NEW Shooter: PROJECT TOWER – Intense Bullet Hell & Epic Alien Fights!
0Project Tower is a new third-person shooter that mixes intense bullet hell combat with a unique morphing ability that took me by surprise in many ways. From its exhilarating boss fights to a well-executed soundtrack and a story that unfolds in a satisfying way, it delivers a thrilling ride. While the game is relatively short—clocking in at around four hours depending on skill level—it makes the most of every moment. The experience hinges on fast-paced movement, strategic dodging, and precise shooting, making every encounter feel valuable and rewarding.
However, Project Tower is not without its flaws. The game has some rough edges, likely a result of its ambitious scope compared to the resources available to its small indie development team. The level design, for instance, feels restrictive, often consisting of narrow corridors with invisible walls, limiting player exploration. The puzzle sections, while present, feel tacked on rather than meaningfully integrated into the gameplay. Additionally, the morph mechanic, which is introduced in a promising way during the tutorial, becomes underutilized later in the game, with only one or two morphs per environment.
Strengths: What Makes Project Tower Shine!
Worldbuilding & Atmosphere: Despite its constraints, the game creates an immersive world. The transitions between towers and the unfolding story keep the player engaged.
Boss Design: The boss fights are the highlight of the game, featuring well-designed attack patterns that ensure challenge without feeling unfair. Most of them provide an enjoyable, skill-based experience akin to a light bullet-hell shooter.
Performance Stability: Impressively, the game runs relatively smoothly. I encountered only minor bugs, none of which were game-breaking.
Music & Sound Design: The soundtrack stands out, elevating the intensity of battles and exploration. The OST is a definite highlight.
Fun Factor: For all its flaws, the game is fun to play. It captures the essence of bullet-hell shooters while introducing some fresh mechanics.
Weaknesses: Where Project Tower Falls Short!
Weapons & Combat Balance: The weapons lack impact, often feeling like squirt guns against overly tanky enemies. The energy recharge time feels too long, making combat frustrating rather than rewarding.
Graphical & Keybinding Issues: The game does not save graphical settings or keybindings upon exit, requiring manual reconfiguration every time it launches. The default key mappings are unintuitive (e.g., weapon switching tied to directional keys), and some keys—like the interact button—cannot be remapped.
Performance Limitations: Despite being on PC, the frame rate is capped at 60 FPS, and display settings can be unresponsive. On high settings, the game struggles with performance optimization, especially in 4K.
Save System & UI Issues: There is only one save slot, meaning that starting a new game erases all prior progress. Additionally, the reset-to-default function for key bindings does not work properly.
Pacing & Enemy Encounters: The game follows a predictable cycle—puzzle sections interspersed with minor enemy encounters leading up to boss fights. This formula can feel repetitive, and the enemy variety is limited.
Verdict: A Passion Project with Room for Improvement!
Despite its shortcomings, Project Tower is an enjoyable indie effort, especially considering it was developed by a small team of three. The comparison to Returnal is warranted, though Project Tower brings its own spin with its morph mechanic and unique aesthetic. For a $20 price tag, the game offers a solid, albeit short, experience that bullet-hell and third-person shooter fans will appreciate. However, its issues—ranging from unbalanced difficulty to clunky UI and graphical settings—hold it back from reaching its full potential.
If the developers ever release a sequel or an expansion, refining the core mechanics and addressing the balancing issues could elevate this game into something truly special. In its current state, Project Tower is a fun but flawed indie gem, best enjoyed by those willing to look past its imperfections
PROJECT TOWER - 1.0 Launched on January 6, 2025!
Platform: PC (Steam) Price: $24.99 USD
Link:
https://store.steampowered.com/app/2242970/Project_Tower/
Dive in Project Tower, a third-person shooter mixing intense bullet hell combat with a unique morphing ability. Imprisoned by the "Hiks", fight to the top of their deadly tower for freedom. Will you outsmart them and make your way out ?