Abyss Odyssey
{{Short description|2014 platform action-adventure video game}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2016}}
{{Infobox video game
| title = Abyss Odyssey
| image = Abyss Odyssey Cover Art.png
| developer = ACE Team
| publisher = Atlus
Sega (Windows)
| designer =
| engine = Unreal Engine 3
| platforms = Windows, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360
| released = Windows, PS3
{{Video game release|WW|15 July 2014|PAL|16 July 2014 (PS3)}}Xbox 360
16 July 2014
PS4
{{Video game release|NA|28 July 2015|PAL|30 July 2015}}
| genre = Platform, action-adventure
| modes = Single-player, multiplayer
}}
Abyss Odyssey is a platform action-adventure video game developed by ACE Team and published by Atlus. It was released in July 2014 for the Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, and Microsoft Windows, and for the PlayStation 4 in July 2015.
The game's plot follows a set of heroes who fight to reach a warlock whose dreams are infecting reality in late 19th century Santiago, Chile. Abyss Odyssey combines elements from multiple video game genres, has a unique art style based on the Art Nouveau movement and has characters based on Chilean mythology. It received mostly positive reviews from critics who praised its atmosphere but criticized some aspects of gameplay.
Gameplay
File:Abyss Odyssey - Screenshot 06.jpg meets Super Smash Bros."]]
The gameplay has a fusion of elements from a number of gaming genres. The player controls an avatar who battles enemies and advances through dungeons to reach the conclusion of the stage. The game's levels are procedurally generated, providing a new experience on each. The player only has one life but may be revived. If the player character dies, the player is put in control of a much weaker human who tries to avenge their death and can revive the player at specific altars.
The game's fighting system combines elements of the Super Smash Bros. and Street Fighter franchises, and rewards players for timing their blocks and attacks at the right moment. Players can capture the souls of enemies they encounter—once collected, a player can then assume the form and abilities of the enemy in-game. Abyss Odyssey uses a community-based unlock system; upon its launch, only the first "phase" of the game was available. After a certain number of players defeat the game's final boss, the Warlock, the next phase of the game is unlocked for all players.
Development
File:Abyss Odyssey - Screenshot 01.jpg]]
Developer ACE Team revealed Abyss Odyssey on their blog on 4 March 2014.{{cite web|url=http://forums.aceteam.cl/index.php?autocom=blog&blogid=2&showentry=108|title=Abyss Odyssey revealed!|author=Bordeu, Andres|date=4 March 2014|website=ACE Team|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140810154749/http://forums.aceteam.cl/index.php?autocom=blog&blogid=2&showentry=108|archivedate=10 August 2014|url-status=dead|accessdate=22 February 2023}} The developers were inspired by the Art Nouveau movement and they used Harry Clarke as a direct reference for much of the game's art and atmosphere.{{cite web|url=https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/zeno-clash-dev-on-abyss-odysseys-procedural-insanity|title=Zeno Clash Dev On Abyss Odyssey's Procedural Insanity|author=Grayson, Nathan|date=7 March 2014|website=Rock Paper Shotgun|publisher=Gamer Network|accessdate=22 February 2023|archive-date=22 February 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230222193217/https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/zeno-clash-dev-on-abyss-odysseys-procedural-insanity|url-status=live}} The developers intended the game to be extremely replayable and designed the combat mechanics to be simple to understand, after initially considering a more complicated fighting layout.
