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TowerFall Ascension review: bowstring symphony

By Griffin McElroy @griffinmcelroy on March 07, 2014 at 6:15p Share Tweet Share Game Info Platform Win, PS4 Publisher Matt Makes Games Developer Matt Makes Games Release Date 2014-03-11 Price at Launch N/A

It's tricky to write about TowerFall Ascension without sounding like a child — mostly because it's a powerful distillery of childlike glee.

I can say, without an ounce of hyperbole, that I have never shouted, cheered or laughed so much playing a game in my life. TowerFall Ascension is designed to evoke these reactions in every single match, and it always, always does. Regardless of how its settings and variables have been tinkered, or the relative skill levels of its players, the matchup is exciting and dynamic every single time.

For those unfamiliar with the original version, which launched on last year, TowerFall is a multiplayer-centric 2D arena game. Players take on the role of archers, and attempt to dispatch one another using either their bow and arrow or a well-placed head-stomp. Archers can also dodge in any direction on the ground or in the air, letting them dash out of the way of danger or, if performed with split-second timing, catch an incoming arrow. “ the matchup is exciting and dynamic every single time” Those simple core mechanics can shake out in so many different ways in a brawl, which is part of TowerFall's brilliance. In the span of a few seconds, you can snatch a volley of arrows out of the air, return them to sender, dash onto the head of another foe and fire a miracle shot across the stage to take out a third. Occurrences that exciting aren't even rare; in fact, they happen in basically every match.

TowerFall has been favorably compared to Super Smash Bros., which is apt in more ways than one. Power-ups can throw curveballs into the mix, changing your arrows into explosive darts, environment-piercing drills or bouncing lasers. There are dozens of variables you can apply before starting a match, letting you tailor (and save!) custom multiplayer gametypes. Everything, from the number of arrows players start with to the power-ups that spawn in the match, is there to adjust.

Party modes

TowerFall Ascension's replay value is bolstered significantly by the multiplayer variants, which you can adjust and save to one of three slots for later use. Here are just a few of the options that have been huge successes on game night:

Start players with just one arrow, forcing them to pick their shots wisely and scavenge arrows around the battlefield.

Start players with six Drill arrows, which can burrow through walls and floors, leaving no safe inch of space in the .

Turn off arrows entirely and turn on Super Dashes, sending players flying into the air as they try to jump on each other's heads. Each adjustment, each combination gives rise to a variety of jubilant moments. When you think you've seen it all, something happens — a laser arrow trick shot, a Super Bomb multi-kill — that shatters your expectations. It's genuinely thrilling every time it happens, and TowerFall smartly lets you save your replays as animated GIFs with a single button press.

The game's lack of online multiplayer certainly makes it harder to get four archers in a match together. But schmaltzy as it may sound, when shared with a roomful of friends, TowerFall nights can be an unforgettable affair.

Ascension does add a few solo options to the game, however, including "Trials" mode, a refined version of the original's target practice levels. Each Trial is set up like a miniature puzzle, tasking you with using the game's power-ups to clear a screenful of targets in just a few seconds. It's a good tutorial for the game's additions, and a surprisingly compelling score-chaser, to boot. The biggest addition by far is the game's Quest mode, which turns each of TowerFall's multiplayer stages into a Horde-esque survival challenge. One to two players have to hold off waves of increasingly deadly AI enemies while trying to stay alive and chain together kill combos.

The new modes are surprisingly addictive, and a welcome option when getting a group of friends together just isn't possible. But, polished as they may be, they're ultimately the supporting cast to together just isn't possible. But, polished as they may be, they're ultimately the supporting cast to the game's competitive offerings. It's not that the Quest and Trials modes are lacking in quality; it's

that the multiplayer, and its toy box full of variables, possesses the stuff in unparalleled quantities.

Wrap Up:

About Polygon's Reviews 9.5 Win 9.5 PS4

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MichaelStevens That’ll do.

Mar 7, 2014 | 6:16 PM Reply

BlatantNinja23 excited to finally play this

Mar 7, 2014 | 6:19 PM Reply 1Legend TowerFall vs TitanFall… Because they both end with fall…

Mar 7, 2014 | 6:25 PM Reply

amarohl #TeamTowerFall !!

