Compare Absolum vs The Last of Us Part II Remastered

Assist and accessibility options are a repeated strength, with reviewers praising damage sliders, no-damage settings, and flexible difficulty tuning, though online co-op may limit assist use.

Reviewers praise the expanded accessibility suite, especially descriptive audio, speech-to-vibration support, and broader options that make the game easier to experience.

Evidence points to mature-only suitability: reviewers cite an M rating and warn that younger players or those without a strong stomach may not appreciate it.

Enemy behavior is praised for unpredictable patrols, strong aim, and AI that can swarm the player, especially in No Return encounters.

Aiming is helped by precise PC controls and performance modes, with one technical review emphasizing fast aiming precision and dodging.

Animation is consistently praised as smooth, stylish, expressive, and central to the hand-drawn presentation.

Animation remains a major strength, with industry-best combat animation and varied contextual actions supporting the game's brutal presentation.

Reviewers strongly agree that Absolum's hand-drawn fantasy art and bold visual identity are standout strengths.

The art direction is praised through scenic, atmospheric landscapes that reviewers repeatedly stop to admire.

The fantasy tone, music, and environmental presentation create a strong atmosphere, though this is usually discussed through art, sound, and world-building.

The game maintains an oppressive, visceral atmosphere, with reviewers calling out its tension, revenge story, and masterclass sense of mood.

Bosses are often called memorable, unique, and mechanically interesting, but a few reviewers criticize late-game or gimmick boss decisions.

Boss encounters are supported mainly through No Return and Abby-focused PC coverage, with reviewers highlighting memorable boss fights and final-run showdowns.

Bug evidence is limited, with one reviewer citing several bugs and another noting pre-launch freezes that were patched.

Bug and stutter reports are limited but present in PC coverage, including texture glitches, foliage pop-in, and stutter entering dense areas.

Camera praise is mostly cinematic rather than mechanical, with reviewers noting strong camera shots rather than camera problems.

Character development evidence is moderate: some new character moments expand the story, but several reviewers wanted deeper core-cast development.

Character development is supported by reviews praising Abby's humanization, character arcs, and the emotional impact of the main cast.

The four-character roster is widely liked for distinct playstyles, though some reviewers wished for more characters or larger parties.

No Return's playable roster is a major positive, bringing Ellie, Abby, Joel, Dina, Lev, Jesse, Tommy, and others into the mode with distinct traits.

Class/build balance is mixed because one review found a build that could trivialize the game.

Co-op is usually praised locally and online, but two-player limits and co-op difficulty tuning create caveats.

The co-op experience is essentially absent; one review explicitly notes that the gameplay bones are there but the online infrastructure is not.

Combat is the clearest consensus strength, repeatedly described as slick, deep, responsive, impactful, and among the best in modern beat-em-ups.

Combat is one of the strongest areas, repeatedly described as dynamic, brutal, satisfying, and mechanically solid in both campaign and No Return.

Community features are light but present through Daily Run-style shared challenges and leaderboard comparisons.

Companion support is mentioned positively through mercenaries, chickens, and helpers that can assist during runs.

Content variety is divisive: many reviewers praise branching routes and changing events, while others feel repetition sets in too quickly.

The remaster is praised for its extras: No Return, Lost Levels, commentary, guitar free play, skins, speedrun tools, and other options.

Controls are mostly praised as responsive, fluid, and reliable, though a few defensive inputs require adjustment.

Controls are generally praised as responsive, smooth, and especially strong on PC mouse and keyboard.

The loop is addictive for many reviewers thanks to short runs, build choices, and one-more-run momentum, though some find the grind intrusive.

The core loop is highly praised, especially the tight combat-survival rhythm and No Return's distilled version of the game's mechanics.

Local/couch co-op is regarded as fun and functional, with the main limitation being the two-player cap.

Build crafting is usually positive, with rituals, trinkets, and synergies adding variety without fully taking over the beat-em-up core.

Crafting remains important, with reviewers tying it to survival, stealth, ammunition scarcity, and No Return upgrades.

