At a first glance, Atlyss really doesn’t look like a challenging co-op action RPG, but it most certainly is. Multiple, highly-customizable classes? Check. Dynamic combat and daunting dungeons? Check. A brilliant character creator? Check. All the hallmarks are there. While it’s getting plenty of attention for some of its more… suggestive… aspects, fans of early 2000s MMOs or even modern ARPGs should find enjoyment in its addictive gameplay, which has helped earn Atlyss a remarkably high 98% Steam user rating just one week on from its early access launch.
The first thing that you’ll get stuck into with Atlyss – and the thing that has arguably generated the most discussion around the new RPG – is its character creator. In Atlyss you play as a deceivingly-cute creature and can pick from one of five races to be your base – ranging from the rodent-like Changs to the reptilian Kubolds. However, the character creator lets you customize many aspects, from their skin/fur/scales/feather color, to the style of outfits, to their voice pitch. Oh, and there are body proportion sliders that allow for some real, erm, expression. Combine that with a setting that can turn jiggle physics on or off and you’ll quickly realize why looking up the game on social media may not be a suitable-for-work activity.
Atlyss is predominantly built as a multiplayer game, taking heavy inspiration from old school MMORPGs in both its visual style and as a general experience. You can get into public or private lobbies of up to 16 people, and dungeons can be tackled in groups of up to four. Features like an in-game text chat and emotes and to the social aspect of the experience. However, should you want to go it alone, offline solo play is also supported.
As far as combat and gameplay go, there are three classes to choose from right now – I’m sure more will be on the way, but Atlyss has released in early access so is still a work in progress. There’s the Fighter which is focused on melee damage, the Mystic which is all about magical powers and a support style of play, and the Bandit which is all about agile movement and swift attacking.
Each class has a generous pool of unique skills to gradually learn and level up. The three classes also feed into three specific stats that marry up with certain types of weapons: Strength (Fighter), Mind (Mystic), and Dexterity (Bandit). Combat itself is a third-person affair, and the combination of the perspective and the visuals also give off an air of ‘action platformer from the early 2000s.’
This combination of extremely horny style and riotous co-op gameplay has led to swathes of glowing reviews. In fact, with its 98% ‘overwhelmingly positive’ rating, it’s one of this year’s highest-rated new Steam games as things stand. It’s also been hitting peak player counts of around 10,000 per day since it launched last week, which is very commendable.
What’s more extraordinary about the game and its early success is that it’s been designed and built by one solo developer. Plus, it’s remarkably good value if you’re looking for a new, low-cost game to sink some time into.
Atlyss is out right now in Steam Early Access and will set you back just $9.99 / £8.50. You can learn more about the game and pick it up for yourself here.
For similar experiences, why not check out our lists of the best co-op games and the best action games.
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