Game Review #495: Towertale (Nintendo Switch)
Reviewer: Marcos Martin
Developer: MiSou Games
Publisher: Keybol Games
Category: Application, Action, Adventure, Platformer
Release Date: 4.8.2020
Price: $9.99
Buy Towertale from the Nintendo Switch eShop here.
Who’s the Boss Now?
Towertale is a 2-D boss-battling game with cute animations and polished enemy patterns—one of those games that are easy to learn and get familiar with, but always hard to master. Its story driven narrative and very well done art style make this game very easy to sit through the dialogue and cutscenes’ visual novel style.
But don’t be fooled! Right after everyone stops talking, all the action begins, and you’ll be pummeled into the ground and shred to pieces if you weren't ready to stand your ground and hit back. Your goal is to beat every last enemy you encounter in your path to the top of the tower—that's where this game got its name, after all. Once you get to the highest and uppermost point of this building, you shall be granted a wish that could change the fate of any hero who reaches it, and that's all I can say about it without spoiling the fun of the plot… sorry friend.
Gather the Faithful... The Four of Them!
This tale is about four heroes, all of them playable and their stories intertwined: The prince and heir to the throne, Lionel Blueheart; Faindrel Ashelm, the vigilante with a past she would rather not remember; Lord Snicklefritz, a wizard able to control nature’s elements; and Dark Echo, an unknown assassin who can be pretty annoying at times, his moves are good and he is amazing in the battlefield—but it was hard to sit through his lines during the conversation portions of the game.
These four characters are able to all play at the same time in 4-player co-op, and this is a joy. If it was already fun playing by yourself, it becomes even more fun playing with friends, so bring them over to your couch if it is Towertale that you are playing. Each character has its pros and cons, but all of them are fun in their own way—not you, Snicklefritz, you stay in your corner while you charge up your spells, and learn to do that quicker than I can say Floccinaucinihilipilification. That's a real word. It means an abstract sense of uselessness, which sounds appropriate for the wizard. Also, nerf the archer please, she is OP.
Every boss encounter is both enjoyable and terrifying; even if they look like a harmless treasure goblin, you'll be surprised by the spears you will find in your chest if you believe they are actually harmless. Each boss has their own environment, moves, phases, patterns, and weaknesses. I found this to be the most enjoyable part of the game, as it made me plan strategically on every new stage, and rethink said strategy after every death… because you’ll die, and it will be your fault every single freaking time. In other words, “GIT GUD, NEWB!” … or so they say.
“We’re Going on an Adventure!”
Sword clings sound metallic, bow strings make you feel like you have just shot an arrow, spells sound like… magic? I don't know how magic is supposed to sound in real life, but you get the point. The sound is alright; it gets the point across, but it’s nothing to write home about.
On the other hand, that music would make you feel like you are on your first quest to Mordor, and will simply walk into it defying all popular beliefs. It gives you a rush, makes you want to stab them monsters harder, and will make you feel like you were there after the battle is over, whether the creatures have been slain or they have slain you—that kind of soundtrack. Even during its flute solos, it's still good, and one does not make that statement after being put on hold every day by customer service agents—just saying!
Kill them until they are dead.
After the short game time I had with it, Towertale left me wishing for more, regardless of its initial aesthetic being that of a flash game—which I looked past. It offered me a few other modes after the story, but this felt like the same game minus the story, or with a ticking clock to measure my scores; but it was still the same four characters fighting the same 17 bosses. It was short for my liking, but at $9.99, that's not a big complaint to have. Truth is, the game is fun. It makes for a really good time-killer evading hazards, spending all your energies in short bursts while you kill them baddies, and crouching to regain that stamina you just lost, just to get up and do it all again. Kill them until they are dead.
Score: 8/10
Buy Towertale from the Nintendo Switch eShop here.
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*A game code was provided for review purposes