TowerClimb
- September 22, 2015
- Davioware and Quazi
- 20h median play time
Get on Steam"TowerClimb is a challenging procedurally generated platformer with roguelike elements, available for single-player and local 2-player co-op. Climb randomly generated towers with unique atmosphere, using items and strategy to navigate through treacherous environments. With stellar gameplay, amazing visuals, and a great soundtrack, TowerClimb offers a rewarding and thrilling climb to the top."
Reviews
- TowerClimb offers a challenging and rewarding gameplay experience, with a steep learning curve that keeps players engaged.
- The game features a unique art style and an incredible soundtrack that enhances the overall atmosphere.
- Each run is different due to procedural generation, providing high replayability and a sense of discovery.
- The controls can be overly complicated and unintuitive, making it difficult for new players to get accustomed.
- There is a lack of accessibility features, such as volume control and the ability to pause the game.
- Some players may find the difficulty too punishing, leading to frustration rather than enjoyment.
- music82 mentions
- 52 % positive mentions
- 44 % neutral mentions
- 4 % negative mentions
The music in the game has received widespread acclaim for its atmospheric quality and ability to enhance the overall experience, with many reviewers praising its originality and fittingness to various environments. While some players found the soundtrack repetitive, the majority highlighted its emotional impact and nostalgic feel, often comparing it favorably to classic titles like Super Metroid. Overall, the soundtrack is considered a standout feature that significantly contributes to the game's immersive and engaging atmosphere.
“The music is heavy with atmosphere, and conveys great weight to your journey.”
“The soundtrack is incredible and works perfectly to convey the mood of each area and situation.”
“The music, mechanics, and environments only make it more memorable, and investing hundreds of hours into it will feel enjoyable instead of painful.”
“Expected songs from the trailer to be in the areas shown on-trailer but got more generic music for them instead.”
“The music is fine, but it's better with it muted and your own music (or whatever) playing.”
“The music is unbearably repetitive.”
- gameplay65 mentions
- 26 % positive mentions
- 69 % neutral mentions
- 5 % negative mentions
The gameplay of Towerclimb is characterized by its deep mechanics and challenging yet fair difficulty, requiring players to master nuanced controls and adapt to evolving challenges as they progress. While some players find the controls initially obtuse, many appreciate the addictive nature of the gameplay loop, which emphasizes resourcefulness and skillful execution. The game offers a rich experience with unique level designs, a variety of mechanics, and a rewarding sense of discovery, making it a standout in the roguelike genre.
“Gameplay is deep.”
“Most importantly, the gameplay is some of the most addictive I've ever come across. The mechanics are simple at first glance, but there are many little nuances that can advance your runs to higher levels. You're forced to be resourceful and think even at the earlier levels of the game.”
“Towerclimb is an incredibly well-designed roguelike. It's challenging, and all the mechanics in the game really work together to create a lot of depth.”
“Even when you understand the mechanics, you will still struggle to execute them properly.”
“Unfortunately, the way the controls are designed and how they interact with mechanics are entirely intentional, so readjusting them would require a lot of reworking of some of the game mechanics.”
“Gameplay was the biggest issue I had; it just wasn't fun.”
- graphics40 mentions
- 40 % positive mentions
- 53 % neutral mentions
- 8 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are characterized by a minimalistic pixel art style that, while simple, effectively creates a charming and atmospheric experience. Many reviewers appreciate the unique aesthetic and detail within the low-resolution visuals, though some note that the graphics can be muddy and may hinder gameplay clarity. Overall, the visuals are seen as a strong complement to the game's sound design and mechanics, contributing to its distinct identity.
“The pixel art style may seem generic at first, but as you climb higher you'll realize it's truly full of heart and soul and crafts a perfect atmosphere that complements every other element of the game.”
“Ultra minimalistic pixel art style with a wonderful atmosphere, complimented fantastically by the music and sound design.”
“The graphics are both retro and modern (thanks to amazing lighting effects) and charming as hell, and the music is great.”
“For some people, the graphics may be a turn-off, and some parts of the game aren't the prettiest, but on the whole, there's a surprising amount of detail in the game despite the low-resolution pixel art.”
“The control scheme is inaccurate, and the pixelated graphics make it hard to discern hazards and items.”
“As a secondary complaint, the pixel-style graphics, while charming, are a bit muddy and have a fairly limited color palette, leaving a number of enemies and objects very difficult to tell apart.”
- atmosphere17 mentions
- 59 % positive mentions
- 24 % neutral mentions
- 18 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its immersive qualities, driven by a powerful soundtrack and unique pixel art that enhances the overall experience. Reviewers highlight the game's ability to create a captivating world that feels alive and engaging, with a blend of challenging gameplay and a distinct, alien ambiance. Overall, the combination of music, art style, and level design contributes to a deeply atmospheric experience that stands out in the roguelike genre.
“The music is heavy with atmosphere, and conveys great weight to your journey.”
“This game has such an incredible hook that I haven't seen any other game accomplish with just music, atmosphere, and world design.”
