Tyrian's Towers (Icon64) $3.99 USD
Game title: Tyrian's Towers
Game description: Tyrian’s Towers is a modern day remake of Crystal Castles that sees you take control of a high guard called Tyrian - who is on a mission to recover the lost eggs belonging to his Queen. This arcade style variant to the Pac-Man genre features 50 levels of beautifully crafted isometric levels filled with numerous enemies who are out to stop you from achieving your objective. At your disposal, you have a limited number of hammer strikes in which you can use to help you get around enemies. You will be able to pick up additional hammer strikes but they don’t come around that often so don’t go hammer happy otherwise you will find some levels challenging to complete without being able to use any strikes. You will also be able to pick up shields from time to time. This gives you invincibility for about 5 seconds. Basic level enemies will typically get stunned after one hammer strike, while multiple strikes may result in their elimination. Ghost enemies cannot be stunned or killed, while the Devil enemy cannot be stunned but can be killed when you have the shield If you take too long to complete a level then you have to watch out for the deadly Spinning Blade. Some enemies also collect eggs - making it possible for a level to be completed even when you are busy evading enemies. But if you happen to be the one to collect the last egg on screen then bonus points are awarded. When you complete every 10 stages, you are given a nice little interlude screen and one extra life.
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Production - 83%
83%
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Fun - 74%
74%
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Depth - 76%
76%
Summary
Tyrian’s Towers delivers a hefty dose of nostalgic arcade-style action, wrapped in an impressive isometric visual presentation. Your Tyrian character moves at a brisk pace, ensuring a fast and reflex-driven gameplay experience that stays true to its arcade roots.
However, those hoping for a checkpoint or password system to avoid replaying the early levels repeatedly will be disappointed—such features are notably absent. This feels like a missed opportunity, as today’s players often lack the time or patience to master the large number of levels on offer.
The controls do take some getting used to. Movement is based on absolute directions (up, down, left, right) rather than matching the isometric diagonals of the paths, which can initially make tight turns frustrating. Thankfully, a later update introduces diagonal controls, which go a long way in addressing this issue.
Fans of Crystal Castles-style games will find much to enjoy in this modern reimagining. With its simple yet fast-paced gameplay and a wealth of levels to tackle, Tyrian’s Towers offers great value and an enjoyable arcade experience.
Overall
78%User Review
( votes)Pros
- Well drawn isometric mazes
- Fast paced and addictive gameplay
- 50 levels
- Good variation in level design
Cons
- Controls will require time to get used to
- No progress saving option
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