Towerborne comes to us from Stoic, the talented team known for gripping strategy titles like the Banner Saga trilogy. This new release takes them in a vibrant new direction with its colorful side-scrolling adventure through a monster-filled fantasy realm.
Players join together as “Aces,” warriors who’ve lost their lives defending the last human city. Now their spirits reside in the Belfry, a colossal refuge towering over the wilderness. From this hub, groups of Aces band together to venture into the lands below, hacking and slashing their way through legions of enemies on quests to strengthen their skills.
Under vivid backdrops, cooperative combat sees players bouncing foes between different class abilities for flashier combo moves. But success won’t come easy, as danger increases the deeper you travel from the Belfry. Strategizing talents and equipment proves crucial against tougher threats.
Towerborne intrigues with its fusion of arcade brawling fun and longterm customization through continually earned powerful gear. My time with the experience allowed a thorough look at its gameplay systems, multiplayer integration, and potential for lasting appeal. This review aims to assess how Stoic’s new direction comes together in both its current state and hopes for continued evolution.
Towerborne’s Adventuring Classes
Towerborne presents a nice variety of warrior types to suit different playstyles. The fiery Pyroclast rains molten fury on foes with burning strikes and explosive meteor attacks. Speedy Shadowstrikers rely on acrobatic dodges and rapid-fire dagger combos.
Sentinels absorb damage with shields while pounding enemies with two-handed mallets. My personal favorites were the unstoppable Rockbreakers in their living stone armor; just watching those boulders fly was extremely satisfying.
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Regardless of class, Towerborne’s combat remains delightful. You string together light attacks, powerfully launch enemies into the air with heavies, and tackle bosses with well-timed special abilities. Things get absolutely nuts combining ultimate moves with squadmates, like launching hapless beasts into a fiery inferno. Movement feels tight, whether floating like a butterfly or standing like a mountain.
Beneath Towerborne’s vibrant landscapes lies a great variety of missions. Randomized “discoveries” provide fun outdoor brawls, while designated “ventures” add diverse objectives that encourage strategic teamwork against all manner of formidable foes. As you gain experience, more dangerous missions and higher “Danger Levels” emerge for even greater rewards.
Character builds evolve through continually awarded loot and crafting resources. Armors, weapons, and mystical “Aspects” provide countless options for specialized combat styles. Adventure long enough and stronger solo “Danger License” missions unlock, pitting you alone against nightmarish bosses in a true test of survivability. Everything comes together for thrilling cooperative quests against Towerborne’s many imaginative threats.
Exploring the Lands of Towerborne
In Towerborne, the human survivors escaping their fallen City of Numbers now call a towering stronghold, The Belfry, home. It stands as a beacon of hope high above the wilderness they renamed The Wilds, teeming with untamed forests, festering swamps, and rolling grasslands plagued by dark forces.
The Belfry serves as the player’s base of operations between quests, where one shapes their character’s identity and stocks up on upgrades before venturing forth. Down below, the maps extend beyond imagination thanks to a smart design: the world splits into interconnected hexagonal tiles, each housing unique terrain ready for discovery. Developers can easily expand the realm by adding new sectors piece by piece.
Biotopes burst with vibrant atmospheres, from the dense brush and leafy canopy of woodland clearings to vibrant fields of verdure dotted with windmilled pastures. Mushroom groves and glowing glow caves add fantastical mystery to an untamed frontier. Each backdrop stuns with exquisite hand-drawn charm and cinematic flair, inviting players deep into a world of visual wonders.
While zone paths focus action, peeling back background details hints at further stories waiting in abandoned homes and curious landmarks just off the beaten track. One hopes future updates relax invisible barriers and reward straying from the script with secret treasures for those bold enough to stray the path less traveled.
Fellowship in the Fray
While Towerborne really comes alive with allies at your side, going it alone can still provide a great time. Scaling means solo warriors face challenges suited to their strength, keeping danger entertaining whether battling alone or with companions.
Fighting alongside enemies does bring risks, like accidentally sending a fireball toward a comrade in the heat of explosive action. But friendly reactions from errant attacks tend to just bounce adversaries back toward helpful havoc.
Whether in a party of four or venturing forth singlehandedly, combos grow more incredible the more players contribute. I’ve seen lethal duos perfect launching and juggling enemies for a sentinel to pummel on the descent. Groups that hone harmonic teamwork through mission after mission truly feel like heroic fellowships. Yet even solo, bashing beasties amidst Towerborne’s vivid landscapes provides fun too rewarding to miss. With scaling to suit every adventurer, players can always enjoy the challenge in their preferred fashion.
