Otherwar is a game that didn’t initially appeal to me. It was slow, testing, and a little strange. However, its hybrid gameplay, tactical edge, and reasonably casual mindset grew on me. Moreover, I liked its pixelated style and the twists and turns I encountered.
This tower defence and bullet hell mash-up was developed and published by Take IT Studio. It is a single-player top-down game with a dated aesthetic. Furthermore, the action is linear in its design as monsters follow a set path, and your defences can only be placed in certain areas. This makes it differ slightly from its peers, as you can’t manipulate more powerful options in your favour.
Otherwar is all about survival.
Heaven vs Hell is an age-old tale. Though many do not believe, I like how it is used for entertainment purposes. Otherwar is a prime example of a solid idea being used sparingly. The concept of good vs evil is always at the fore, but it quickly becomes forgotten. This isn’t a complaint as you focus your energy on defeating waves of mental foes.
You control a defender Angel who must prevent the hordes of hell from breaking down the gates. If they succeed, you’ll die and all hell will break loose. This isn’t ideal as you must dodge an array of horrific projectiles. As the game progresses, this becomes particularly difficult, and a solid tactical foundation is required if you wish to succeed.
Towers, coins, and luck.
The aim of the game is simple. Kill every foe with your army of towers. If you survive, you’ll move on to the next wave and eventually the next level. However, this is easier said than done, as projectiles become nigh on impossible to dodge. This keeps you frosty throughout.
Things are made a little easier as you unlock each of the 10 towers on offer. