It’s no great secret that theBioShockfranchise has had a significant impact on the games industry, with countless big-budget and indie titles drawing inspiration from the series' deep atmosphere, mystery storytelling, and immersive gameplay elements.Twisted Toweris one such game,boasting an alluring setting, mysterious plot, and unique gameplay loop that all pay clear homage to the famous horror FPS franchise. Game Rant recently sat down with Atmos Games to take a walk through the game’s eerie, comedic, and strange world.
From the very start of the demo,Twisted Tower’sBioShockinspiration was apparent. It begins near the start of the game, as the protagonist Tiny rows up to a dark, isolated island populated with vicious spider-like monsters, all swarming about the base of the titular tower. These opening moments give a glimpse ofTwisted Tower’s straightforward melee combat, resource economy, and puzzle fundamentals. The opening also serves as an introduction toTwisted Tower’s ostensible villain, Mr. Twister, who speaks to Tiny in a mocking, theatrical tone.
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While the story ofTwisted Towerappears to be shrouded in mystery, the basic premise is that Mr. Twister is an eccentric toymaker who also produces a dark, violent game show from his mechanically complex and uncanny tower. Contestants are entered into the competition by finding one of thirteen velvet tickets, which are hidden inside Twisted Tower toy packages - a clear reference to the golden tickets inWilly Wonka and the Chocolate Factory, which has been cited as another main source of inspiration for the game. The goal of the game is simple: ascend the tower and try to survive. Whoever wins walks away with $10,000,000.
Like othergames inspired by the originalBioShockreleases,Twisted Towerfeatures a silent protagonist. This choice makes for an enigmatic main character, as his specific intentions, personality, and reaction to outside stimuli are withheld from the player. Context clues and Mr. Twister’s comments offer some additional information, namely that Tiny is a teenager and has a girlfriend who is tuned into the broadcast of the game show. However, it’s clear that there is more to Tiny’s story than meets the eye, and more plot details are sure to be revealed as the game progresses.
After a brief period of outdoor exploration, the demo takes Tiny into the Twisted Tower itself, which is where the bulk of the game will take place. TheTower is an intriguing settingand the main attraction of the game in many ways. The charming, art deco aesthetic of the tower, complete with authentic 1920s music piped through the in-game speakers, is believable and immersive even in this early build, but the otherworldly mechanisms of the tower are what really set it apart. The tower is constantly changing, the floors rearranging themselves like some sort of brick-and-mortar Rubik’s cube, adding a new layer to the “Twisted” part of the game’s title. This architectural premise forms the foundation of the game’s many environmental puzzles, as players need to manipulate the tower’s shifting nature to achieve their objectives and ultimately climb to higher floors.
The ever-changing tower has an impact on exploration as well. WhileBioShockgames are mostly linear,Twisted Toweris looking to introduce branching paths to the formula. At multiple points throughout the demo, Tiny was faced with a choice between multiple distinct paths. After choosing one path, the others are closed off for the rest of that playthrough. This system will be present throughout the game, and each path can provide unique exploration and gameplay opportunities, thus offering unexpected twists and turns for subsequent runs.
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Twisted Towerisn’t all puzzle-solving and exploration, though; the game appears to have a good deal of combat. Much like in the firstBioShock, it looks like players will startTwisted Towerwith a rudimentary melee weapon (an axe, in this case) before gaining access to a wider arsenal of firearms. While it doesn’t look likePlasmid-esque superhuman powerswill be appearing inTwisted Tower, there will be unlockable abilities throughout the game, including a grappling hook and a double jump, which can be used for both exploration and combat scenarios.Twisted Toweralso has an in-game economy, as players can find cash throughout the environment which can be used to purchase additional weapons and abilities.
While theTwisted Towerdemo only offered a brief look at what the game has to offer, it’s clear that it has a lot of promise. It’s marketed as “BioShockmeetsWilly Wonka,” and the connections to theBioShockgames are immediately apparent in the general premise, tone, and thegame’s silent, mysterious protagonist, but there’s also plenty that seems to set it apart from its main inspiration. For one thing, the tone ofTwisted Toweris decidedly more tongue-in-cheek and wacky thanBioShock’s - its blood and gore appear almost slapstick at times.
More central to the game’s sense of originality, though, is the tower itself. The preview offered a taste of the ever-shifting tower’s potential, showing how the player can shape their own journey by choosing specific paths, while using creative problem-solving to move past the game’s puzzles. ForTwisted Towerto stand out amidst themanyBioShock-inspired gamescoming out in the near future, it will be important for it to hone in on these points of difference.
The tone and gameplay hook ofTwisted Towershow clear promise, but the demo left behind many questions surrounding other key elements of the experience, specifically with regard to the story of the game. There are certainly enough breadcrumbs to keep a player hooked, but only a full playthrough of the game will reveal whether the mysteries surrounding Tiny, Mr. Twister, and the game show will pay off in an interesting way. Based on the preview, though, it looks likeTwisted Towercould be agreat choice for fans of theBioShockfranchiseand beyond.