While hectic fights with a full squad understandably bring the risk of losing sight of companions amid a thrilling onslaught, overall cooperation remains straightforward. Communication beyond quick chat wheels isn’t really needed; unspoken coordination develops as trust in one another’s abilities grows. Between breathtaking visuals and satisfying teamwork, battles thrive on fellowship, whether undertaking quests together or separately in this gleeful fantasy realm.
Emerging Heroes: Gearing Up in the Belfry
One of the enduring draws within Towerborne lies in the journey of growing one’s Ace into a formidable fighter. Upon every return from missions, players face intriguing choices.
Do they dismantle mediocre gains into spirit dust to intensify favored arms? Or hold onto scraps, hopeful their expertise may blossom into new setups? Through it all, the forge serves as a second home as metal, magic, and memories meld into steadier selves.
Yet progression goes deeper than simple stat boosts. Scattered across gear, mystical aspects gift subtle role-playing flavor, permitting personalized approaches—be it poisoning foes on critical hits or summoning aid from the beyond. More than numbers climbing, unique builds emerge.
Outside directives, your hero’s visual identity brings intangible incentive. From scars of experience to vibrant colors, small touches customize appearance into something uniquely your own. Vanity naturally plays past surface representations, the reflections of self-guiding players as surely as any quest marker.
Naturally repetitive moments plague all long-term ventures. Still, within the Belfry’s bustle lies community, and in companionship, even routine refits feel less of a chore. Together, the road to mastery becomes an adventure, however momentary, sharing in one another’s highs and lows. In fellowship, purpose perseveres.
Ensuring the Adventure Continues
Towerborne enters early access with monetization centered around optional founder packs. These provide starting bonuses while supporting further development. More noticeable may be an in-game shop currently focused on cosmetics alone. Time will tell how aggressively monetization evolves.
Fortunately, Stoic outlines ambitious post-launch efforts. Regular story additions and ever-expanding lands promise a saga’s worth of questing to come. If maintained, free expansions stand to sustain longterm interest more than fleeting monetization schemes. Difficulty spikes and fresh enemies alongside incoming classes and regions ensure replayability.
Repetitive combat inherently plagues all hack-and-slash adventures over extended periods. Yet Stoic demonstrates dedication, patching feedback into genre-fying efforts. Maintaining communication and active listening to an invested community lays the best foundation for flourishing far beyond a one-time purchase. Continued experimentation refining mission structures and events is likewise vital.
With an arsenal of narratives and gameplay still to debut, Towerborne shows early signs of delivering adventures to last lifetimes. Stoic now faces maintaining that momentum. But their creative visions and proven track record bode well for adventures ahead.
Towerborne’s Quest Continues
My time in the charming yet challenging realm of Towerborne proved wildly entertaining. From its artistic hand-drawn biomes to cooperative combat’s fluid flow, Stoic’s debut into the beat’em up genre releases a refreshing formula. While some missions grow repetitive and menus labor, creativity shines through each charming detail.
Fortunately, Stoic foresees constantly expanding their adventurous saga. Regular story additions and refining missions based on player feedback bodes well. If maintaining engaging longevity, Towerborne shows potential for something truly special. For those seeking a one-of-a kind experience to share with comrades old and new, its unique world already delivers memorable moments.
Though incomplete, Stoic’s daring vision brings smiles now and imagination to what’s next. I cannot wait to rejoin this community and witness Realms of Towerborne continuing to evolve. The road ahead faces difficulties, yet Stoic’s heart for craft holds hope. I wish them the very best, refining their passionate creation into a timeless realm of enduring joy. Their gift inspires, and for that I thank them. The quest will be legendary.
The Review
Towerborne
Towerborne offers a charmingly creative adventure like no other. While some balance remains to refine the experience, Stoic's passion shines through lively combat and whimsical world alike. With the developers' enduring commitment, this emerging realm poses brilliant potential to captivate for years to come.
PROS
- Charming art style and vivid hand-drawn environments
- Satisfyingly fluid cooperative combat mechanics
- Wide character customization and class diversity
- Clever continuously expanding world design
- Appeal to both solo and group players
CONS
- Some mission objectives grow repetitive.
- Early progression relies heavily on grinding.
- Interface feels cluttered for inventory management.
- Story details remain sparse in early access.
- Solo difficulty curve plateaus quickly.