Mostly cause I don’t have an Xbone :/ Mar 7, 2014 | 6:43 PM Reply

Freezenification But they’re both on PC!

Mar 7, 2014 | 6:44 PM Reply

amarohl Yeah… my ancient PC would run TitanFall like a wonderful slideshow. (if at all)

Mar 7, 2014 | 6:48 PM Reply JTNJ I feel your pain on that one. I can’t even get simple 2D games to run at a decent framerate.

Mar 7, 2014 | 6:58 PM Reply

alexiddqd My laptop overheated to the point of shutting down when I recently replayed Gone Home :( That’s more a fault of the build quality though, the thermal paste around some components in my computer degrades over time so I went from maxing out Dishonored and Skyrim to crashing on a Unity game. It’s pretty funny actually.

Mar 7, 2014 | 7:33 PM Reply mewfin It’s ok, titanfall is really overated.

Mar 7, 2014 | 7:07 PM Reply

alexiddqd Have you played it? I haven’t played it myself (I have a PS4, not an Xbox) but a game from the people who made CoD4 with this much positivity surrounding it seems to indicate a to me.

Mar 7, 2014 | 7:34 PM Reply

Shaun McIlroy

Community Manager, Polygon The beta was enjoyable.

Mar 7, 2014 | 7:48 PM Reply

Konradak Os this a sly way of saying the full release isn’t as good ; P I know you guys have it! I know it!

Mar 7, 2014 | 8:07 PM Reply

Shaun McIlroy

Community Manager, Polygon I don’t know. I don’t own an Xbox One, nor have I played the final version.

Mar 7, 2014 | 8:14 PM Reply

Konradak Aw I was just playing anyways. It was worth a try. Mar 7, 2014 | 9:21 PM Reply

Crusina_Luachra Tell us all why it’s over rated.

Mar 7, 2014 | 8:20 PM Reply

Shaun McIlroy

Community Manager, Polygon Let’s not start a war here.

Mar 7, 2014 | 9:25 PM Reply

hesis I don’t see how that comment is “starting a war.”

I mean you even contributed to the debate yourself earlier in the thread. I think it’s valid to ask for an explanation as to why someone thinks the way they do, especially if it’s done in a reasonable manner.

Mar 8, 2014 | 1:05 AM Reply

PeterTechGuy Let’s just say the Internet is more sensitive than you think.

Mar 8, 2014 | 1:44 AM Reply Jamie Pollock @hesis You’re right it’s not really a war starting comment but typical good etiquette for a comments section is to keep on topic about the current blog post and not curtail into a different discussion.

Mar 8, 2014 | 9:00 AM Reply Mar 8, 2014 | 9:00 AM Reply

gambolingman I hear good things about this game from Chris Plante and Russ Frushtick.

I wonder how excited they are to buy it again on PC or Ps4…

Mar 7, 2014 | 6:34 PM Reply

BoneyM Get yo shake out, mitherfilbers.

Mar 7, 2014 | 6:45 PM Reply JTNJ I’m going to be crazy enough & buy this before I even have a PS4 on hand. I hear too many good things about this game. And to be honest, I do miss the old days when my friends & I would gather around the N64 for GoldenEye or the PS1 with (with the MultiTap!). Maybe this, 4 controllers & a couple of beers can make for the perfect gaming night.

Mar 7, 2014 | 6:50 PM Reply

mguniverse I’d really appreciate some Mac support.

Mar 7, 2014 | 6:51 PM Reply

chrismo2001 Right! But for now; we can play it on PS4!

Mar 7, 2014 | 6:57 PM Reply

Stillhart No arrows + Head stomp mode = Joust? Cuz I could ALWAYS go for more Joust!

Not really into the local multiplayer thing anymore. It’s been a many a year since I was sitting around a dorm room getting high and playing Goldeneye with my friends.

How does this game hold up if you’re only EVER going to play single player? Is it worth the price of admission?

Mar 7, 2014 | 7:19 PM Reply

benexclaimed I’ve only played the Ouya version (which has a much more barebones single player mode) but I still feel like I can confidently say no. This game is about multiplayer.

