At this point, it seems like there is a new Metroidvania to play every month. During Summer Game Fest Play Days, we got to go hands-on with End of Abyss for around half an hour to see just what sets this sci-fi horror roguelite apart from the pack. The answer is, well, genre and style.
This year has been a great year for fans of sci-fi, and more importantly, sci-fi horror with titles like Directive 8020, Aphelion, and SAROS. Developed by Section 9 Interactive and published by Epic Games Publishing, End of Abyss is looking to add to the roster.
End of Abyss offers players an immersive sci-fi horror world right off the bat. Set in the depths of a mysterious underground compound, your mission is to investigate unexplained disturbances that spiral into a harrowing descent through a broken, abandoned world filled with the ugliest creatures that take inspiration from some of sci-fi horror’s best, like The Thing, while still feeling unique.
End of Abyss is a Metroidvania for sci-fi horror lovers.
You play as the game’s protagonist, Cel, a young combat technician. As she explores the underground compound, she uncovers the truth behind the facility’s derelict areas and confronts the monstrous creatures that roam them using a variety of weapons, distractions, and crafting upgrades along the way.
With dedicated save points, the important element is that you don’t lose progress before that save point, which alleviates some Metroidvania stress. However, because enemies respawn, the challenge isn’t entirely gone. This works because it advances the game’s narrative, which is never lost in the gameplay loop.
By using a scanner, players can mark important elements, such as a door they have yet to open, so they know to come back to it, and also find bits of lore that help tell the player about the mystery they have entered. This piece of the game works extremely well for players who may take some time to adjust to the game’s twin-stick control scheme, which can be difficult in tight corridors.
End of Abyss is the right kind of challenging.
That said, once you get your bearings, End of Abyss offers up intuitive combat that inspires curiosity and experimentation. While I only got to use the pistol and shotgun, learning what worked well for one enemy type vs another, a group of enemies vs a singular threat, was a process that made sense, and made each death actually feel like growth. Especially as the projectiles were there to use (a grenade to kill and a flare to distract).
The enemies you fight through are marketed as “twisted horrors,” and they really are grotesque in the best ways. Enemy variety, even in my little half-hour with the game, is something to write home about. Gross and fantastic, the variety of enemy movement, reach, and damage dealt keeps you on your toes as you learn them.
Additionally, End of Abyss tasks players with navigating branching paths and uncovering hidden areas, which incentivizes frequent saving and using your scanner to mark points of interest on the map. One I encountered was a large tank area that had to be drained before I could enter it. With the scanner, I marked it on the map before continuing.
Overall, End of Abyss is aesthetically gorgeous, narratively interesting, and the right kind of challenging. With an October release date, this is one to add to your Halloween rotation and one that I can’t wait to learn more about.