Another indie game that's way too short another screenshot spree. This time its something decent for a change: Tower 57, a Chaos Engine clone developed by Pixwerk and published by 11 bit Studios. The same Publisher also brought the world the Anomaly Games and That War of Mine. That's besides the point though. I don't recommend buying it full price. It needs a little more polishing and even if all the little problems are gone, it is still a fairly short game. You are done with one playthrough after 3 hours max. The Amiga games it is aping and modernizing still look and play fine and you can get them for free easily as well. If you really think you should pay money for 30 year old games, Chaos engine got a PC port recently.
Now let's dive right in.
I played Tower 57 so you don't have to
As I said, totally a Chaos Engine clone. You are in a top down shooter and there is your bunch of eccentric characters of which you can pick a trio. That's the feature Pixwerk has totally fucked up. More on that later. For this run I picked up the scientist I will mainly play, the mafiosi and the diplomat. As you can see, all Characters have signature second weapon besides the shit machine pistol everyone has, standard usable power up called a tool and a bomb. The Scientist comes with the a Tesla gun and a time slowing device. Her bomb shoots lazers, The mafiosi has a Tommy gun and mines, his bomb is a drive by shooting. Totally notAbe Lincoln has a flamethrower, throwing phoenixes and a meteor shower at his disposal. I have mainly played the scientist. We click start and .. we are watching a cutscene that takes place on a train to a swell place called Tower 57. Supposedly, we are some kind of spook and who has the mission of infiltrating said tower and then capturing the manager of its industrial floor for inciting a riot.
Looks cool though. Maybe i'l buy it.
Let's cut the crap and go forward to the Station. A level that only serves the purpose of throwing tutorial blurps at you. Just in case you have never played such a game in your life and you happen to be retarded. I have already played the game once before that run. So I haven't wasted my time with the guards at the main entrance, just dashed to the Eastern portion of the map, grabbed the key and jumped into the entrance to the first actual Level. Every new Level will get introduced with 5 pictures giving you the gist of its design and gimmicks, new stuff will get introduced as it appears in the game.
Looks nothing like chaos engine though. At least from me judging by your screenshots. Also surprisingly good use of pixel art.
This time I have catched the Map screen. Nothing I could do, I suppose. The Sewers is a dark Labyrinth like level full of poisonous water and narrow tunnels interrupted by the occasional hall or alcove, lie the one in the 4th? pic where I found the water proof pants for free. First enemies are slimes that shoot spikes in 5-way fashion and mutated hermit craps that shoot cannonballs out of the barrels they live in. I fucking hate the crabs.
It does play cool, but it has a few problems that doesn't make it worth the full price. Get it on a sale.
That's because they went for smaller sprites for characters and have have much more colors at their disposal. Also Chaos Engine was all swoole dudes. Other than that I was kinda playing fucking chaos engine.
You already know that it is kinda text heavy for a arcady shootan game. Now you might wonder where the devs have stashed the lore. The partial answer is on computers with the famous OS Bullshit-Mail. After I have read some of the typical drivel that is tormenting gamers since Doom 3, I learned of a secret switch that gave me access to the Chainsaw, the only other weapon in the game I intended to pick up in this game. You won't see me pick up any other new weapons besides that.
Shortly later I was attacked by one of those things that has split my character in half. With this cut scene you can't skip, the game introduces you to two systems. First the dismemberment system. Certain enemies can and will cut off body parts from you. You are still alive, but you eventually either can't run, shot your weapon or use your tool anymore. This leads to the next system, See the vending machine in the likeness of Mr. Propper? That's the augmentation machine that sells you cybernetic prostheses to you. I have repaired the legs and spent everything on upgrading the torso. My aim for that time was getting the second torso upgrade as quickly as possible for auto heal.
First boss is a pack of those lizard hound things. Nothing to worry about. One bomb and a short fight later they were defeated and I progressed to the next area.
Next Level is Armor's Den, a fairly huge city level that is supposed to represent the commercial floor of the tower. Also comes with very out of character Neon Aesthetics. I didn't know that Regan was President during the Victorian era. The most important building is this mall in the middle of the map here. It has a Bar, a Arms shop and a fortune teller. Let me show you the bar first.
The Bar offers you a few mini games in which you can bet some money like Hammering a Nail in or Darts. What was have I been doing in the backyard? Oh yeah, going into the tiny illegal casino. Here is how the only game there looks like. Now to the fortune teller.