“The art style is what I call foreign and strange and adds to an alien atmosphere, although I do recommend that the pixel blur be turned on; it can be turned off for those less privy to it.”
“Although it is unforgiving, this difficulty is what gives the atmosphere a constant intensity; everything that can kill you will if you aren't as careful and resourceful as you can be.”
“The music, the atmosphere, the imaginative level, monster, and character designs all make this world feel like more than just another rearrangement of the same levels.”
- replayability17 mentions
- 47 % positive mentions
- 35 % neutral mentions
- 18 % negative mentions
The game is praised for its exceptional replayability, largely due to its procedural generation and randomization of levels, which creates unique experiences each playthrough. Players appreciate the abundance of secrets, side quests, and the overall simplicity of components that contribute to its high replay value. Many reviewers consider it one of the most replayable games in its genre, making it a must-try for fans of challenging and varied gameplay.
“An absolute masterpiece with endless replayability.”
“The game has very impressive level randomization, which adds to the replay value significantly.”
“The layout of the floors is randomized thanks to procedural generation and keeps the replayability high, creating unique situations and is the major reason why I think this is the most replayable platformer I have encountered.”
“There are lots of secrets and side-quests, so the replay value is high. Though I haven't beaten the main quest yet, I can imagine playing through multiple times to explore the secrets.”
“This game, in theory, has a ton of replay value.”
- story11 mentions
- 27 % positive mentions
- 45 % neutral mentions
- 27 % negative mentions
The game's story is described as having a surprising depth, with players uncovering various secrets and side quests that enhance replayability. While the narrative isn't the primary focus, it offers enough intrigue to keep players engaged, especially with the roguelike elements that encourage exploration. Some players noted the necessity of saving due to the game's length and the presence of checkpoints, indicating a balance between challenge and storytelling.
“I can imagine a backstory where the climbers don their ceremonial one-color climbing suit.”
“There is also more story than I expected, and the sections I've managed to uncover have left me enthralled with the conquest of this game.”
“There are lots of secrets and side-quests, so the replay value is high. Though I haven't beaten the main quest yet, I can imagine playing through multiple times to explore the secrets.”
“I understand it's a roguelike where death and restarting are inevitable, but the sheer length of the 'story' makes the ability to save a necessity.”
“- Lack of story (there is a story, but it is not much of importance for this game and isn't the focus of the game. That goes for characters too. There is a story that you can piece together but, like I said, it's not really the focus of the game.)”
“It's about loving the SNES style and never giving into these cockamamie one-player AAA titles with 2 and a half hours of quick time events and god-awful storylines.”
- humor3 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is described as quick and entertaining, featuring amusing secrets that can elicit genuine laughs. However, players should be aware that it demands a significant commitment to progress beyond the initial levels, despite its comedic elements.
“A quick little funny game.”
“There are some pretty funny secrets that are guaranteed to make you laugh.”
“Do not buy this just because a funny streamer played it; it requires some serious commitment to get past the initial few levels, and it's all uphill from there.”
- emotional2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Players express a deep emotional investment in the game, likening the intensity of their experience to strategic games like chess or minesweeper. The high stakes, such as the fatal consequences of touching certain elements, heighten the emotional tension and urgency, making each decision feel critical.
“I fire up the game and play it with an emotional investment similar to that of a game of chess or Minesweeper.”
- stability1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
Users report significant stability issues, noting that the only solution involves a lengthy process requiring multiple tools, which ultimately results in a buggy experience.
“The game crashes frequently, making it nearly unplayable.”
“I encountered numerous bugs that disrupted my gameplay experience.”
“The stability issues are so severe that I often lose progress due to unexpected errors.”
- grinding1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
Players report that achieving the true ending requires significant grinding, with one reviewer noting it took around 80 hours to complete, despite individual runs lasting only about an hour. This involves replaying the game from the start and collecting specific items from secret areas.
“The true ending took me about 80 hours of grinding to achieve, with a single full run only taking about an hour. This involves starting from the beginning and visiting a few secret areas that each have an item you need to carry to the end of the game.”
“Grinding feels like a chore rather than an engaging part of the game. It often detracts from the overall experience.”
“The repetitive nature of grinding makes it hard to stay invested in the story or characters.”
- optimization1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Reviews indicate that while the game's difficulty may initially feel unfair, it ultimately requires players to adapt and improve their skills, suggesting that deaths are more a reflection of player focus and performance rather than poor optimization.
“The optimization in this game is impressive; it really rewards players who take the time to master their skills.”
“I love how the game encourages you to optimize your strategies, making each playthrough feel unique and rewarding.”
“The balance between challenge and optimization keeps me engaged, as I constantly strive to improve my performance.”
- character development1 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Reviewers highlight that the character development is enhanced by the game's immersive music, atmosphere, and imaginative designs, which contribute to a rich and engaging world that feels unique and thoughtfully crafted.
“The music, the atmosphere, the imaginative level, monster, and character designs all make this world feel like more than just another rearrangement of the same levels.”