An Enhanced Edition titled Abyss Odyssey: Extended Dream Edition introduced competitive multiplayer as well as new types of enemies and bosses to the game and was released for the PlayStation 4 in July 2015. A "nightmare" difficulty mode is included in the Enhanced Edition.{{cite web|url=https://www.eurogamer.net/abyss-odyssey-extended-dream-edition-announced-for-ps4|title=Abyss Odyssey: Extended Dream Edition announced for PS4|author=Matulef, Jeffrey|date=8 May 2015|website=Eurogamer|publisher=Gamer Network|accessdate=22 February 2023|archive-date=22 February 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230222193218/https://www.eurogamer.net/abyss-odyssey-extended-dream-edition-announced-for-ps4|url-status=live}}
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Reception
{{Video game reviews
| MC = (PS3) 70/100{{cite web|url=https://www.metacritic.com/game/abyss-odyssey/critic-reviews/?platform=playstation-3|title=Abyss Odyssey for PlayStation 3 Reviews|website=Metacritic|publisher=Fandom|accessdate=2 December 2020|archive-date=8 March 2024|archive-url=https://archive.today/20240308002759/https://www.metacritic.com/game/abyss-odyssey/critic-reviews/?platform=playstation-3|url-status=live}}
(PC) 69/100{{cite web|url=https://www.metacritic.com/game/abyss-odyssey/critic-reviews/?platform=pc|title=Abyss Odyssey for PC Reviews|website=Metacritic|accessdate=7 August 2014|archive-date=8 March 2024|archive-url=https://archive.today/20240308002803/https://www.metacritic.com/game/abyss-odyssey/critic-reviews/?platform=pc|url-status=live}}
(PS4) 65/100{{cite web|url=https://www.metacritic.com/game/abyss-odyssey-extended-dream-edition/critic-reviews/?platform=playstation-4|title=Abyss Odyssey: Extended Dream Edition for PlayStation 4 Reviews|website=Metacritic|accessdate=2 December 2020|archive-date=8 March 2024|archive-url=https://archive.today/20240308002816/https://www.metacritic.com/game/abyss-odyssey-extended-dream-edition/critic-reviews/?platform=playstation-4|url-status=live}}
(X360) 64/100{{cite web|url=https://www.metacritic.com/game/abyss-odyssey/critic-reviews/?platform=xbox-360|title=Abyss Odyssey for Xbox 360 Reviews|website=Metacritic|accessdate=2 December 2020|archive-date=8 March 2024|archive-url=https://archive.today/20240308002823/https://www.metacritic.com/game/abyss-odyssey/critic-reviews/?platform=xbox-360|url-status=live}}
| Destruct = (PC) 7/10{{cite web|url=https://www.destructoid.com/reviews/review-abyss-odyssey/|title=Review: Abyss Odyssey (PC)|author=Duncan, Alasdair|date=15 July 2014|website=Destructoid|publisher=Gamurs|accessdate=22 February 2023|archive-date=22 February 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230222193217/https://www.destructoid.com/reviews/review-abyss-odyssey/|url-status=live}}
| EuroG = (PC) 8/10{{cite web|url=https://www.eurogamer.net/abyss-odyssey-review|title=Abyss Odyssey review (PC) [date mislabeled as "9 February 2015"]|author=Whitehead, Dan|date=24 July 2014|website=Eurogamer|publisher=Gamer Network|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140727045057/https://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2014-07-24-abyss-odyssey-review|archivedate=27 July 2014|url-status=live|accessdate=22 February 2023}}
| GT = (PC) 7/10{{cite web|url=http://www.gametrailers.com/reviews/gezl1f/abyss-odyssey-review|title=Alien Odyssey - Review (PC)|author=Moore, Ben|date=21 July 2014|website=GameTrailers|publisher=Defy Media|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140810085235/http://www.gametrailers.com/reviews/gezl1f/abyss-odyssey-review|archivedate=10 August 2014|url-status=dead|accessdate=22 February 2023}}
| IGN = 6.7/10{{cite web|url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2014/07/24/abyss-odyssey-review|title=Abyss Odyssey Review|author1=Cobbett, Richard|author2=Stapleton, Dan|date=24 July 2014|website=IGN|publisher=Ziff Davis|accessdate=7 August 2014|archive-date=6 August 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140806062439/http://www.ign.com/articles/2014/07/24/abyss-odyssey-review|url-status=live}}
