TowerFall

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This article is about the video game. For the waterfall, see Tower Fall.
TowerFall

Developer(s) Matt Thorson
Artist(s) MiniBoss
Composer(s) Alec Holowka
Platform(s) Ouya, Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 4
Release date(s) Ouya
  • NA June 25, 2013
Microsoft Windows PlayStation 4
  • WW TBD
Mode(s) Single-player, multiplayer

TowerFall is an archery arena indie video game created by Matt Thorson for the Ouya microconsole. It was released as an Ouya exclusive on June 25, 2013, but will later make its debut on the PlayStation 4 and PC.

Gameplay

Typical combat between three players

TowerFall is an archery combat arena game.[2] There are four game modes.[2] In multiplayer, up to four players fight in a battle royale using a limited supply of arrows.[3] Players replenish their arrow supply from those shot about the arena.[2] The players can also catch other players' arrows.[3] "Treasure" power-ups give players shields, wings, and arrows with increased power.[2] Kotaku's Chris Person described the gameplay as Super Smash Bros. combined with games like Spelunky and Nidhogg.[4]

In single-player, the player must hit targets around the arena before a timer runs out.[2] The developer compared this mode to "Break the Targets" in the Super Smash Bros. series.[2]

The game doesn't use the Ouya touchpad, and is compatible with Xbox 360 controllers.[2]

Development

The game was developed and produced by Matt Thorson, who previously made Planet Punch.[2] The game was inspired by Super Smash Bros., Bushido Blade, and Goldeneye 007, games from Thorson's youth.[3] He described his development process as tweaking Super Smash Bros. Melee to his tastes.[3] The limited arrow design was intended to slow the gameplay and encourage player strategy.[3]

The music was composed by Alec Holowka with sound effects by Power Up Audio.[2] Thorson originally did the artwork himself but was not satisfied with the results and hired MiniBoss to finish the graphics.[3] TowerFall was released June 25, 2013 as an Ouya exclusive.[2] The exclusivity agreement lasts six months.[2] Thorson has stated that he plans to extend the single-player.[2]

Reception

Multiple reviewers cited TowerFall as the standout game for the Ouya microconsole at the time of its launch.[5][6][4][3] Destructoid's Spencer Hayes said that he did not consider purchasing the Ouya until he played TowerFall.[3] He added that the game had a "deceptive level of depth".[3] The Penny Arcade Report's Ben Kuchera called the game "the Ouya's killer app".[5] Polygon's Russ Frushtick and Chris Plante said that TowerFall was the reason to purchase an Ouya.[6] The added cost of additional controllers for the new console to play four-player multiplayer exceeded the cost of the console itself, and was cited as a negative for TowerFall, though offset by its support for Xbox 360[2] and PS3 controllers.[7]

TowerFall was included on Ars Technica's "The 20 best video games of 2013" list.[8] Polygon ranked TowerFall third in its top ten games of 2013.[9]

See also

References

  1. ↑ Twitter / MattThorson: @coreydwillis looking like ...
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 2.7 2.8 2.9 2.10 2.11 2.12 Polson, John (May 25, 2013). "Matt Thorson's TowerFall hits OUYA at launch, works with Xbox 360 controllers". IndieGames.com. UBM Tech. Archived from the original on June 28, 2013. Retrieved June 28, 2013. 
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 3.6 3.7 3.8 Hayes, Spencer (June 14, 2013). "OUYA could have a system-seller with Towerfall". Destructoid. Game Revolution. Archived from the original on June 28, 2013. Retrieved June 28, 2013. 
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 Person, Chris (June 20, 2013). "TowerFall Was The Most Fun I Had At E3". Kotaku. Gawker Media. Archived from the original on June 28, 2013. Retrieved June 28, 2013. 
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 Kuchera, Ben (May 28, 2013). "TowerFall is the OUYA’s killer app: The four-player Smash Bros.-style take on archery is that good". The Penny Arcade Report. Archived from the original on June 28, 2013. Retrieved June 28, 2013. 
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 Frushtick, Russ (June 28, 2013). "Today I Played: Ouya". Polygon. Vox Media. Archived from the original on June 28, 2013. Retrieved June 28, 2013. 
  7. ↑ Slater, Harry (July 2, 2013). "The Firing Line: 5 questions for Matt Makes Games on TowerFall". Pocket Gamer. Steel Media. Archived from the original on July 5, 2013. Retrieved July 5, 2013. 
  8. ↑ Orland, Kyle; Machkovech, Sam (26 December 2013). "The 20 best (and three most disappointing) video games of 2013". Ars Technica. Ars Technica. Retrieved 27 December 2013. 
  9. ↑ Frushtick, Russ (15 January 2014). "Polygon's Games of the Year 2013 #3: TowerFall". Polygon. Vox Media. Retrieved 15 January 2014. 

External links

Media related to TowerFall at Wikimedia Commons


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