Tower of Guns

Game Info

Tower of Guns is a roguelike first person shooter created and developed by Terrible Posture Games which just happens to comprise itself of a sole member, Joe Mirabello. Its considered a “lunch break” title, as a full play through without dying would only take about an hour or so. This statement is misleading though.

Permadeath is what gives Tower of Guns its hours of play time. Every death means starting back at the beginning of the game in the foyer, the ground level of an ascending tower. Normally this would mean redundant and repetitive play but the game is full of randomizations that keep every play-through fresh and intriguing.

There are several different story plots that are also random although they aren’t exactly important or exciting, however, they do serve as comical banter only enhancing game play. Its easy enough to completely ignore and there’s also an option to turn off story mode if it’s distracting. There are also adorable “hugbots”. They won’t hurt you because they love you but the only right way to hug a hugbot is with a bullet. The reward of their death is bigger than that of their affections.

Tower of Guns is just that, a tower of guns. At the beginning of the game you are given one gun and one “perk”. Only two guns are available at first but by a series of playing and dying you can unlock other weapons and collect power ups that you can keep. The tower is full of floating, bladed spinning killing machines, turrets, robots and spiked balls and they all want you dead. Circle strafing, bunny hopping and using walls and pillars are the best defense in evading the massive amounts of ammunition flying your direction. Destroying them will send down a shower of collectable orbs, power ups and currency. They will disappear shortly after dropping so its important to consider where you are, where they are and where they will drop so that you can access them in time.

There’s also levels with lava and if you think you’re going to be able to retrieve anything out of it, yeah….no. Health diminishes quickly at each touch, so that gun upgrade smiling at you from the middle of the lake of fire is probably not worth attempting, although I found that out the hard way. The currency can be used during active game play at stations either out in the open or in secret spots around the map. Money acquired doesn’t carry over after death so you might as well spend it while you can.

There are secret spots all over each level. I never found over 30% of secret areas in any one level. They are well hidden and most times I found them were purely accidental. While attempting to evade bombs I backed myself into a corner and found myself in a small room filled with currency. Another, I was simply walking down a ramp and fell through the floor into a room with health orbs. Exploring each level before beginning the next can be very rewarding.

The graphics aren’t anything special. They are grainy and slightly blurred around the edges but I have to say its not a deterrent to play. The feel is mechanical and dingy and a perfect setting for a death tower. The enemies aren’t very well detailed or foreboding visually but they are huge and that in itself makes them scary. A lot of them made me feel like I was stuck in a room with Geometry Wars pieces. Giant shapes just coming at you from all directions with only your death in mind. The music is low key and honestly not memorable. The sound effects with all the firing and explosions is dramatic and engaging so all in all, an audible delight.

The Recommendation

Tower of Guns is a great game you can come back to over and over and feel like its a brand new experience. It’s twitch game aspects and no soft lock feature keeps you focused and fully engaged the entire run. This rogue-like FPS will carefully test reflexive response times and challenge you to choose tactical strategies in a matter of seconds or face certain death. It only took half a dozen deaths before I was sold and fully addicted. So, have fun, fight to the death or maybe live to see the end. Either way, you’ll enjoy your three hour lunch break.