Crash stability evidence is narrow but positive after a pre-launch freeze issue was fixed.

Cross-save support is supported by a review noting that PS4 saves and achievements can be carried over.

Dialogue quality is split: one reviewer says no line is wasted, while another says some dialog exchanges stumble and bore.

Difficulty balance is one of the most contested areas, with praise for adjustable challenge but criticism of grind, co-op scaling, and late-game spikes.

Difficulty is framed as challenging but fair, with selectable difficulty helping players ease into No Return while preserving tension.

Resource and stat balancing is mixed, with some useful upgrade currencies but concerns that numbers can overshadow action skill.

Resource balance is a strength, with reviewers praising scarcity that makes ammo, crafting materials, and every shot feel meaningful.

Emotional impact is mostly tied to escapism and fondness for the world rather than heavy story emotion.

Emotional impact is one of the strongest consensus areas; reviewers repeatedly describe the story as heavy, upsetting, and memorable.

Endgame content is a recurring weakness, with reviewers citing a lack of meaningful progression or frustrating true-final-boss requirements.

Endgame value comes primarily from No Return's daily and custom runs, ongoing boss attempts, and reasons to return after the campaign.

Enemy variety is generally positive across regions and bosses, but a few reviewers find repetition or recolors noticeable.

Enemy variety is supported by No Return's randomized factions and the addition of new enemy types and infected encounters.

Environmental detail receives strong praise where discussed, especially for detailed textures and themed areas.

Environmental detail is consistently praised, from photorealistic detail to Seattle's scenery, overgrown environments, and accurate city recreation.

Exploration is a major strength, with hidden paths, secrets, map changes, side areas, and discoveries across repeated runs.

Exploration is mostly positive because it rewards searching and environmental storytelling, though PC Gamer finds it more constrained than combat.

Facial animation and capture are repeatedly praised as best-in-class or amazing, preserving the campaign's emotional delivery.

Faithfulness is mixed but positive: reviewers call it a fascinating, bold sequel that recontextualizes the first game rather than repeating it.

Family friendliness scores very low because reviewers emphasize the game's violence, mature tone, and need for a strong stomach.

Frame rate is generally strong on PC, Steam Deck, and Switch, though Switch evidence includes some drops.

Frame-rate impressions are mostly positive, especially on PS5, though PC coverage notes some scene-dependent or configuration-specific issues.

Fun factor is high overall because the combat, co-op, and run structure keep most reviewers engaged despite caveats.

Fun factor is strongest in No Return, where reviewers repeatedly describe the mode as fun, addictive, and a strong reason to replay.

Core mechanics are praised for depth, mastery, combo flexibility, and beat-em-up fundamentals.

Gameplay mechanics are praised for fresh combat, stealth, top-notch play, and improved action systems over the original.

Graphics are widely praised for gorgeous hand-drawn art, clean fantasy styling, and strong handheld presentation.

Graphics remain a major strength, with reviewers praising PS5 and PC visuals even when they call the upgrade modest.

Grind level is a central tradeoff: some reviewers find progression tolerable or motivating, while others feel the game forces too much repetition.

Handheld suitability is strong, especially on Steam Deck, with Switch and Deck reviews noting good portable play despite minor issues.

Handheld suitability is supported by Steam Deck impressions, which describe playable performance and a fruitful handheld experience.

Controller feedback is praised where mentioned, especially selective vibration and HD rumble that make hits feel impactful.

Haptic feedback is widely praised on PS5, especially weapon resistance, bows, subtle vibrations, and DualSense immersion, though one PC review says it feels weaker than PS5.

Horror tension is strong, with reviewers mentioning anxiety from headphones, clicker sounds, and overall atmosphere.

Immersion is supported through reviewers describing Talamh as engrossing, escapist, and easy to miss after stopping play.

Immersion is helped by DualSense, 3D audio, haptics, and environmental presentation that reinforce the harsh world.

Innovation is supported by the beat-em-up roguelite fusion and buildcrafting, though not every reviewer thinks the blend fully works.

