through mysterious circumstances, this formidable foe has broken free and rapidly extended his malevolent grasp over all realms of the underworld.
This narrative premise sets the stage for an exhilarating roguelite adventure, as you delve into the four distinct regions of the underworld, each guarded by a powerful boss. Your task is to battle your way through hordes of demonic foes, utilising the skills and abilities of the over 100 playable characters, which includes fan-favourites like Cao Cao, Nobunaga Oda, Hanzo Hattori and many more famous faces drawn from the Dynasty Warriors and Samurai Warriors franchises.
One story element I really enjoyed is the dynamic relationship between you, the summoned hero, and the enigmatic Enma. Despite his authoritative position as the ruler of the underworld, Enma is portrayed as a youthful and somewhat awkward figure, prone to outbursts and self-doubt. This unexpected characterisation adds a layer of charm and humour to the otherwise serious proceedings, providing a welcome respite from the intensity of the battles.
The story also encourages you to forge bonds with legendary warriors via a meta-progression system, allowing you to summon them to aid you in battle and unlock powerful abilities and bonuses. This progression system not only enhances your combat prowess but also deepens your roster for each clan, expanding your options for character growth through faction synergies.
At the centre of the Warriors: Abyss experience lies a thrilling blend of 1-vs-1000 hack-and-slash gameplay and the ever-changing nature of the roguelite genre. As you descend into the four realms of the underworld, you'll find yourself immersed in a frenetic battle against hordes of demonic foes, each encounter offering a fresh challenge.
With its large number of playable characters, you'll have ample opportunity to experiment with different playstyles and strategies. Each character boasts their own unique set of attacks—ranging from swords, spears and spells—along with unique abilities and attributes, allowing you to tailor your approach to suit your preferences.
The combat in Warriors: Abyss is delightfully straightforward, with a simple control scheme that emphasises rapid light and charge attack button-mashing to unleash devastating combos. However, the true depth of the gameplay lies in the strategic decisions you make between battles. As you progress through the procedurally generated levels, you'll have the chance to forge bonds with the warriors you encounter, unlocking powerful abilities and stat bonuses that can turn the tide of battle.
It's important stress how key the randomized bonuses new allies grant you are to a successful run. You can focus on strength, which increase your attack power and range, on defense which adds to your resilence and ability to withstand a deadly blow, or other bonuses that increase the potency of your abilities, musou guage or your team synergy guage. There are also elemental bonuses you can focus on, like lightning which can stun foes, fire which burns enemies or wind which can confuse your adversaries. Powering up any particular skill tree to 18 will unlock a super potent ability that will make your run significantly more manageable.
After each run concludes, you can spend the game's currency, known as Karma Sparks, to unlock new playable characters and acquire powerful formations that provide additional tactical advantages. This meta-progression system ensures that even in defeat, you'll be able to strengthen your character and improve your chances of success in future runs.
Another unique aspect of the gameplay is the ability to summon allied warriors to aid you in battle. During the heat of combat, you can trigger a special attack that calls upon one of your bonded warriors to unleash a devastating strike, providing a much-needed boost in the face of overwhelming odds. Mastering the timing and synergy of these summons is crucial to emerging victorious.
The procedurally generated nature of the levels in Warriors: Abyss adds an element of freshness to each run, ensuring that no two experiences are exactly the same. As you navigate through the treacherous realms, you'll encounter a variety of challenges, from waves of demonic foes to powerful boss encounters that require strategic positioning and careful dash, musou gauge and team synergy resource management.
While the core gameplay loop of Warriors: Abyss may seem simple on the surface, the depth and complexity of the meta-progression system, character customisation, and tactical decision-making elevate the experience beyond a mere button-mashing affair.
Warriors: Abyss graphically looks fantastic, but this is a game much more focused on fluidity rather than visual splendour. This comes as little surprise given the sheer volume of enemies, easily numbering in the hundreds, that flood the screen during the frenzied battles.
The character models appear to from the previous generation of Dynasty Warriors and Samurai Warriors titles, rather than the more visually impressive assets of the recent Dynasty Warriors: Origins. Similarly, the environments in which the combat takes place are relatively sparse and simplistic in their design, however, this pragmatic approach proves to be a necessary trade-off when hundreds of enemies and multiple allied warriors are unleashing a barrage of special effects on the screen simultaneously. Make no mistake, this is a game all about the flashiness of intense battles.
Fortunately, the game's performance remains impeccable, with the PS5 version maintaining a silky-smooth frame rate even in the most intense skirmishes. The loading times are also commendably swift, ensuring that your descent into the depths of the underworld is not impeded by lengthy pauses.
The audio presentation of Warriors: Abyss is a familiar mix of tracks drawn from the franchise's established library, complemented by a few new compositions, particularly for the boss battles. The voice acting for the characters is serviceable, and they're all distinctly designed, with unique weapons, movesets and visual flourishes that help to differentiate them. The attention to detail in the character models and animations is a highlight, providing a sense of personality and flair that is not always present in the more generic enemy designs.
While the technical performance of Warriors: Abyss is undoubtedly impressive, its the strong character designs and satisfying combat animations that really make this game shine. I've surpassed the 25-hour mark and still immensely enjoying my time with the title, a testament to the exception gameplay loop.
The Verdict
Warriors: Abyss is a compelling experiment and has sold me on the synthesis of the Warriors' franchise frenetic hack-and-slash action and the thrilling nature of the roguelite genre. One of the game's strongest assets is its diverse roster of over 100 playable characters, each with their own unique movesets and attributes, adding a welcome layer of depth and replayability to the experience. While it may not reach the dizzying heights of other titans in the roguelite space, such as Hades, the game nonetheless offers an addictive and satisfying experience that Warriors fans should check out.Final Score: 9/10 - Amazing
Warriors: Abyss details
Platform: PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, PCDeveloper: Omega Force
Publisher: Koei Tecmo
Genre: Action, Musou, Roguelike
Modes: Single-player
ESRB Rating: T (Teen)
A key was provided by the publisher.