OP, if you want to shill your own game, just admit it.
The fortune teller will appear in every level from now on. Sometimes hidden away, sometimes blatantly in the open. Besides giving you cryptic hints on what the next level will be, she also governs the game's live system. As I have told you already, the game makes you pic 3 out of 6 eccentric characters and the people you take with you do represent your lives, like Chaos Engine. Unlike Chaos Engine, you can resurrect anyone you have lost with the help of a little item called Amber Ball. Since the game is very stingy with them and the writing of the hints don't matter that much, you won't see me using her services ever again.
A realm shill doesn't shit on the flaws of his game like In do on this game's. Not everyone talking about specific game is a goddamn shill, you paranoid sperg!
And off to the Arms Dealer, where are supposed to be, because he is our contact person. I have only entered his shop once again later for the Arms vending machine. First let's see what he has to say.
Ok, our antagonist is Judge Remus (whoever he is) who has dissolved the inter Tower government. i.e. we are shit out of luck when it comes to wielding any authority. Sounds bogus as fuck if you ask me. Now to the next Level; The good general was selling fake security passes on the site, but since the Orderlies (whoever they are) busted in, he has flushed his last batch down the toilet as if it where fucking Meth. Now its my problem. Time to upgrade the weapons as good as I can.
Deep down you know user, that indie developers are the only ones who make actual video games nowadays.
There's some game made by BRs recently that reminds of this in terms of style but I can't think of it. Anyone got any ideas what I might be remembering?
No, I don't pay attention to Indies nor care. I don't even know what "BRs" is.
Newfag confirmed.
Next system. This time its a weapon upgrade system as we have seen a million times since Bioshock and Dead Space. This one is straight forward; Buff up the strength, the clipsize, change the ammo type if your weapon fires bullets and unlock some traits. The Tesla gun, I have mainly used besides the chainsaw has no bullets but the ability to chain to up to two other targets after the upgrade. Now off to the Pristine Pools, some kind of Spa in the Sewers. Seriously, what kind of scat freaks opens a bath house down there?
Why do you even burst in like a Sonic themed Jack in the Box, then? Oh I haven't noticed, that you are autistic Newfag.
Blue Ranger? Otherwise no idea.
thanks for the blog post
Here we are, in the Thermal Bath. Same as the sewers, but interrupted by some nicer looking halls from time to time. This level introduces turrets, one of the most annoying enemies in the game. They basically lock unto you and shoot a salve of 5 bullets. They are easily defeated with slowdown device and chainsaw. Other than that, the level mainly throws nothing but slimes and some crabs at you.
I keep personal archives of every thread that interests me, here is a snippet. The Indie scene has no value to me and there is nothing lost not keeping up. If I don't hear anything from Word of Mouth then it simply doesn't matter.
...
Good goyim. Only listen to Word of Jew. Never question or learn anything yourself. Never research or search for anything yourself.
The fact you don't even remember the name of another game you've played, tells me it didn't even have enough impact to even give me any hints for a search from your vague hint. Proving my point.
That's some advanced autism right there.
Learn how IDs work newfag.
'advanced' is an understatement in user's case he's 1/3 serial killer material already
You never heard of Ychan? archive.is is completely worthless if you want to save all the images since it only saves the thumbnail. I can't garruntee any of the threads I keep stored away are even in archive.is
The beginning of Thermal Bath is also the most annoying part of the game, because you get confronted with so many enemies that you can't help but with getting hit. Two enemy groups that are good at raping you to death are the 3 turrets in the lobby and the pack of lizard hounds right after that. The game won't stop with such assholery. This in turn means you need the torso upgrade with health regen or otherwise you'll die like. As you can see in one of the pics, I got enough money from shooting enemies and garbage (Yeah, totally forgot to mention that decoration elements also explode into coins in this game). With that on my character, the only thing in the way between me and winning are wasting ammo and my own lameness.
That's some advanced autism. Besides the fact that you look assburger as fuck with showing off shit like that instead of simply fucking; Are you aware that curation is a tremendous problem with indie games, hell, vidya in general? I am doing this thread to prevent people from buying that full price in an impulse and then come in screeching about that game, because they feel ripped off.
Everyone knows Rapelay. You probably have heard of it. Does it means its a good game? No. Does it mean it had some impact? Besides Japan's new youth protection laws, hell no. In fact its yet another boring Sex Simulator by illusion. Chaos Engine was well known back in the day for like 3 months. Then the next shootan game with AGA graphics came along. The reason not many people played it, is because the AGA chip was only built into more expensive Amigas like the A2000, not in the A500 which was so cheap, that everyone and their dogs could have one.
