Tangle Tower
- October 22, 2019
- SFB Games
- 7h median play time
"Tangle Tower" is a puzzling adventure game where players explore a creepy mansion to solve a murder mystery. Interrogate eccentric suspects, gather clues, and solve intricate puzzles to uncover the truth. With hand-drawn art and a witty script, this game offers a captivating and immersive experience.
Reviews
- The game features amazing voice acting, beautiful animation, and a captivating story that keeps players engaged.
- The art style is stunning, with charming character designs and vibrant visuals that enhance the overall experience.
- The puzzles are enjoyable and well-paced, providing a satisfying challenge without being overly difficult.
- The ending feels rushed and leaves many plot points unresolved, which can be disappointing for players seeking closure.
- Some puzzles can be too easy or lack depth, making the gameplay feel less challenging than expected.
- The game can feel linear at times, with certain clues needing to be found in a specific order to progress the story.
- story948 mentions
- 45 % positive mentions
- 52 % neutral mentions
- 3 % negative mentions
The story of "Tangle Tower" is praised for its engaging narrative, vibrant characters, and beautiful art style, which together create an immersive experience. However, many reviewers express disappointment with the ending, citing rushed conclusions, unresolved plot points, and inconsistencies that detract from the overall satisfaction of the story. Despite these criticisms, the game is still recommended for its captivating storytelling and charming presentation, making it a worthwhile experience for fans of mystery and adventure games.
“The story, the soundtrack, the character arcs, the animation, and dedication to detail are all exceptional.”
“Such a beautiful game with an interesting story that keeps you engaged from start to finish!”
“The story kept me super engaged the whole time, and I found myself extremely eager to solve the mystery.”
“Sadly, this game is over-bloated with red herrings, inconsistent storylines, and character motivations, leading to a disappointing ending that lacks logic and violates the rules the game sets up.”
“The story felt like it was cut short way too early, and not in a satisfying cliffhanger kind of way. Even the way the main plot was resolved felt a bit weak and disappointing.”
“The bigger issue with Tangle Tower is that the actual story is really messy, and while the presentation is strong, it detracts from the overall experience.”
- graphics453 mentions
- 62 % positive mentions
- 38 % neutral mentions
- 1 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game have received widespread acclaim for their vibrant and charming art style, which features unique character designs and smooth animations that enhance the overall experience. Players appreciate the beautiful visuals and engaging soundtrack, noting that the art complements the storytelling and character interactions effectively. Overall, the game's aesthetic is described as captivating and well-crafted, making it a standout feature that draws players in.
“The art style is vibrant and evocative.”
“The artwork is beautiful, the characters have worthy personalities, and the storyline even kept me guessing till the end.”
“The visuals and music for the game are excellent, each screen is colorful, detailed, and a joy to look at, and the music really helps set the mood for the situation and the many characters you speak to.”
“My only complaint is the change in art style.”
“The graphics and humour are well done, everything else is a disappointment.”
“So, because of its charming art-style, I decided to purchase this and its predecessor at a discount...this was a mistake.”
- music426 mentions
- 65 % positive mentions
- 35 % neutral mentions
- 1 % negative mentions
The music in "Tangle Tower" has received widespread acclaim for its exceptional quality and fitting integration into the game's atmosphere. Reviewers highlight the diverse and character-specific soundtracks that enhance the storytelling and emotional depth, with many noting the music's ability to create a whimsical yet haunting ambiance. Overall, the soundtrack is described as memorable and engaging, contributing significantly to the game's charm and immersive experience.
“The music, a delightful waltz of jazzy notes and whimsical melodies, twirls around you, creating an atmosphere that is both playful and mysterious.”
“The art, music, voice acting, and general atmosphere of the game was really enticing.”
“The soundtrack is gorgeous, the animation smooth and lovely, and the backgrounds are phenomenal!”
“The music is kinda meh.”
“While the music and art were charming, the story felt like it ended very abruptly.”
“Tangle tower has charming and eccentric characters, an eye-catching art style, and a catchy soundtrack, but unfortunately falls short in the mystery and puzzle aspect of the game with an abrupt and unsatisfying ending that left me disappointed.”
