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.
Reviews
- The game features a strong atmosphere with excellent PS1-inspired graphics and eerie vibes, creating an immersive experience.
- Combat, while clunky at times, offers interesting mechanics such as perfect dodging and a mix of melee and ranged attacks that keep gameplay engaging.
- The exploration aspect is rewarding, with a well-designed map that helps players navigate the interconnected environments despite some repetitiveness.
- The combat can feel sluggish and unresponsive, making encounters frustrating, especially against tanky enemies.
- The game is relatively short and can become repetitive due to limited environments and lack of movement upgrades.
- Camera controls can be problematic, particularly when navigating points of interest, leading to disorientation during gameplay.
- graphics10 mentions
- 40 % positive mentions
- 40 % neutral mentions
- 20 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are praised for their retro PS1-inspired aesthetic, which effectively creates a dark and eerie atmosphere that enhances the overall experience. While some players find the visuals and ambiance captivating, they note that the art style can become repetitive over extended play sessions. Overall, the combination of visuals and music contributes significantly to the game's immersive quality.
“The art style and atmosphere of the game are pretty nice.”
“Love the eerie atmosphere; the music and visuals come together so well.”
“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!”
- atmosphere10 mentions
- 60 % positive mentions
- 20 % neutral mentions
- 20 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is widely praised for its rich, eerie ambiance, enhanced by a compelling art style and PS1-inspired graphics that evoke a strong sense of nostalgia. Reviewers highlight the effective combination of music and visuals, creating a mood that fosters exploration, mystery, and a palpable sense of danger throughout the experience. Overall, the atmosphere is described as immersive and integral to the game's appeal.
“The tower on the borderland is a delight, full of character and atmosphere.”
“Love the eerie atmosphere; the music and visuals come together so well.”
“Creepy atmosphere from the first minute and a cool sense of exploration, mystery, and danger.”
“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.”
- story6 mentions
- 83 % positive mentions
- -33 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The story is generally regarded as intriguing and engaging, with a dark and immersive atmosphere that captivates players. While some find it a bit short and repetitive, the lack of exposition adds to its appeal, leaving players curious about the motivations of the antagonists and the backstories of the characters. Overall, the combination of a rich narrative and appealing art style enhances the gaming experience.
“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.”
“So far pretty engaging story, a good bit of mystery added to it.”
“I'm interested in finding out more about what the bad guy was up to, and the backstory of your now evil squadmates.”
“The plot felt disjointed and lacked depth, making it hard to connect with the characters.”
“There were too many plot holes that left me confused about the motivations of key characters.”
- music5 mentions
- 20 % positive mentions
- 20 % neutral mentions
- 60 % negative mentions
The music in the game is highly praised for its ability to create a dark and eerie atmosphere, enhancing the overall experience with a blend of chilling sounds and retro-style visuals. Players appreciate the calming effect of save point music, which provides a sense of relief, while the ambient tracks effectively immerse them in the game's world. Overall, the music is seen as a crucial element that contributes to the game's ambiance and emotional impact.
“Love the eerie atmosphere; the music and visuals come together so well.”
“The vibes were neat, and the game has save point music, so when you hear it, you get that instant stress relief.”
“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.”
“Music represents our safe space, aka bonfire of sorts.”
- gameplay3 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 33 % neutral mentions
- 67 % negative mentions
The gameplay is generally enjoyable, but the combat mechanics are criticized for being clunky, leading to a reliance on evasion rather than engaging combat. Additionally, the radio mechanic feels underutilized, detracting from the overall experience.
“Good game, but one of the main mechanics, combat, is clunky as hell. Running away from enemies most of the time doesn't make it very fun to play.”
“Probably my biggest complaint is that I felt the radio mechanic was severely underutilized.”
- 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.”