Its still autism. Let's face it; Storing tons of information with archiving software is assburger as fuck!
t.guy who has archived Something Awful threads for >>>/8diamonds/
post an old one
In the last two images you can admire the Tentacle, the second boss. He flings explosive balls at you or swings around if you approach it. After it is done, it dives away from you and the dives up somewhere else behind you. During every other phase, a red ball inside of it becomes visible. That's its weak point. Shot it often enough, was done and got into a part of the sewers in which some kind played alone with its dolls. Similar to Chrischan.
I forgot to mention this ball in the first pic. Its a power up that fills up your bomb meter.
Back to Amor's Den. Before I went to the next level, I have discovered that this butcher guy inside his shop called the Black Market, here who is offers you access to another augment vending machine. Next thing I have discovered was the that game has an Inn that it doesn't need. Its just here for window dressing. If you wanted your character to talk like retarded person, just talk to the receptionist in the Hotel.
Here is how the your hotel room actually looks like. The adjacent room house one of those Amber Balls you can give to the Fortune teller to get one of your characters back. Not that you need it, because there is no autosave feature. Second pic shows more window dressing. This time from the a platform besides the hotel that has a bunch of telescopes with which you can oogle some joke statues the artists have put in. Well, off to the next level.
Ah yes, the Sweatshop. Easily my favorite level in the game. Its consists of some buildings and a lots of streets connecting them. It also looks very pleasing for what it supposedly is.
I'll give you a 2 year old one of Mark being caught with his autism and that's it. I'll leave it at that. I want to see how the rest of OP's verdict plays out. However it's an html file so I'll give you the link once it's finished uploading.
I wanna see what OP's full verdict of this game is.
Incredible
The gimmick of this level are conveyer belts. New enemies are spider mines. Annoying little pest, but no match for the Tesla gun. Especially after the chain link upgrades. The Detective character has them as bomb. During the confrontation with the Manager, we learn that the organization we are working for doesn't even exist anymore.
Furthermore we learn that Judge Remus has started the riot as distraction and we are working for a character called Mother. You can either start a fight with the Manager or make him your ally. I decided to make him my ally. Now to the most fun part of the level I haven't taken screenshots of. For a short time, you can ride a tank and blast everything. The only enemy you have to fear inside it are other tanks.
The Boss this time is not some puny wild life, but a entire mohterfucking building. 2 phases, both pretty straight forward. First one consists of the 2 turrets on the side shoot spread shots at you while the mortar shots the occasional rockets at you. After that is done, you are confronted with 2 artilleries; one is the mortar shooting more rockets and the other is turret on the front shooting big bullets at you.
I have already given it out at the beginning of the post. Read it again. If you are still too spastic to read, here it is:
Get Ruiner instead. Also your obsession with Mark sounds very unhealthy. No wonder people think that his haters are more autistic than him.
How are the controls? The main issue with the majority of indie action games have been lacking controls with bad reaction time.
Instead of more dicking around in Amor's den we get our first encounter with Judge Remus who hurls us directly into the next level.
The Ministry of Rehabilitation is the luxurious jail of Tower 57. It has lots of big halls with shit in for decoration in it. Before I show you more I give you the game's hacking system that has been blatantly ripped off from Paradroid as a homage. In contrary to Paradroid, the AI won't piss away all it impulses in the hope you are too slow to activate enough nodes.
I really need to learn how to use something better than MSPaint.
As I said; This Level is unique in its structure. It has lots of huge rooms with a lot of shit to oogle at. Its also the only level with windows you can break. First new Enemies are mini helicopters that shoot and shoot and shoot at you while strafing all over the place. Second is that ball shaped guy that is immune to weapon fire in its ball form. It tanks for a while, then charges at you.
Here are one of the laws enshrined in the Ministry's halls. Pretty swell regime they have here.
mega.nz/#F!cuwEEDSK!S1m7HL00yfrcm8kI5UpFXA
There.
I've been reading all your posts, and want to read more. I think you're reading to much into my posts now like this
What?
Also have you experienced any particular slow downs or clipping? Is it smooth?
