Now that
Towerclimb is on Steam with a massive new update, I think it's time it had a thread here.
This is quite possibly the best sleeper release of 2015, but maybe you've seen it before-- you might even have already thrown down £5 for the beta, considering it's been in development for five years. But now it's on Steam, and it's fully released, with easily double+ the amount of content! Owners of the pre-Steam version can send an email to davioware to request a key.
But for those who don't already know, what
is Towerclimb?
Official trailer:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NXtAmFDZT_UIt is a 'roguelite', permadeath platformer, with randomly generated levels and a kickass soundtrack. Don't let the simple graphics fool you into thinking this is a short or shallow game-- there's 20 floors in Chapter 1 alone, and they jokingly refer to that as the "tutorial." Now there's an even bigger Chapter 2 with the Steam release, and it's going to take you a LONG time to beat either of them... if at all. It's extremely challenging!
The game is dripping with atmosphere and mystery, and despite the simplicity of the pixel style, the particle and lighting effects are gorgeous in motion. There's a story, of sorts. It's not explicitly told, but you'll eventually learn the purpose of your climb. Each level is themed to a particular 'biome' and each biome has its own set of unique threats, from dodging puppies and rats in the Caverns, to climbing vines and avoiding killer beetles in the Conservatory.
Lava is deadly no matter where you find it, and water-flooded levels are often populated with vicious pirhana and jellyfish. Spikes litter the halls and landing on them is fatal, but if you blow them up with a Blast Berry - also to be found scattered throughout the tower - you can collect the shards and throw them at enemies. You have an inventory and can hold a limited number of items, like springs and crates. Jump Berries let you reach higher places, and treasure chests can contain useful items and equipment, including gloves and boots that increases your climbing and running speeds.
There's hidden quests, challenging 'Path of Exiles' shortcuts (for the very brave or very foolish), and shops where you can replenish your resources. While difficult to master, the game almost never feels "unfair" and there is always a solution to your current problem, assuming you have the resources to deal with it. Don't squander your Corrode potions, because you may need to blast your own path through the destructable terrain. And make sure to collect the Gold Berries you find so you can spend them at the shop. Don't forget to buy a revive potion; you'll need to always have one on hand, because you are going to die. A lot.
If tight platforming isn't your thing, but you're still interested in seeing the game, I would highly recommend watching
KY's Towerclimb series here. He's familiar with Chapter 1 at first, but when he finally reaches Chapter 2, it's all new to him, and it's really fun to watch his discovery of a whole new area!
I know this post doesn't do the game justice. I'd just urge you to give it a look, because it really seriously deserves your money. This game was developed by two brothers and is packed with charm, runs smoothly without any bugs or crashes to speak of, and will (hopefully) keep you entertained for a heck of a long time!
(Oh, and P.S. Play with the 'depixel' setting OFF. It's a horribly ugly filter they added I guess to make the graphics appeal more to people who "hate pixel graphics"(?) but instead just makes everything look round-edged and goopy. They did the trailer with this setting on and I think it gives a really bad first impression. Seriously, what's up with that??)
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So, what's everbody's highest climb so far? I just hit Chapter 2 last night, but I haven't got past the Vault Caves yet. The toughest biome for me is always the Ruins, because it usually ends up costing all my resources (damn you, Zardo!)
Author
Topic: Towerclimb - Roguelite Upward Spelunking (Steam release!) (Read 1500 times)