Absolver has easily been one of the best surprises of 2017, seamlessly meshing aspects of hardcore action RPGs with a measured, deliberate pacing we don’t often see in fighting games anymore. The studio behind the game, Sloclap, isn’t resting on its laurels. A new update to the studio’s “online multiplayer combat game” aims to make Absolver even more rewarding for its biggest fans.
Sloclap outlined three major changes that should bridge the gap between the studio’s original plans for Absolver’s endgame and the community’s vision for a more replayable experience. Most agree that the early hours of the game don’t need much work. Players have hours to learn the various techniques and fighting styles available in Absolver, even teaming up with other players to overcome the campaign’s toughest segments. But many believe Sloclap doesn’t do enough to reward those who stick with Absolver after finishing the handful of boss fights scattered across its map. You can stick around to duel other players or join a fighting school. But there isn’t much incentive for either.
Here’s how Sloclap plans to change that:
The loot system has been reworked with the introduction of Rift Coins and Rift Disks: magical artifacts that will give items of various rarity levels.
The Prestige system will give rewards to players beyond level 60 : Crystals are awarded at each Prestige level, which can be used to reassign Attribute Points and buy Rift Disks. Prestige levels are also displayed in Combat Trials intro videos.
We have updated the inventory with a new “sort” and “salvage” features allowing players to better manage their inventory and convert equipment pieces into Fragments, which can then be used to repair equipment i.e. convert “Aged” into “New”
The studio also says fans can expect the previously-promised 3v3 competitive mode sometime in November. Sloclap isn’t ready to give a specific date yet; however, the studio is confident it can deliver that particular addition before December.
Here are the complete patch notes for Absolver Update 1.08:
NEW CONTENT
Prestige levels unlocked after level 60
Rift Coins replace random loot drops in Combat Trials
Rift Disks allow to get rarer equipments and weapons
Win Crystals at each Prestige level
Spend Crystals to reset attribute points
Spend Crystals to acquire Rift Disks
Inventory management: Sort by, Salvage and Repair.
NEW EQUIPMENT
4 new sets
3 new Absolver Cloaks
9 new masks, including 6 Halloween masks dropped by Marked Ones
1v1 maps are now in night mode (temporary)
New “Bald” haircut available at character creation!
DESIGN UPDATES
Parry :
Almost all attacks, including thrust attacks, now require a specific parry direction to be countered (exceptions: Hadrunken, Obvious Slash and bare-hands Rush Attack for Stagger style)
Rush :
Decrease rush acceleration
Closer rush camera
Rush attacks: increase stun duration
Rush attacks: decrease knockback
Note: These are first steps to address fleeing behaviour.
Rush attacks were intended to counter players fleeing, but until now the player hit by a rush attack had the time to rush again directly after. With a longer stun and shorter knockback for the rush attacks, and a slower acceleration for the rush, the issue should be less present.
Also the new rush camera is closer to the character, so the player has not the whole vision of their surroundings, and it feedbacks more clearly when the character is rushing.
Camera :
The camera position is now lower when close to walls.
Shockwave :
Range 230cm -> 280cm (as before 1.06) BUT knockback now depends on distance to caster (from 280 when close to the caster, to 84 when at the limit of the range)
Items :
Added rarity levels to all equipments
Updated drop rates (Rift Coins and Rift Disks)
BUG FIXES
[GAMEPLAY] 1v1 rematch : clear shards
[GAMEPLAY] Shards cannot be filled in practice anymore
[GAMEPLAY] Charging attacks now lose their property when parried
[GAMEPLAY] Silence power cannot be used without a target
[GAMEPLAY] Parrying a double hit attack doesn’t result in being hit by second hit anymore
[GAMEPLAY] Fixed issue in which character finished in the wrong ending stance when being hit while changing stance
[NETWORK] Fixed a bug in hit knockback resulting in some awkward teleportation
[NETWORK] Fixed dodge position replication
[SAVES] The game now detects if save is not valid and rollbacks to previous save if needed
[AI] Fixed a bug when AI would get stuck after a player’s successful dodge
[SFX] Fixed issue with boss gate SFX sound was playing in PvP maps and during boss fights.
[DESIGN] Loot drops in Rift Coins and Rift Disks now give items in different color variants
Absolver is currently available on PC and PlayStation 4.
Be sure to check back with Player.One and follow Scott on Twitter for more Absolver news in 2017 and however long Sloclap supports Absolver in the months ahead.
