Tower Escape
- February 15, 2023
- SlightlyMadman
- 9h median play time
"Tower Escape" is a reverse tower defense game where you guide a team of minions through treasure-filled mazes to escape the tower. Use strategy and puzzle-solving skills to overcome obstacles, collect powerful gems and relics, and transform gameplay in this unique twist on the genre. As you plan your escape, summon your armies back from the dead and avoid the elf's defenses to emerge victorious.
Reviews
- The game offers a unique twist on the tower defense genre, combining elements of roguelike gameplay with strategic decision-making.
- The pixel art and soundtrack are charming, creating a nostalgic atmosphere that enhances the overall experience.
- Gameplay is engaging and addictive, with a variety of minions and upgrades that encourage experimentation and replayability.
- The game can feel repetitive and lacks depth, leading to boredom after extended play sessions.
- Some players have expressed frustration with the reliance on RNG, which can lead to unfair difficulty spikes and inconsistent experiences.
- The inclusion of modern socio-political imagery has polarized opinions, with some players feeling it detracts from the gameplay experience.
- gameplay45 mentions
- 42 % positive mentions
- 51 % neutral mentions
- 7 % negative mentions
The gameplay of the reviewed game is a unique and engaging blend of tower defense and roguelike mechanics, offering a fresh take on the genre with strategic depth and a satisfying learning curve. While some players find the mechanics limited or repetitive, many appreciate the game's charming visuals, exceptional soundtrack, and the challenge it presents, making it a standout title for fans of both tower defense and roguelike games. Overall, the gameplay is described as addictive and enjoyable, with potential for future content updates to enhance the experience further.
“The gameplay is a nice new take on a tower defense game - plenty of options and strategy to utilize and doesn't get dull.”
“Tower escape is a captivating game that masterfully blends tower defense mechanics with roguelike elements, creating an experience that is both intensely stressful and immensely enjoyable.”
“With its engaging gameplay, deep strategy, and delightful retro presentation, it's sure to provide hours of entertainment for anyone looking for a nostalgic gaming experience.”
“The game mechanics were too annoying to manage, I guess.”
“A game with an interesting premise but with an unfortunate lack of content and fairly repetitive gameplay.”
“I dearly wish there was more meat to the gameplay, but as it stands, it's fairly shallow.”
- music31 mentions
- 55 % positive mentions
- 35 % neutral mentions
- 10 % negative mentions
The music in the game has received widespread acclaim for its catchy chiptune style, reminiscent of classic NES soundtracks, which enhances the overall gameplay experience. Reviewers highlight the soundtrack as a standout feature, effectively setting the mood and adding charm to the game, while also noting its ability to evoke nostalgia for older titles. Overall, the engaging music complements the pixel art and gameplay, making it a memorable aspect of the game.
“One of the standout features of Tower Escape is its soundtrack, which is nothing short of outstanding.”
“The music sets the mood perfectly, enhancing the tension of the gameplay while also adding a unique charm to the overall experience.”
“The game's retro aesthetic is lovingly crafted, with charming pixel art and a catchy chiptune soundtrack that perfectly captures the spirit of classic tower defense games.”
“Reminds me of older custom made maps on Warcraft 3 & Starcraft - but made with pixel style art and old NES music.”
“Not entirely sure if I would have been moved to write a positive review of the game (for anything other than the bopping soundtrack, at least) but simply deleting the previous negative review didn't seem right either, especially since the developer took the time to chime in.”
“Please sell this soundtrack.”
- graphics17 mentions
- 35 % positive mentions
- 47 % neutral mentions
- 18 % negative mentions
The graphics of Tower Escape are characterized by a charming, retro aesthetic that evokes nostalgia for classic games, featuring pixelated art and a simplistic yet appealing style. While some players note that the visuals are basic, they appreciate how the old-school design complements the engaging gameplay and quirky atmosphere. Overall, the graphics contribute positively to the game's charm and replayability, making it a delightful experience for fans of the genre.
