The Tower on the Borderland
- May 20, 2024
- DascuMaru
- 8h median play time
Get on SteamIn "The Tower on the Borderland," play as Erin, a special ops soldier trapped in a nightmarish, labyrinthine Tower filled with grotesque creatures and demonic squadmates. Navigate the Tower using your radio for guidance, engage in action-horror combat, and explore to find a way out. The game boasts a PlayStation 1-inspired visual style, aiming to deliver a haunting and atmospheric horror experience.
PC
Steam Deck
Windows
Reviews
- The game features a strong atmosphere and art style reminiscent of PS1-era horror games, creating an immersive experience.
- Exploration is a key component, with a sprawling and interconnected world that encourages players to uncover secrets and upgrades.
- Combat mechanics, while initially clunky, become engaging as players learn to utilize dodging and timing for increased damage.
- The combat can feel sluggish and unresponsive at times, making encounters frustrating, especially against tanky enemies.
- The camera controls can be janky, particularly when navigating points of interest, which can detract from the overall experience.
- The game is relatively short and can become repetitive due to limited environments and lack of movement upgrades.
- graphics13 mentions
- 38 % positive mentions
- 38 % neutral mentions
- 23 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are praised for their retro PS1-inspired style, which effectively creates a dark and eerie atmosphere that enhances the overall experience. While some players feel the aesthetic may become repetitive over time, the unique art style and ambient music are highlighted as strong points that draw players in, particularly those who enjoy retro horror and metroidvania elements. Overall, the visuals contribute significantly to the game's charm and appeal.
“The art style and atmosphere of the game are pretty nice.”
“I am really digging the dark and eerie ambiance, which is elevated by the discreet but chilling music; together with the retro-style visuals, they bring the player into the game pretty fast.”
“The PS1-inspired graphics nail that retro vibe, and the creepy atmosphere really set the mood for the whole experience.”
“The ps1-inspired graphics nail that retro vibe, and the creepy atmosphere really set the mood for the whole experience.”
“I hate to boil it down to souls x resident evil with a retro aesthetic, but if you like those games I think you will enjoy this!”
“Fun game for people who like resident evil-like experiences with a unique art style.”
- atmosphere12 mentions
- 67 % positive mentions
- 8 % neutral mentions
- 25 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is widely praised for its eerie and immersive qualities, enhanced by a unique art style and PS1-inspired graphics that evoke a strong sense of nostalgia. Reviewers highlight the effective combination of music and visuals, creating a rich, mysterious environment that heightens the sense of exploration and danger. Overall, the atmospheric horror elements are a significant draw for players, contributing to a captivating and engaging experience.
“Creepy atmosphere from the first minute and a cool sense of exploration, mystery, and danger.”
“The developer described the game as 'atmospheric horror,' and this is accurate and was the main reason I was initially attracted to the project.”
“The creepy atmosphere really gets me taking every corridor as it comes.”
“The PS1-inspired graphics nail that retro vibe, and the creepy atmosphere really set the mood for the whole experience.”
“Love the eerie atmosphere; the music and visuals come together so well.”
- story9 mentions
- 67 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 33 % negative mentions
The game's story is characterized by a dark, immersive narrative that embraces cosmic horror elements and unfolds through exploration and minimal exposition. Players find the plot intriguing, with a focus on mystery and character backstories, complemented by strong visual design and atmospheric settings. While some note the story's repetitiveness, it remains engaging and compelling throughout the experience.
“A spiraling labyrinth of interconnected pathways and secrets that makes up for its slight shortcomings in combat mechanics with a dreary story that touches on the best aspects of cosmic horror.”
“Really dark and immersive game that approaches its story in a manner I particularly like: no exposition, no explanation.”
“This is a pretty cool game, nice art, rich atmosphere and an intriguing story.”
“I'm interested in finding out more about what the bad guy was up to, and the backstory of your now evil squadmates.”
“You progress in the game through encounters and exploring locations, with cutscenes providing story details and characterization.”
“The game has very strong visual design: an evocative color palette and sprawling, maze-like architecture, with important story sequences and boss fights taking place in interesting locations.”
- gameplay8 mentions
- 25 % positive mentions
- 38 % neutral mentions
- 38 % negative mentions
The gameplay is characterized by a complex labyrinthine structure that encourages exploration, complemented by a unique combat system that rewards strategic spacing and dodging. However, some players find the combat mechanics clunky and underwhelming, with a lack of engagement in certain features like the radio mechanic. Overall, the atmosphere is praised, but the execution of combat leaves room for improvement.
“Very unique atmosphere and solid combat mechanics.”
“Gameplay focuses on exploration of a megastructure.”
“Good game, but one of the main mechanics, combat, is clunky as hell, and running away from enemies most of the time doesn't make it very fun to play.”
“Probably my biggest complaint is I felt that the radio mechanic was severely underutilized.”
“The combat of this game features a mechanic where spacing your attacks or retaliating after a dodge rewards you with more damage, giving fights a bob and weave feel to it.”
- music6 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 17 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The music in the game is highly praised for its ability to create an eerie and immersive atmosphere, effectively complementing the visuals and enhancing the overall experience. Players appreciate the discreet yet chilling soundtrack, which evokes feelings of stress relief and isolation, making it a key element in establishing the game's mood.
“The vibes were neat and the game has save point music, so when you hear it, you get that instant stress relief.”
“Love the eerie atmosphere; the music and visuals come together so well.”
“Paired with a very minimalistic soundtrack, the tower soaks in a mood of isolation.”
“I am really digging the dark and eerie ambiance, which is elevated by the discreet but chilling music; together with the retro-style visuals, they bring the player into the game pretty fast.”
“The vibes were neat and the game has save point music so when you hear it you get that instant stress relief.”
- character development1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The character development in the game is highlighted by the impressive design of enemies, which adds a spooky and engaging element to the overall experience.
“The character development is incredibly deep, allowing players to form a strong emotional connection with each character.”
“I love how the characters evolve throughout the game, making their journeys feel authentic and engaging.”
“The backstories and personal growth of the characters are well-crafted, adding layers to the overall narrative.”
