Tower of Mask

Release Date: December 7, 2024

RPG, FPP, survival horror, dungeon-crawler, adventure elements, indie games, action RPG, singleplayer

99%

Steam

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An action RPG with a first-person camera and elements of a survival horror. Tower of Mask was inspired by 1980s dungeon crawlers. We enter the titular tower, trying to avoid traps, solve its puzzles, and defeat masked opponents using both melee weapons & firearms.

Videos and Screens

[1:00] Tower of Mask Gameplay Trailer

[0:45] Tower of Mask Story Trailer

99%

STEAM Score

All Reviews: Very Positive (86)

STEAM

User Reviews Summary generated by AI

The main pros of the game

Atmosphere and Immersion: The game creates a genuinely oppressive and claustrophobic atmosphere, enhancing the horror elements.
Unique Combat Mechanics: The combination of grid-based movement with free-aiming combat adds depth and strategy to battles. Players appreciate the need to aim for enemy weak points.
Engaging Puzzles and Exploration: The game features a variety of environmental puzzles and secrets that reward exploration, making the gameplay feel rewarding.
Solid Presentation: Users praise the visuals, controls, and sound design, which contribute to the overall immersive experience.
Short but Enjoyable Length: Many players find the game's length (around 5-12 hours) suitable and enjoyable, especially for those looking for a concise experience.
Indie Developer Effort: The fact that the game was developed by a single person is highlighted as impressive, with many users expressing support for indie game development.

The main cons of the game

Healing and Health Management: Limited healing options and the inability to recover health can lead to frustrating gameplay, especially if players run out of potions.
Difficulty Spikes: Some users noted that enemy health and difficulty can escalate rapidly, leading to challenging encounters that may feel unfair.
Clunky UI and Controls: Some reviews mention that the UI can be clunky, and the grid-based movement can feel slow and cumbersome during combat.
Translation Issues: There are complaints about poor translations, which can detract from the overall experience.
Limited Variety in Gameplay: Some users feel that the gameplay can become repetitive and that the lack of crafting or deeper mechanics limits the experience.

The features or elements that are missing from the game according to users

Crafting System: Players expressed a desire for a crafting system to enhance gameplay variety.
More Complex Puzzles: Some users felt that while the puzzles were enjoyable, they could have been more innovative or challenging.
Better Healing Options: A more robust healing system or alternative ways to recover health would improve gameplay flow.
Ability to Save Anywhere: The game’s save system, which restricts saving to specific points, was seen as a limitation, especially in a challenging dungeon crawler context.
More Enemy Variety: While users appreciated the unique enemy designs, some felt there could be more diversity in enemy types and behaviors.

Summary

Overall, "Tower of Mask" is well-received for its atmospheric dungeon crawling experience, engaging mechanics, and indie charm, though it does have some notable drawbacks that could be addressed in future updates.

Summary generated on: January 6, 2025

Tower of Mask is an action RPG with survival horror elements, inspired by 1980s dungeon crawlers. The game was developed by the independent Papertip Studio from Japan.

Story

Tower of Mask takes us to the titular structure, which is a nest of evil and home to aggressive people. During the game, we take on the role of a daredevil who decides to cross its threshold to face the dangers lurking within. Although we are not the first ones who ventured here, we can become the first ones who managed to get out of this place in one piece.

Gameplay

Tower of Mask is played from a first-person perspective (FPP). When exploring the titular tower, we must be careful, as it is full of traps, such as trapdoors or spikes sticking out of the ground. In addition, we often have to solve environmental puzzles and fight masked attackers. We eliminate enemies using melee weapons (like swords or spears) and firearms (led by the pistol).

Although battles take place in real time, it is not agility that determines our success, but tactical sense and the ability to predict the enemy's moves. The game uses a grid-based movement system, so we don't have complete freedom in this matter. Positioning in the right place is crucial as it allows to avoid attacks and generally make winning easier. We also have to make an effort not to be driven into a corner.

As we progress, we collect better weapons and armor. We also develop the main character by improving their abilities.