| OPMAU = (PS3) 65%{{cite magazine|title=Abyss Odyssey (PS3)|magazine=PlayStation Official Magazine – Australia|publisher=Future Australia|date=October 2014|page=77}}
| OXMUK = (X360) 7/10{{cite magazine|url=http://www.totalxbox.com/79553/reviews/abyss-odyssey-xbox-360-review/|title=Review: Abyss Odyssey Xbox 360 [Incomplete]|author=Evans-Thirlwell, Edwin|date=21 July 2014|magazine=Official Xbox Magazine UK|publisher=Future plc|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140724071848/http://www.totalxbox.com/79553/reviews/abyss-odyssey-xbox-360-review/|archivedate=24 July 2014|url-status=dead|accessdate=22 February 2023}}
| PCGUK = (PC) 55%{{cite magazine|url=https://www.pcgamer.com/abyss-odyssey-review/|title=Abyss Odyssey review|author=Maiberg, Emanuel|date=18 July 2014|magazine=PC Gamer|publisher=Future plc|accessdate=22 February 2023|archive-date=22 February 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230222193217/https://www.pcgamer.com/abyss-odyssey-review/|url-status=live}}
| USG = (PC) 3/5{{cite web|url=https://www.vg247.com/abyss-odyssey-pc-review-training-wheels|title=Abyss Odyssey PC Review: Training Wheels|author=Mackey, Bob|date=31 July 2014|website=VG247 (USgamer)|publisher=Gamer Network|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20220729162346/https://www.usgamer.net/articles/abyss-odyssey-pc-review-training-wheels|archivedate=29 July 2022|url-status=live|accessdate=22 February 2023}}
| rev1 = Metro
| rev1Score = (PS3) 6/10{{cite news|url=https://metro.co.uk/2014/07/21/abyss-odyssey-review-hot-chile-gaming-4804901/|title=Abyss Odyssey review – hot Chile gaming (PS3)|author=Hargreaves, Roger|date=21 July 2014|newspaper=Metro|publisher=DMG Media|accessdate=22 February 2023|archive-date=22 February 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230222224821/https://metro.co.uk/2014/07/21/abyss-odyssey-review-hot-chile-gaming-4804901/|url-status=live}}
| rev2 = Slant Magazine
| rev2Score = (PS4) {{Rating|3.5|5}}{{cite web|url=https://www.slantmagazine.com/games/abyss-odyssey-extended-dream-edition/|title=Review: Abyss Odyssey: Extended Dream Edition|author=Pressgrove, Jed|date=7 August 2015|website=Slant Magazine|publisher=Slant Magazine LLC|accessdate=22 February 2023|archive-date=22 February 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230222224819/https://www.slantmagazine.com/games/abyss-odyssey-extended-dream-edition/|url-status=live}}
}}
The game received "mixed or average reviews" on all platforms according to the review aggregation website Metacritic. Critics praised the game's art style and atmosphere, but were disappointed by some of its game mechanics and its repetitive nature.
Eurogamer{{'}}s Dan Whitehead praised the PC version's visuals and new ideas in a positive review, but felt that there was a "... sense that in straddling so many genres, the game has spread itself a little thin." IGN{{'}}s Richard Cobbett compared the same PC version's roguelike elements unfavorably to The Binding of Isaac and Spelunky, but noted that "the soundtrack is fantastic, and the art is even better." Hardcore Gamer{{'}}s James Cunningham likened the art style to "playing a Grateful Dead album cover" and called it "a quirky little gaming gem."
Reception to the combat system was mixed. Destructoid{{'}}s Alasdair Duncan felt that the combat system was "enjoyable and deep" and provided one of the main reasons to play the game, while PC Gamer{{'}}s Emanuel Maiberg derided what he felt to be the game's sluggish control input and compared the game negatively to the Super Smash Bros. series that its fighting system is based on.
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References
{{reflist}}
External links
{{Commons category}}
- {{Official website|http://www.abyssodyssey.com}}
- {{moby game|id=/79570/abyss-odyssey/}}
{{Portal bar|Video games}}
{{ACE Team}}
{{Atlus}}
Category:Action-adventure games
Category:Multiplayer and single-player video games
Category:PlayStation Network games
Category:Roguelike video games
Category:Unreal Engine 3 games
Category:Video games developed in Chile
Category:Video games featuring female protagonists
Category:Video games set in Chile