Mar 7, 2014 | 7:22 PM Reply

Griffin McElroy

Deputy News Editor I’ve put a looooot of time into the single-player stuff — I’ve taken hundreds of stabs at some of the Trials, and am still trying to finish up some of the Quest’s Hardcore levels. It’s definitely made for multiplayer, but I spent a lot more time on the single-player than I thought I would.

There’s a Wings powerup that lets you fly that you could probably turn on, and turn arrows off, that’d be pretty Joust-like.

Mar 7, 2014 | 7:31 PM Reply

Stillhart Thanks, Griffin. Depending on the PC pricing, I may have to give this a try.

Then again, Titanfall!!

Mar 7, 2014 | 7:38 PM Reply

Stuart.Anderson No online multi is really, really disappointing.

Mar 7, 2014 | 7:22 PM Reply

Blyght I feel the same way, mainly about the PC version. I just never have four people around it to support that kind of local play, especially considering we’d have to split a keyboard or I’d have to buy enough controllers for it.

Mar 7, 2014 | 7:26 PM Reply

alexiddqd It’s a bummer, but it’s really tricky to figure out how to make game like these run fast enough for it to be feasible. The limited resources of a smaller developer don’t help either.

Mar 7, 2014 | 7:36 PM Reply

Stillhart Well maybe if it works out, Towerfall 2 with online multiplayer?

Mar 7, 2014 | 7:39 PM Reply

Stuart.Anderson Stuart.Anderson One can hope! Understand the limited resources of a four or five person team, but I think as a consumer looking to spend your dollars on games that kind of goes out the window.

Mar 8, 2014 | 6:41 AM Reply

Rarity I have accidentally said instead of titanfall multiple times in the past week. Probably because I don’t care much for titanfall.

Mar 7, 2014 | 7:28 PM Reply

Corduroy Turtle “Platforms: Not Mac or Wii U” softly weeps

Mar 7, 2014 | 7:33 PM Reply althaz To be fair, if you are only going to buy the least supported gaming platforms, complaining that you don’t get titles released on them isn’t exactly reasonable. Replacing your PC with one that runs Windows (or installing it on your Mac) might belong in the too hard basket, but if you really want to play games, buying an XB1 or PS4 should basically be a no-brainer. Mar 7, 2014 | 8:25 PM Reply

Lynith Yes but who owns 4 PS4 controllers?

And even if you bought 4 PS4 controllers to play Towerfall…. when would you ever use the other 3 again since most console games assume you don’t actually have any friends and have NO splitscreen!

Shakes fist

Honestly, it makes more sense to have it on the WiiU than the PS4. It’s the party-game system.

Mar 7, 2014 | 8:36 PM Reply Ostrake My thoughts exactly. Wii U is the best local 4 player system. Plus most Wii U owners I imagine have 3-4 Wiimotes already. You will have 4 controllers to the most out of Mario U, 3D World, Nintendo Land and Rayman.

Sony backed the developer to get it on PS4 when they invested into a lot of indies pre-launch. Hopefully it does not mean an exclusive. I will buy this the instant it is on the Wii U eShop.

PC, I have keyboard, 2 360 controllers..kinda play it on that.

Mar 7, 2014 | 9:30 PM Reply

scoii Actually your statement is a little backwards. This was launched as a timed Ouya exclusive. If there is a home console that fewer people own than the Ouya, then I am more than happy to be proven wrong. As far as I can tell though putting this game on the “least supported gaming platform” was the creator’s original goal.

Plus as others have said the Wii U is a party system. I have a fleet of Wii-motes at my disposal, and all of them would love to be used for this game. You could even make the user a Game Master who can switch rules on and off throughout the match diabolically. That’d be a fun mode.

Mar 8, 2014 | 1:28 AM Reply mrthewhite Just because they started on the least popular console when no one knew what this was doesn’t mean they want to continue working their way up the popularity ladder now that their game has some critical praise.

They want to maximize the success they got on Ouya then they need to release it in a way that gets them the most exposure as quick as possible and that’s PC and PS4.

Mar 8, 2014 | 12:24 PM Reply

Konradak The only thing stopping me from pressing “Buy” is the lack of online MP. I have no one around me to play locally. Sucks, because this game looks so damn fun…

Mar 7, 2014 | 8:09 PM Reply althaz I figure it’ll be perfect for my Surface (Pro, which I also use as a portable console). Another game to add into my portable gaming kit (along with smash bros, mario kart, goldeneye, starcraft, etc).