“The visuals in Tower Escape are a delightful throwback to classic games, with a charming, old-school aesthetic that adds a layer of nostalgia to the experience.”
“The game's retro aesthetic is lovingly crafted, with charming pixel art and a catchy chiptune soundtrack that perfectly captures the spirit of classic tower defense games.”
“There is a lot to like about this game for sure; the music and graphics are nice if you enjoy that old-school aesthetic in your games, and I definitely do.”
“It would be really easy to sleep on this game, because it appears simple and doesn't have a flashy or stylish aesthetic.”
“Graphics are basic but I don't mind that.”
“Graphics are neat as well.”
- replayability11 mentions
- 27 % positive mentions
- 45 % neutral mentions
- 27 % negative mentions
Overall, the game offers a mix of opinions on replayability. While many players appreciate its cute graphics, strategic depth, and numerous unlockables that enhance replay value, some express concerns about the lack of variety in levels and limited deckbuilding options, which can lead to monotony over time. Continuous updates from the developers are seen as a positive factor that may improve replayability in the future.
“It's a cute little reverse tower defense with a lot of replay value.”
“Super replayable with a nice option of different strategies.”
“Lots of unlockables and replayability; the devs support it with constant updates.”
“That said, I don't think there is a lot of replayability (at least not yet, March 2023). Again, I still think it's worth the money, but it would be nice if there was a little more to it; all the levels are essentially the same.”
“Where the game stands, it's fun but lacks replayability due to its limited deck-building options, and there isn't anything to break up the monotony of watching monsters travel from floor to floor.”
“The main thing I'd say is adding a bit of variety to levels, modifiers, and the like could help out a lot to make the game replayable.”
- grinding5 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and time-consuming, often rating it around 5-6/10. The need for extensive grinding to achieve permanent upgrades detracts from the overall enjoyment, leading some to consider abandoning the game before completing it.
“A bit too grindy to finish the permanent upgrades, and I may put it down before getting through them all.”
“Game is not bad, but very grindy.”
“Upgrades take a long time; there are permanent upgrades as well (the grindy part).”
- story4 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 25 % neutral mentions
- 75 % negative mentions
The game's story is generally considered mediocre and poorly integrated, with some players finding its political themes unnecessary and lacking relevance to gameplay. Many feel that the narrative is minimal, often reduced to a brief animation and scrolling text, leading some to conclude that the game does not require a story at all.
“The game is mediocre and has weird politics in it that serve no gameplay or story purpose.”
“There's seemingly a story element tied to the difficulty, but I can't be bothered to understand it because it boils down to a single animation and some scrolling text at the beginning of the run.”
“This game doesn't need a story.”
- atmosphere2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is enhanced by a memorable soundtrack that receives high praise, contributing significantly to the overall experience. The combination of engaging graphics, a quirky sense of humor, and the evocative audio creates a cohesive and immersive environment.
“It's the kind of soundtrack that sticks with you, worthy of praise and recognition, and it significantly elevates the game's atmosphere.”
“Graphics, soundtrack, atmosphere, and a positively quirky sense of humor come together beautifully.”
- humor2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game's humor is characterized by a quirky and lighthearted tone, enhanced by amusing character names like "zombaby" and "frank," which contribute to a fun and cheerful atmosphere. Players appreciate how this humor complements the overall experience, adding an enjoyable giggle factor to the gameplay.
“Graphics, soundtrack, atmosphere, and a positively quirky sense of humor come together well.”
“I especially like the names because Zombaby and Scott can exist on the same team as Frank, Death Knight, and Imhotep; it adds a funny giggle factor to the already relatively happy game.”
- stability2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The full game has been criticized for its numerous bugs and glitches, which detract from the overall experience, especially compared to the stable demo version. Users express disappointment with the buggy user interface in the full release.
“Loved the demo; the game seems fun enough, but it's a shame the UI is buggy as hell in the full game.”
“I didn't have a single problem with the demo, but the full game is full of bugs and glitches.”