Innovation comes from the Lost Levels, developer commentary, and rare behind-the-scenes transparency more than from the unchanged campaign.

The learning curve is accessible but uneven, with easy basics and deeper defensive systems that take patience or experimentation.

Learning curve is helped by selectable difficulty and clear No Return progression, though some automated hinting is described as blunt.

Level design is strong overall thanks to handcrafted branching routes, secret areas, and varied biomes, though some repetition remains.

Level design is mixed: reviewers praise design explanations and training of expectations, but one PC review finds navigation unclear.

Live-service support is poor because the planned online or live-service multiplayer project is repeatedly referenced as canceled.

Load times are a clear improvement, with reviewers noting fast or seamless loading compared with older versions.

Loot and trinkets add build variety, but some reviewers found passive bonuses underwhelming or hard to parse.

Loot systems matter in No Return through randomized shops, rewards, modifiers, and challenges, though this is not a traditional loot-heavy game.

Lore depth is mixed: reviewers see rich lore and world details, but some find it self-indulgent or unevenly delivered.

Lore depth is supported by environmental storytelling and optional encounters that reveal wider stories without large exposition dumps.

Map and navigation design supports replay through branching routes and an opening map, but some pathing choices can be unclear.

Map and navigation design is mixed: No Return's route board is clear, but some campaign navigation is criticized as hard to read.

Matchmaking is mentioned as easy to access in one co-op-focused review, but evidence is otherwise limited.

Menu usability ranges from sleek and navigable to specific complaints about unclear maps and item prompts blocking information.

Menu usability is supported by the feature-rich extras menu and speedrun recap tools.

Quest and mission design can create discoveries and new routes, but side quests are also criticized as repetitive or RNG-dependent.

Mission design is strongest in No Return, where randomized encounters and changing objectives create short, focused challenges.

Mission variety is supported through routes, secrets, combat scenarios, and quest goals that change runs.

Mission variety is a No Return highlight, though a few reviewers say encounter types can eventually become samey.

Monetization is generally seen as fair because reviewers repeatedly accept or praise the $10 upgrade price.

Movement feel is mostly positive for fluidity, but several reviews note 2.5D precision or grab/dodge awkwardness.

Movement feel is praised for nimble combat, large arenas, smoother movement, and improved melee animation.

Multiplayer design works well for two players and supports local/online play, but reviewers repeatedly wish for more than two players or better co-op balance.

Multiplayer design is effectively absent because the Factions or live-service project was canceled.

Narrative quality is the most split major attribute, ranging from generic and stilted to masterful or strong after it opens up.

Narrative quality remains the most divisive area: many reviewers call it profound or powerful, while others criticize cynicism, pacing, or its framing.

Onboarding is generally approachable after a run or two, though some early systems and the opening hours can feel weak or unclear.

Onboarding is decent through difficulty settings and hint prompts, though some guidance can feel artificial.

Online play is positively noted through online co-op and rollback netcode, but detailed stability evidence is limited.

Originality is reflected in reviewers calling the genre fusion refreshing or a new direction for roguelite beat-em-ups.

Originality is mixed: the core game remains singular, but No Return is described as fun without being a unique roguelike structure.

Pacing is mixed: run length is praised by some, while others say the game takes too long to find its best rhythm.

Pacing is the most repeated story concern, with reviewers citing excessive length, elongated sections, and short lost levels cut for pacing.

Performance optimization is positive on PC and Steam Deck, with strong efficiency and few reported issues after patching.

Performance optimization is generally good on PS5 and PC, but PC impressions vary with some stutter and texture-glitch caveats.

Platform-specific support is strongest on Steam Deck, where badge status, controller-first design, and performance are emphasized.

Platform-specific feature support is strong, spanning DualSense, 3D audio, VRR, FOV, ultrawide, HDR, PC options, and save carryover.

Polish is praised in broad terms, though bug and Switch performance comments prevent a flawless picture.

Polish is generally high, with reviewers citing Naughty Dog polish, top-notch PS5 optimization, and a strong PC definitive version.