Mar 7, 2014 | 8:26 PM Reply PrimalxConvoy Sorry, but with no online play, no interest from me.

It’s simply amazing that the dev couldn’t understand that the lack of this simple feature is necessary in this day and age for multiplayer. Party play in a room is just an address bonus.

This game will die, just like it did on Ouya.

Mar 7, 2014 | 8:58 PM Reply Ostrake He understands, but he is one person and his vision was for a local co op game.

Which PS/Xbox have lacked besides Sports games and Diablo 3. I guess War in the North had 3 player co op.

Mar 7, 2014 | 9:36 PM Reply mrthewhite I don’t think you know what die means…

Mar 8, 2014 | 12:25 PM Reply

TyrusPeace Online multiplayer typically compensates for lag by having everyone play about 100 ms in the past and deciding who “wins” after the fact. That works pretty well for FPSes and coop games of all sorts, but it’s pretty subpar for arcade-timing competitive games, like fighting games. The game will rewind and take back hits you landed because the enemy player actually landed their hit first, that kinda thing.

TowerFall is an even worse case than that. It’s an arcade-timing competitive platformer with one hit kills. People gripe but still enjoy online fighting games, but that kind of behavior would entirely ruin a match if only one hit ends it. The timing of every jump, dash, and shot in TowerFall is very, very important. That’s the joy of it, and it’s the kind of game that wouldn’t happen if you designed for online multiplayer first.

Mar 8, 2014 | 4:38 PM Reply

ProjectSloth Would there be any reason to buy this again if I already own it for Ouya? I mean, there’s the new signal-player components, but are they worth it?

Mar 7, 2014 | 9:30 PM Reply sundaypostman I believe I read somewhere that the update was to Ascension was coming to Ouya for free, but I can’t find the article anywhere.

Mar 7, 2014 | 11:42 PM Reply jm9843 Thorson did confirm that the update would be free for users who bought it on OUYA; three months after the PC/PS4 release.

Mar 8, 2014 | 9:48 AM Reply Ostrake Great game, that requires an additional $100 to play (assuming you have a 2nd controller already). Cheaper on PC I suppose due to more controller options.

Mar 7, 2014 | 9:33 PM Reply

Cobaltios Not that it’s a bad thing, but if it was using at least 32 bit sprites, this might be interesting.

Alas, I’ll pass.

Mar 7, 2014 | 9:45 PM Reply Rohsiph No local vidcon friends. This money goes to Dark Souls 2.

Mar 7, 2014 | 10:57 PM Reply

Perducci I didn’t realize that Griffin was going to be reviewing this. It’s cool to see him back up all of Plante and Frushtick’s praise. Definitely looking forward to finally being able to play this.

I understand everyone’s frustration for lack of online support. Luckily my roommate has a PS4 with 2 controllers and I’ve only been postponing my own PS4 purchase since he has recently moved in. That gives us three controllers, so hopefully we can find a buddy nearby that is up to play.

Mar 8, 2014 | 1:10 AM Reply

Bilal Mian Griffin,

Any tests of Remote Play on the Vita for Towerfall? Feels like something I’d enjoy playing from bed for a few rounds before going to sleep.

Mar 8, 2014 | 1:23 AM Reply jm9843 Any latency introduced to this game would add immense frustration. Just forget about the diamond ranking in Trials mode.

Mar 8, 2014 | 9:52 AM Reply

KJ Gould Polygon’s most hyped game in the last couple of years.

I’m guessing ps4 because it’s much easier to develop for than ps3 … Even if ps3 has the much greater user base.

Mar 8, 2014 | 3:33 AM Reply

Lynith No, it’s PS4 because Sony paid them to make it PS4. No other reason.

Mar 8, 2014 | 2:56 PM Reply Cory Williams

Support Manager, This is one the best games I’ve ever played. We constantly have a ton of fun in multiplayer mode and I would highly recommend it to everyone.

Mar 8, 2014 | 1:21 PM Reply tommy_beast Waiting for online multiplayer.

Mar 8, 2014 | 5:38 PM Reply

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