Stoic were behind one of my favourite series when getting into games journalism. I covered The Banner Saga and fell in love with how the developers were able to blend a deeply personal story with exciting real-time strategy. While Towerborne is a different beast altogether, that unique charm is still there. RTS is nowhere in sight. Instead, it is a side-scrolling action-RPG that feels almost familiar. Like the old school titles developers like Dotemu has reinvigorated, Stoic has made its latest easy to get on board with from the go.
The Belfry stands as a beacon of hope and safety amongst the ruins of humanity and the City of Numbers, with monsters lurking right outside the tower’s walls. You are an Ace, born anew from the spirit realm with the skills, the grit, and the determination to protect the people of the Belfry. With spirit companions fighting by your side, you are destined for battle.
Towerborne lets you dive into its fantasy world and fight a range of monsters with a range of abilities. Starting off small, you’re crappy armour and sword soon start to evolve through looting new gear. You’ll jump into new missions, go out into the field, and earn XP and new stuff to build your character. It’s a satisfying loop that can be done solo or with friends. You don’t need others to have a good time. It helps, sure, and the co-op allows you to meld different styles together to take out your foes. I personally loved playing alone and it doesn’t often let you down.
The combat is fluid and straightforward, taking a fundamental approach to the genre. With that being said, swinging your blade and dodging is responsive and fluid. Some enemies are tougher than others, each with their own unique abilities, but the tools to kill them make encounters enjoyable. It can be repetitive, but unlocking new skills, finding new gear to try out, and exploring the gorgeous world makes these excursions worth participating in. It’s never a dull moment in Towerborne, and I really want this to do well for Stoic.
The different classes offer their own progression, and I love getting in the thick of it with titles like Streets of Rage or TMNT: Shredder’s Revenge. And as a Sentinel, using the sword and shield always feels amazing. Rarely did I get overwhelmed by the enemies on screen. Saying that, it’s still a challenge trying to counter those attacking from behind or coming at you full force from the front. You have special abilities that build overtime, meaning you aren’t overpowered. This allows you to manage your skillset with precision and offers hidden strategies.
Each of the classes provide a different focus for the player. The Shadowstriker is fast, using dual blades to cut through enemies with ease; the Pyroclast can use fire as a means to control the battlefield; and the Rockbreaker uses its huge fists for huge damage when up close. While the Sentinel matched more with my playstyle, Towerborne has something for everyone, although I’ll be excited to see more classes added as the game goes through its early access period.
Towerborne is about diving into a mission, killing everything in your wake, and coming out with the rewards of war. Difficulty does ramp up the better your level, but you’re always equipped for the challenge. It helps with how gorgeous the world is to look at. It has a familiar art-style to that of The Banner Saga, albeit more cartoon-orientated. The bold colours and varied environments always give you a reason to keep fighting, keep playing, and keep pushing yourself.
As time goes on, it will be great to see what gets added. Towerborne is addictive in its combat, but is that enough? I feel when new features get added, such as new classes and challenges, it has plenty of potential. At present, there’s easily enough to get stuck into. For players who are going in with others, seeing how different classes and abilities work together will be a lot fun. Playing alone is still great, however. Whether jumping in for hours or a quick skirmish, you’ll have a blast.
Towerborne is in early access on PC now, and hits Xbox Series S|X preview program on April 29th.