- gameplay269 mentions
- 34 % positive mentions
- 65 % neutral mentions
- 1 % negative mentions
The gameplay in Tangle Tower is characterized by its intuitive point-and-click mechanics, engaging deduction puzzles, and a unique sentence-building mechanic that enhances the mystery-solving experience. While the puzzles are generally easy and the gameplay can feel somewhat hand-holdy, the integration of story and character interactions keeps players invested. Overall, the game is praised for its charming art style, excellent voice acting, and a satisfying gameplay loop, despite some criticisms regarding a rushed ending and occasional lack of challenge.
“The gameplay allows you to carry out your investigation in your own way.”
“The puzzles unlock clues, so it's gameplay and story integration; you can put together your 'deductions' and what to press on, as it were (Ace Attorney) with no penalties.”
“The gameplay is simple and straightforward, and while it might not provide too much of a challenge, it's fun and engaging.”
“I largely disliked the primary mechanics of acquiring clues and just using them on the NPCs.”
“It feels like it came out of nowhere because there was no hinting to the ending and it feels like the gameplay did not lead up to it; all the detective work was a waste.”
“Unfortunately as a result, it suffers from a content dearth - the core gameplay consists of (incredibly contrived) puzzles/brain teasers and detective intuition segments, the puzzles being of a more limited variety than classics such as the Castle/Island of Dr. Brain and range greatly in quality from excellent to insulting.”
- humor160 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in "Tangle Tower" is widely praised for its charm and cleverness, with many reviewers highlighting the delightful banter between the main characters, Grimoire and Sally. The dialogue is filled with witty remarks and unique interactions that keep players engaged and entertained, often eliciting genuine laughter. Overall, the game's humor complements its intriguing mystery, making it a memorable and enjoyable experience.
“The characters are so good, lovable, unique, funny - and the art is amazing.”
“What I personally enjoyed the most were the funny dialogues between the two detectives, with Sally throwing sarcastic remarks at Grimoire, who's oftentimes stating the obvious.”
“The writing is great and actually made me laugh out loud at times.”
- character development136 mentions
- 60 % positive mentions
- 38 % neutral mentions
- 2 % negative mentions
Character development in the game is highlighted by its vibrant and creative character designs, which are complemented by exceptional voice acting and animation. While many players appreciate the unique personalities and quirks of the characters, some feel that the depth of character development could be improved, particularly in relation to the plot. Overall, the game's artistic elements and engaging dialogue contribute significantly to the characters' charm and memorability, making them a standout feature despite some narrative shortcomings.
“The character designs, their quirks and all the little details really convey who these people are.”
“The beautiful art and character designs coupled with the witty banter and voice acting make each of the characters full of personality and every bit as unique as the rooms, plants, and creatures of Tangle Tower.”
“With dynamic character designs, clever writing and inspired mechanics, this is the mystery game you've been looking for.”
“I understand the foreshadowing to this character being the murderer, but the character development for the killer is so far-fetched that I am still confused.”
“There was so much more room for character development here.”
“There are a few downsides to the game, such as some suspicions for adding character development but not always servicing the plot or main bit of intrigue.”
- atmosphere77 mentions
- 68 % positive mentions
- 29 % neutral mentions
- 4 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its immersive qualities, combining beautiful art, expressive animations, and a captivating soundtrack that enhances the overall experience. Reviewers highlight the engaging voice acting and the intricate details in the environment, which together create a unique blend of charm, mystery, and emotional depth. Overall, the game's atmosphere is considered a core strength, making it a memorable and enjoyable experience for players.
“Adored all the atmospheric details, such as the lighting and dust particles.”
“The atmosphere transitions very well between locations and the art style is firm, not to mention the amazing bits of animation accompanying strong character designs.”
“The music, a delightful waltz of jazzy notes and whimsical melodies, twirls around you, creating an atmosphere that is both playful and mysterious.”
“Unfortunately, this game doesn't have the cutscenes that the previous game had, which were the best-looking part of that game, but this game doesn't really need them with how expressive all of the characters are and the intimate atmosphere of the Tangle Tower.”
“The atmosphere of the story can be mysteriously eerie, but so intriguing and worth playing through.”