Progression is highly divisive: some reviewers love the growth systems, while others feel meta-progression gates the best version of the game.

Progression is praised in No Return through unlockable characters, cosmetics, bosses, modifiers, and an overarching progression track.

Playable protagonists are appealing because the quartet has fun archetypes and distinct move sets.

Protagonist appeal is mixed: Ellie is praised as carrying the sequel, but one reviewer says the character became harder to relate to.

Puzzle design appears mostly in Lost Levels and optional environmental sections, with reviewers calling out light or water-based puzzle elements.

Remaster quality is strong as a special edition, not a remake: reviewers praise the package while noting visual changes are modest.

Replay value is highly divisive: many reviewers praise fresh routes, secrets, and one-more-run momentum, while others say repetition or weak postgame limits longevity.

Replay value improves through No Return, daily/custom runs, unlocks, and extras, though a few reviewers question long-term staying power.

Sandbox freedom is strongest in No Return, where custom runs, modifiers, and route choices let players tune combat scenarios.

Side character depth is a weak spot where discussed, with evidence that supporting figures and cast backstory can feel thin or inconsistent.

Side character depth is supported by praise for supporting performances and scenes involving characters beyond Ellie and Abby.

Skill trees are positively mentioned as reasons to play multiple heroes, though depth evidence is limited.

Skill depth appears in No Return through supplements, upgrade trees, skills, and temporary build decisions rather than a deep RPG system.

Social features are limited but include friend comparisons on leaderboards for Daily Runs.

Sound design is a consistent presentation strength, with crunchy impacts, strong effects, and audio that sells combat.

Sound design is a major strength, especially stealth audio, clicker/stalker cues, and anxiety-enhancing headphone play.

The soundtrack is one of the most consistently praised elements, often called excellent, memorable, or among the year's best.

Soundtrack quality remains strong, with reviewers praising the score and music's emotional impact.

Stealth mechanics are praised as improved, tense, and central to both campaign and No Return.

Tutorial evidence is mixed to negative where discussed, with one reviewer saying counterattack timing felt off even in the tutorial.

Tutorial and guidance are present but mixed, with hints and commentary explaining scenes but some prompts feeling artificial.

Upgrade systems add important power and variety, but reviewers disagree over whether key moves should be temporary or permanently available.

Upgrade systems are praised within No Return through weapon upgrades, skills, recipes, and character unlocks.

UI evidence is mixed: attack previews help selection, but font scaling on handhelds is a notable complaint.

UI is mixed: the Extras menu is feature-rich, but one PC review notes a mouse/UI frame-rate issue and guitar free play clunkiness.

Value for money is generally positive, with reviewers citing fair pricing, hours of entertainment, and worthwhile co-op/action value.

Value for money is usually positive, especially at $10, though one review argues the package may not be worth every player's time.

Visual effects are impressive and energetic, though on-screen clutter occasionally affects clarity.

Visual effects remain strong, with praise for lighting, scenery, pop-in improvements, and environmental effects.

Voice acting is mixed but leans positive, with several reviewers praising performances and others finding some voices weak or poorly directed.

Voice acting is consistently praised, with reviewers calling the cast superb and the performances central to the story.

Weapon/build balance is only lightly supported; evidence points to some busted ritual/skill combinations rather than traditional weapon balance.

Weapon balance is supported by scarcity and weapon tradeoffs, where having ammo for one weapon often means lacking it for another.

World-building is frequently praised for history, lore, magical rules, and a rich fantasy setting, though some reviewers want stronger storytelling.

World-building is praised through Seattle's detail, environmental storytelling, and the expanded world of the sequel.

World interactivity is a strength through breakables, mounts, throwables, environmental traps, and interactable spaces.

World interactivity appears in optional encounters, environmental clues, and small interactive moments that deepen the setting.

Writing is mixed: some reviewers enjoyed the humor and storytelling touches, while others found the broader narrative generic.

Writing quality is mixed but high-impact, with praise for intentional storytelling alongside criticism of some script choices.