Towerborne hands-on preview: Streets of Rage meets Guardian Heroes in this combo-heavy brawler
Fight on
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If you told me the developer ofThe Banner Sagawas working on a co-op brawler, I’d have certainly raised a curious eyebrow. But that’s exactly what the team at Stoic Studio is cooking up withTowerborne.
Currently slated to release in 2024 forXbox Series X|S and PC (and arriving day one onXbox Game Pass),Towerborneshould feel familiar to players who’ve brawled their way throughCastle Crashersor beat-em-ups likeStreets of Rage 4andRiver City Girls.
ButTowerbornegoes even further than those games, sprinkling in RPG customization reminiscent of Treasure classicGuardian Heroes,and tech you’ll find in some of thebest fighting gameslikeGuilty Gear Strive.It’s a wild mish-mash of inspiration, but it works incredibly well.
It took me a bit of time to get used toTowerborne’smulti-faceted combat, as there’s plenty here beyond simply mashing the same two buttons ad nauseam. Once I had though, I had an absolute blast during my 4-player co-op session at Gamescom 2023 chaining together combos and supporting my allies as we stormed through a cursed forest to defeat a giant, poisonous mushroom creature. As you do.
Borne to fight
What setsTowerborneapart from its beat-em-up peers is the surprising amount of customization it offers the player. As an Ace instructed to guard the central Belfry against invading critters and monsters, you’ll get to decide what your character looks like, their weapons, and playstyle.
Whether you go for, say, a traditional sword n’ board setup or opt for a magical staff, you’ll feel extremely capable and powerful inTowerborne.That’s because the game’s combat is shaping up to be extremely responsive and diverse. During my Gamescom session, the developers mentioned taking inspiration from fighting game combos. And that’s quite apparent.
Using a sword and shield, I was able to juggle an enemy into the air, subsequently cancel out of my attack animation to leap towards them and then continue combo-ing them off the ground before slamming them into the earth. Other players got in on the fun, too, offering their own combos to build upon mine for massive damage to enemy creatures.
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It’s all very dynamic and beautifully hectic, especially when four players are involved. Better still,Towerbornesupports couch co-op as well as online play, so I can see it being an absolute hoot to play with friends on the sofa.
While we were only able to play through a single mission, it was enough to get a taste of the loopTowerborneis going for, and I found it to be pleasingly reminiscent ofPhantasy Star Online:you fight your way through a biome, kill a boss at the end, then return to base to upgrade your kit to then challenge yourself with even tougher areas.
IfTowerbornereleases and manages to nail the aspects it’s shooting for, then it could be set up for long-term success. Post-launch, Stoic will be creating Seasons of Towerborne, which updates the game with new story content, gear, quests, enemy types, and more. If these updates are added to the game at no extra cost, thenTowerbornecould be a mainstay for you and your friends when it launches in 2024.
Excited for Towerborne and want something to tide you over in the meantime? Check out our guide to thebest Xbox Game Pass games. Or if you’re partying up with friends, ourbest co-op gameslist will give you the rundown on the most wonderful multiplayer experiences.
Rhys is TRG’s Hardware Editor, and has been part of the TechRadar team for more than two years. Particularly passionate about high-quality third-party controllers and headsets, as well as the latest and greatest in fight sticks and VR, Rhys strives to provide easy-to-read, informative coverage on gaming hardware of all kinds. As for the games themselves, Rhys is especially keen on fighting and racing games, as well as soulslikes and RPGs.
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