With the tactical encounters of games like XCOM and Final Fantasy tactics, roguelike twists a la Hades, and some serious dedication when it comes to its pixel art visuals, DeathTower sounds like a promising RPG project. To give it a big push, developer Headbang Club set up a Kickstarter, and today it’s announced that the fundraising goal has been smashed. Oh, and to celebrate, its free Steam demo has just received an update that delivers loads more content.
If you’re a big fan of tactical RPGs then the general gameplay premise of DeathTower will absolutely feel familiar. A gridded battlefield and turn-based combat awaits you as you head into the endless floors of the Megaryon, an enormous tower that was once deserted, but is now infested with parasites, robots and Marauders. You’ll form a team of four from the game’s lineup of playable characters, each with their own unique strengths and weaknesses. Stealthily attacking enemies with the game’s vast arsenal of weapons will also add bonus damage, or you may be able to sneak past them all together.
However, there’s plenty that sets DeathTower apart. For a start, it draws from the best roguelike games by making the levels of the Megaryon ever-changing. Inspired by immersive sims, there are also loads of secret routes and environmental interactions that can let you defeat enemies, explore, and manipulate levels in a wide variety of ways. Add on top of that its hacking mechanic, which lets you tap into the Megaryon’s digital brain, and you get even more possibilities. Hacking could provide you with a new escape route, summon bionic creatures into your level, or even boost your character’s abilities.
It’s a visual treat as well. There are loads of stunning pixel art games appearing at the moment, but few are as committed to their aesthetic as Headbang. Despite being an indie studio, it’s built its own game engine to create DeathTower, and one of the main reasons is to provide incredibly detailed character models and a system that projects pixels into its 3D environments and lets them interact with the world – it can even cast real-time pixel shadows. The moody, dark cybernetic characters, enemies, and environments also take some inspiration from the Blame! manga series, according to Headbang.
Given it has so much promise, it’s not a surprise to see it nail its Kickstarter goal of 35,000 euros, which equates to $38,333 / £29,740. If you’re quick and want to contribute to earn some founders rewards, you may still have time to donate as it closes on Tuesday, April 8. You can donate, and learn more about the game here.
If you want to experience it yourself before pledging any money or wishlisting, there’s a DeathTower demo on Steam that has just got a sizable update. The main addition to the demo is the new Erebus Game Hub, a safe zone that contains shops, bars, and other social spaces where you can meet characters, acquire new gear, or upgrade your roster of characters. On top of this, the demo now contains over 50 weapons, 13 tower hacks, and two fluid class trees, which is still “less than half of the total options planned for the full game,” Headbang ambitiously states. If you want to grab the demo, or add DeathTower to your wishlist, head to its Steam page right here.
For more, dive into our guides to the best turn-based RPGs or even the best turn-based strategy games.
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