Rating of
3.5/5
8-Bit Arrow to the Knee is Fleeting Fun
Chris Kavan - wrote on 07/14/16
There is a nostalgic need to relive your video game glory days and I think that's the reason so many "modern" games are going the classic route. While Towerfall Ascension may look and sound like an 8-bit throwback, make no mistake, it has been upgraded to provide current players with some decent gameplay and physics. While it does get repetitious (and sometimes a bit too difficult for its own good) it is the type of game that will keep you coming back for more.
Presentation: As I said, this is a modern game with an 8-bit feel. The pixels and music are straight out of NES era, but the gameplay is more refined. The sound effects are minimal and the soundtrack is pretty generic, but that doesn't mean you won't have some fun. The level and monster design (especially the bosses in the expansion) are quite well done but be warned, some of the enemy archers can look too similar to your own (or an allies) character and can lead to unintentional deaths. Otherwise, it's pretty standard, though attention to actual physics makes this stand out (and yes, you can kill yourself with your own arrows).
Story: None, sorry, but your princess is in another game.
Gameplay: You can play alone or multiplayer but any way you slice it, it's pretty cut-and-dried. As an archer (you can choose from a few different characters) you pretty much must clear each stage of various monsters using nothing but your agility and arrows. Some levels give you powered arrows (ones that blow up or drill through the platforms) but otherwise it's shoot or be shot. You can also jump on enemies to kill them as well as you do have a limited amount of arrows and if you run out the only way to get them back is to collect them or, in multiplayer, steal them from other players.
Enemies come in different forms - standard slimes, flying enemies that swoop in, crystal enemies that shoot projectiles and annoying reapers you have to hit from behind. By far the most annoying is the enemy archer who can look exactly like another player. The expansion also features boss monsters - these are pretty interesting battles, though the final boss takes a huge difficulty leap but once you get the pattern down it gets a bit better. In the original game each area has several levels to pass. You share lives in multiplayer so once you run out, you must start over. In the expansion, it lets you continue, luckily. We didn't try the harder difficulties, but I have to imagine things get much more complicated as you up the ante and for players who like a challenge, this game should deliver.
Replayability: This is the kind of game you can pick up and play around with for a few minutes or a few hours. If you're dedicated and like to prove your worth on difficult challenges, this game is also for you as the difficulty spikes are quite high and some of the challenges look pretty hairy to complete.
Overall: If you want some decent 1-3 player action (and don't mind a bit of a challenge), Towerfall Ascention is a good bet, especially when it goes on sale.
Presentation: 3.5/5
Story: n/a
Gameplay: 3/5
Replayability: 4/5
Overall (not an average): 3.5/5
