Let’s Go to Hell! Your mission, which you have no choice but to accept, is to liberate hell from the evil Gouma and return it to its rightful king. Are you ready for this roguelite journey? Let’s go to hell in our review, Warriors: Abyss!
Warriors Abyss
Platforms： PlayStation 5 (Reviewed), PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch, Steam, Xbox Series X|S
Genre： Roguelite Warriors Action
Release date: Out now
*Special thanks to KOEI TECMO America for the PS5 review key*
Intro/story:
From the press release:
In WARRIORS: Abyss the souls of heroes have found themselves summoned to the underworld. Here, the ruler of the underworld, a boy who calls himself “Enma” informs players that the ancient evil entity “Gouma” has been released and has taken over this hellish land. At the request of “Enma,” the heroes dive into the abyss teeming with the undead!
Set in the floors of a randomly generated “hell,” players battle through waves of enemies from all directions as they delve into the abyss where the arch-villain, “Gouma,” awaits. Along the way, players meet new characters and find items to select from to strengthen their team. These selections can be combined to unleash powerful effects, allowing for a variety of strategic approaches. Since the characters and items will change with each playthrough, players will need to craft new strategies in order to find success.
WARRIORS: Abyss introduces a new way to play a WARRIORS title by combining the exhilarating feeling of 1 vs. 1,000 action with roguelite elements – such as randomly generated stages and items, and enhancing player strength through choices – allowing for a different experience with each playthrough while also encouraging countless hours of replayability.
Warriors: Abyss is a surprise entry that fuses the signature hack-and-slash brawls of the Warriors franchise with the unpredictable structure of a roguelite. Drawing inspiration from Hades’ fast-paced, replayable loops while retaining the over-the-top combat of Dynasty and Samurai Warriors, the game offers a unique, if imperfect, experience.
Gameplay:
At its core, Warriors: Abyss delivers a frenzied, adrenaline-fueled combat system. You command a staggering roster of 100 playable characters, each with distinctive moves and special abilities, allowing for a wide array of combos and strategic squad formations. Players can summon additional heroes mid-combo, adding an extra layer of tactical decision-making as you string together massive, visually satisfying Musou attacks against relentless demon hordes. This blend of rapid, visceral action with roguelite progression is one of the game’s standout features, earning praise from dedicated fans and newcomers alike.
Audio and Visual:
Here is where Warriors: Abyss shows its budget roots. The visual presentation feels recycled, with character models and environments that harken back to older entries in the franchise. The underworld is rendered in a drab, low-poly style that struggles to capture the imaginative potential of Hell. There are only four different environments, which is lacking a bit. For fans who value aesthetic immersion, this aspect might feel disappointing.
Audio-wise, there is little difference in terms of the soundtrack. The voices are Japanese only, while there is one main voice, which is from Enma. It lacks variety but does get the job done.
Fun Factor:
The roguelite structure shines through in the game’s meta-progression. Each run offers a chance to unlock new characters and permanent stat boosts, giving a tangible sense of growth, even if every decision ultimately feeds into a “numbers game.” While the strategic depth of assembling your ideal squad is engaging at first, many players have noted that once you grasp the formula, your choices tend to converge on simply picking the highest power boosts. This can slightly undercut the sense of agency that is the hallmark of more layered roguelites. Coming from a gamer who isn’t big on roguelites, Warriors Abyss does it well despite its flaws. I had a ton of fun with it. The formula got its hooks in me, and it worked like a charm.
Wrap-up/Conclusion
Warriors: Abyss is not without its flaws. Its repetitive level design and shallow narrative serve more as a vehicle for its core combat than as an engaging story in its own right. However, if you’re a fan of the Musou formula and enjoy the addictive loop of roguelike gameplay, this title offers an accessible, affordable, and explosively fun experience. It may not redefine the genre, but its satisfying, high-octane battles and extensive roster provide plenty of replayability, and that’s enough to keep the adrenaline pumping run after run.
– until next time, Mgs2master2 out!
Score: 8/10 Warriors: Abyss is a fantastic spin-off with a roguelike element to it. It does get its hooks in you in no time, even with its flaws.
*Special thanks to KOEI TECMO America for the PS5 review Key*