Tower for Windows

1/5

Tower is a free RPG for Windows by developer The Falling Dream. This game has a retro style, much like Mimi and animals and Job Hunter 202X. The action is followed from a top-down perspective with old-school graphics, very similar to SNES-era titles such as The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past or JRPGs like Chrono Trigger.

In this case, the protagonist is a princess looking to control her destiny and a magical talking cat. You’ll visit various destinations throughout this short adventure, including dungeons, icy dungeons, and more, with your feline companion, who’s there to help you.

Generic graphics and gameplay

The graphics and gameplay features in Tower are okay for the genre. However, at least in that department, they lack any genuinely distinctive quality to make the title memorable. You have many different settings, but they look bland and devoid of features. The cat is truly the only memorable asset.

As for the gameplay, it’s a tried-and-tested formula for finding keys and solving puzzles. However, since the game is short, it lacks an overarching feeling that you’re doing something towards a significant goal. That goal is there, but it doesn’t develop well.

Some questionable decisions

Without giving too much away, the developer seems to use the title as a medium to convey a political message, which not only doesn’t help but also hinders the story in some ways. 

Some puzzles are challenging to solve because of a lack of information, and you risk getting stuck at places with no other choice but to reload.

A short Zelda clone for retro fans

Tower is a fun little game to spend some time with if you are bored of playing SNES Zelda for the millionth time. The story is interesting if you ignore the developer’s apparent agenda. The addition of the cat companion is an excellent idea, as your interactions contribute a lot to the action.

Everything else is decent enough, but not much more than that. The graphics are nice, but you’ll feel that you’ve seen those assets elsewhere. This is perhaps because there aren’t any extraordinary things to become the game’s staple. However, it’s still a fun game if you manage to overcome certain puzzles.