Phantom Abyss is an indie first-person rogue-like platformer developed by TEAM WIBY inspired by classics such as Indiana Jones and Mirror's Edge. It takes the tunnel-running aspect of early endless runner mobile games and bringing them to the modern generation. The player takes on the role of an adventurer plumbing the depths of Aztec-inspired temples, evading booby traps along the way. The asynchronous multiplayer comes in the form of phantoms, and are innovative applications of bygone runners that have infiltrated the temple before the player's time. The phantoms act as ghost runs informing the players of paths to take, some designed to help and others destined to be deadly.
It is essential to use all tools at the player's disposal to uncover the depths of the Ruins, Caverns, and eventually the Inferno. Players should carefully select the whips to deal with the guardians (the enemies of runners and protectors of relics), beat the booby traps, and traverse the tricky platforming sessions. Not all whips are created equal though. Which ones are the best for each player's approach?
In Phantom Abyss, many of the whips come with a curse. Players should try and collect relics of the same color and level as the whip they have equipped. Relics can help purge the whip of its downsides.
9 Scales Whip
In Phantom Abyss, free healing is hard to come by, and the Scales Whip is a nice choice for players hoping to get some health back. The Scales Whip has the ability to heal the runner, up to 6 hearts, which is a nice choice if the player finds they end up taking consistent damage and bowing out of the race early.
The whip heals half a heart at the beginning of each floor and comes with a reasonable curse in exchange. Players may find they want to avoid dart traps as much as possible. With this whip's curse, they will shoot far more swiftly and might pack more of a punch than to be expected.
8 Cable Whip
A little less conversation, a little more constitution, please. The cable whip is a good pick for those wanting to have a heartier health pool, providing two extra hearts for the dire situations that a player may find themselves in.
It is also rather accessible at the beginning of the game, being part of a lower tier that newer runners may want to go for until they reach the more dangerous red relic temples later on. The downside is that blessings are 30% more expensive, but more health is a blessing in itself.
7 Wooden Whip
This whip gives a small boost to the player’s health pool by adding a single heart, and it removes one of the more annoying traps from the game: the dart trap. It effectively makes the dart traps turn their back on the player, allowing for easier traversal of certain temple rooms.
On the downside, blessings may be harder to come by as they are made 30% more expensive, but not becoming a pincushion...now, that is priceless.
6 Abstract Whip
Abstract in name, but not in nature. This whip is said to have been carved by a long-lost traveler and has the ability to grant players more easily obtainable blessings, lowering their costs by a noteworthy 30%.
Blessings can be a useful power-up for traversing through dungeons; however, they are a temporary boon that disappears after the player's death. Some helpful blessings include a long whip (extending the range of the whip) and a double jump (self-explanatory).
5 Feather Whip
A feather worth its weight in gold. This is a crucial whip for the money-grubbing players who seek deals over death in any run of the week, and helps purchase the blessings at all shrines by doubling the number of coins a player can earn in a run.
It also has a nice ability to boost the amount of hearts a runner has, but at the downside at doubling the damage received. Hey, no risk means no reward.
4 Cursed/Forsaken Whip
The forsaken, also known as cursed, whip is the first entry to the red leagues, boasting a powerful life ability endowing the player with six hearts for their next run through the temple. This makes traps and tribulations...merely a flesh wound.
Players may want to be cautious when choosing this whip as sporadic complete darkness can be a run ruiner. But for those used to the occasional obfuscations, this whip can come in handy.
3 Ice/Lightning Whip
The ice and lightning whips work in the same vein, for those who want to run fast and furious this is for the speed runner. Ice allows the player to slide faster, and big brother Lightning enables the player to run faster.
When equipping these whips, players will have to be a lot more vigilant of traps and other temple hazards as the amount of damage received will not be normally proportioned. A life will be lost every time a player collides or is hit with any sort of trap. Phantoms with this whip will often run much faster and also reach their destination quicker, whether that be the relic or death (most likely death).
2 Knight Whip
Tank the temple with the strong knight whip. The Knight whip can grant players three additional hearts, so runners can force their way through traps rather than meticulously avoiding them,
However, in the downside might mean that players seek out more healing options whilst running as the whip also attracts stronger guardians. The traps may seem tepid in comparison, but the guardians will soon heat things up on the way to the Inferno.
1 Void Whip
In the temples, players will often encounter guardians, which are ethereal beings that safeguard the relic of each temple. Guardians can come in many different forms, but the most annoying is a giant floating head that follows the runner through the temple and can pass through walls. This stalking ability is a real pain in the proverbial, and can sometimes catch a player off guard when they are concentrating on other things, such as the platforming sections and evading the dangerous traps.
The void whip is a great choice as it enables players to banish guardians at the risk of capping the player's life total at a single heart. However, focusing on the traps can be easier when there isn't the looming sense of danger constantly threatening to end the run short.
Phantom Abyss is out now on PC, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.