And so we meet Judge Remus again. I have notice that I didn't get all the phases. Therefor I try to give you a vague description without pictures. First phase consists of Remus extending the two fists of the Mech. Don't get caught between them or he kills you when the Mech gets pulled over to them. After the fists are fucked, you have to try to shoot the shoulders off before Remus can overwhelm you with cannon ball barrages. After this…well see for yourself.
Last phase is a desperate experiment with teslafied armor shards. As long you stay outside of the patter they create while floating around, you should be OK. After this always folles a phase during which Remus shoots the mech's eye laser. The armor shard phase was also good opportunity to fire the bomb thus reducing the effort I had to put in half.
Remus has been defeated and from him you learn that you are actually playing a bunch of Replicants and he has started his plot to get rid of Mother.
He said and flew away. Thus freeing the way to Amor's Den where we Decide to go through the cloning lab to reach the upper class residential floors to confront Mother.
Before I did, I had upgraded all weapons as far as I can. The Tesla rifle got all the upgrades it could get and it could since then chain to two other targets besides the one you are shooting at.
Grutin INC Research Center is nothing but a gigantic switch riddle. Aim of that level is, activating 3 terminals with switches you have to find. Another gimmick only this level has are platforms you can ride. New enemies are the green bulb guys who leave a puddle of acid after their dead and the floating octopus that shoots strong lasers at you.
Honestly OP the game looks A LOT better in motion than on static screenshots, just like most pixel art games. So your blog post of screenshots here is not so much fun to read, since the game is not for static screenshot showcasing.
Also
made me chuckle
Other two enemy types you only see here are lab assistants with saw blade guns and Dinosaurs. Both can and will cut off parts from your body.
That's correct for all screenshot driven threads of this kind. It also started out as Kickstarter project.
After the switch puzzle is done, the level ends with exposition, but no boss fight. Next stop, the Balcony.
The Balcony is a brightly colored level that consist of many great halls and a the Balcony itself. It takes place at night. On the outside parts of the level are a Tank and Revolver hidden.
Last fight with Judge Remus who has decided to go after you by plane this time. Phases are Gatling guns, flame throwers, spread shot and then…
… a hillariously easy chase during which you have to run away from Remus' laser. Like just break all the garbage and you are done.
What are you, a spook?
Elite Quarters are pretty much the same as the Balcony design wise with the addition of roads. At least it has a bad ass wolf statue. This almost there. All I had to do is get into the elevator to the Penthouse where Mother was waiting for me.
A obsessive autists. Pretty much the same kind of person who hangs around on an archive plotting how to piss off Janny today. I must say that this guy is cranking it up to 11.
I haven't talked about any enemies since Balcony. This because both upper class levels have nothing new to offer in that department. Its all the same old shit that I had fought below. Especially turrets.
Hmmm…yeah…. that is like this guy's opinion, man.
So now we are off to Romulus, the final boss of the game. After you have killed him, the Game is over. He is a sorcerer who has these attacks at his disposal:
Last one means he casts a Black hole into the middle of room. You and destroyable stuff gets sucked into it while Romulus stands at right end of the room.
RIP in Farfalle
Final level which is a dialog with Mother. Turns out she has only activated us to get rid of Remus all along.
...
OH NOES! She gave me Icantbelieveitain'tfoxdie. For this, I have cut her into pieces with the chainsaw.
There is also a bad ending in which you actually die and then Mother decides to ban offensive speech just to see what happens.Now you know why you have picked up the chainsaw. I have taken it with me, because it is the only weapon in the game that can kill Mother. Carrying it with you for the entire game has its price though: You can't take a third weapon with you. This means you can neither dick around withe barrel you get from the crabs and neither with the turret head (which sucks anyway).
And this concludes Tower 57, a homage the Amiga and top down shooter from the early 90s. Is worth asking price of 15 benis? Hell no. Its way too short. Wait until it is on sale. If you like such game or good pixel art and you can live with getting stuck sometimes but not getting challenged at all, sure, gibe the nice Slavs over there 15 benis. But don't come back to us crying, because you didn't get something remarkable for that money.
Bad. The sensitivity is low and there's no option to increase it.
I find them OK. Its not that precise if a game. Speed doesn't matter as much as in Quake. The configuration file has no option for mouse sensitivity either. You can remedy the resolution options in there if you have problems with the game, because you are still using a 4:3 display however.
Wait, so there's someone else who does this? Although I just save the entire page if it has useful information or links to resources. Also, why would you number them instead of using the thread's name?
Because the program being used doesn't put down the name.