I don't generally review games unless I really like them or really hate them, but this one had me on the fence.
The music is good, some bosses were cool, it's obvious the two devs puts alot of thought into the lore. I like having four different characters to choose from. Some of the platforming was well thought out and challenging. And for the negatives...I don't want to compare this to something like Blasphemous or Last Faith, so let's compare it to Golden Axe 3 or Rastan 3. Those games seemed much more fleshed out, and they are like 1000 years old. I understand this is suppose to be like an NES game, not an SNES game, but I feel like things could be a bit more polished. The animations and enemy AI is definitely early era NES. Things like Wizards and Warriors or Zelda 2 were more fluid. This feels more like a really good mobile game rather than a PC game. Maybe I am missing the point or something. I made it half way through and keep thinking I'd rather be playing Blasphemous 2, so maybe it's just me. 5.5 outa 10. Still recommend if you are into early era Rastan 1 like games.

This game is a hilariously unoptimized mess.

So, I really wanted to love this game, as I'm a massive fan of side scrollers, but this game is so poorly coded it does not run well at all.
I'm often dipping down to 5 frames per second if there are more than 4 enemie son the screen.
For context, I have a 4070ti and an i7-13700F
I can run Warhammer 40K Space Marines 2 and Final Fantasy 16 at maximum graphics with zero frame drops. This game? It chugs on a few literal pixels.

After multiple resets, turning CRT filter on and off and changing the resolution, I was finally able to get it around a somewhat playable 15-20fps. Pushing on, I ran into a few interesting design choices that I believe actually hurt this game.

First off, why is there no way to enable a double jump?
The vast majority of this game feel like it was designed with the idea of allowing this feature, as 90% of the jumps you miss are due to being a pixel too high.
Secondly, what does the shop actually do?
Going through the game, I ended up getting multiple upgrades, the 10% attack up, 10% faster swing speed, the 5% jump height, and the 10% additional move speed.
They don't actually do anything. I still could not reach the ledges I was barely not able to reach, bosses still took the same amount of damage, and I couldn't tell if I was running faster due to the horrid performance.

The double jump issue became extremely apparent on stage 6-3, where you have to do a tower climb.
From what I could tell, the only thing in the shop were buying were extra lives, because death is a constant companion in this game.

The other thing that confused me is why is the super armor not able to carry over between stages?
It was genuinely fun to get the overpowered kill all suit, only for it to be stripped away from you at the start of the next stage. It actually made the game feel worse due to how fast you contrasted between now having your nifty power then suddenly you're slow and it doesn't feel great. It should be a power you retain until you die.

I finally gave up at stage 6-4. I couldn't bring myself to keep playing, as the game kept progressively getting slower due to how much junk was on the screen. I would watch in a slow motion horror as I got clipped once, and then I get to watch my guy fall in slow time to his death due to the increased amount of death pits.

I'm truly saddened that this game has so much potential, but it's coded so poorly.

You can read my other reviews here! [www.indiecornergames.com]

Old games evoke an inexplicable sense of nostalgia, acting as true time machines that transport us back to moments when the main concern was simply having fun with friends in the world of video games. Abathor captures that essence, combining elements from classics like Castlevania and Golden Axe, mixed with it typical features of a retro game, including the limited gameplay.


In this adventure, the fate of humanity lies in the player’s hands after the Atlanteans anger the gods by destroying their continent. In response, demonic forces are sent to wipe out the human race. Players can choose from four characters and embark on this mission alone or with up to three friends in local co-op mode, forming a group of heroes whose goal is to close the portals of Abathor and send the demons back to their place of origin.

The premise of the game is simple: finish each level, set in a unique biome with specific enemies, and progress as far as possible with the lives available until the main mission is completed. Although the idea is straightforward, the real fun comes from playing with friends. Each character has their own weapon and stats, such as damage, defense, and agility, allowing for different approaches and styles of attacking enemies. Additionally, it’s possible to visit shops at specific points in the levels, where players can upgrade their equipment.

Beyond basic attacks, players can find items like healing potions, creature summons that help in critical moments, and active abilities that deplete after a few uses. The classic arcade style is very much alive, with increasing difficulty as levels progress and the limited number of lives, represented here by coins. Lives are shared among players, and when one player loses all their health, they can be resurrected at crystals scattered throughout the levels. If all players die, a screen with a typical arcade timer appears – “Insert Coin.”

Each biome offers a series of levels that culminate in boss battles, the most thrilling moments in Abathor. These encounters feature mythical creatures, like the Kraken, making the confrontations even more challenging and rewarding.


The gameplay does have some flaws. Jumps feel heavy, and in certain parts of the game, it’s crucial to be quick and precise, which can result in fatal damage. Character movements are limited, and the lack of fluid control over actions can lead to frustrating moments. There are no defensive options other than dodging attacks with jumps or using the dodge ability, which is undeniably the safest option.

An interesting addition would be the implementation of modern features, like the option to save progress after completing a level. As it stands, if the player doesn’t finish the game in one session, restarting means starting over, without keeping any upgrades. Investing significant time in a previous session only to return to square one can make things a bit difficult to manage.


Despite these limitations, Abathor is a faithful homage to the side-scrolling arcade style, offering a nostalgic experience that certainly recalls the old adventures of classic games. Unfortunately I find it difficult to recommend, it pains me to say, due to the previously mentioned points of frustration.