“During the playthrough, I had multiple moments of chills running down my spine due to the things happening, and the atmosphere of the game.”
- emotional28 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Tangle Tower is praised for its strong emotional core, with compelling character relationships and a heartfelt narrative that lingers after gameplay. While the game effectively balances humor and suspense, some players felt the ending was rushed and left unresolved questions, diminishing the emotional payoff. Overall, it is regarded as a touching and engaging experience that resonates with players through its unique characters and creative deduction mechanics.
“There are multiple generations of people in the house, and their interplay is compelling and often heartbreaking.”
“Tangle Tower is a remarkable game that has left an emotional impact on me with its multiple elements.”
“The character designs are adorable, and the story is pretty touching.”
- replayability22 mentions
- 14 % positive mentions
- 45 % neutral mentions
- 41 % negative mentions
Overall, the reviews indicate that the game has very low replayability, primarily due to its linear narrative structure and lack of additional content after completing the story. While some players found value in revisiting the game for its charming details and character interactions, most agree that once the main plot and side content are finished, there is little incentive to play again. The consensus suggests that while the game is enjoyable, its replay value is minimal, making it more of a one-time experience.
“Detective Grimoire and Tangle Tower have helped me redefine what a 'good game' is. For me, somewhere around the original Xbox to now, the quality of a game has been measured significantly based on its replayability or how much unique content it has.”
“I remember collecting all the flags in Assassin's Creed, or all the bobbleheads in the Fallouts, and grinding camos in COD or safes in 'Payday.' A lot of that made me think those were good games: they have replayability and a lot of content to access, discover, etc.”
“For a point-and-click murder mystery, I think that indicates a fairly high level of replayability--or at least, characters compelling enough that we want to meet them again.”
“The biggest downsides I could mention are probably: inability to lose (though it does not make the game easy - it still requires some thought), and lack of replayability (once you've completed the story and did the side stuff, there's not much more except the artbook to look through).”
“Unfortunately, there's little to no replay value and the great aspects of this game end up overshadowed by the lack of content.”
“Like with all linear detective stories, sadly there is almost no replay value here.”
- optimization20 mentions
- 65 % positive mentions
- 20 % neutral mentions
- 15 % negative mentions
Overall, the optimization of the game is highly praised, with exceptional voice acting and character design contributing to a polished experience. Players appreciate the well-written dialogue and natural performances, although some minor issues, such as mouse controls and translation quality, were noted. The game's vibrant art style and engaging storytelling further enhance its appeal, making it a standout in the adventure genre.
“It is also optimized perfectly and sharp in performance.”
“The performances are top-notch, bringing each character to life with personality and charm.”
“And it's all spiced up by a surprising amount of polish: the animations, the dialogues, the music, the voiceover performances, and amazing background art.”
“Not really optimized to play with a mouse, the 2nd chapter is longer than all the others combined, and I found the German translation to be rather sloppy at times, but that's about the worst thing I encountered while playing, nothing major.”
“The strong performance holds the game up but it is disappointing to know going into the recently announced follow-up, 'The Mermaid's Tongue', that this story is closed and boy does it end on an unsatisfactory climax.”
“The voice acting is some of the best you will hear in games, each actor fully inhabiting the character with diverse and quirky performances.”
- grinding15 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 13 % neutral mentions
- 87 % negative mentions
Overall, players find the grinding aspect of the game to be a mixed experience. While some appreciate the engaging puzzles and character interactions that keep the gameplay enjoyable, others note that certain segments can become tedious, particularly when it involves excessive backtracking or overwhelming amounts of evidence to sift through. The presence of quick travel and visual indicators helps alleviate some of the grind, but the repetitive nature of certain tasks can still detract from the overall enjoyment.
“You'll need a second life for grinding.”
“The story and characters are weird but boring, and the tedious puzzles and word association have grown tiresome.”
“I found the amount of evidence you could question people about overwhelming, and trying every single thing got a bit tedious.”
- stability2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Overall, users report a stable gameplay experience with no significant bugs or glitches encountered. However, some players noted a lack of clarity regarding certain game features, which may affect the initial user experience.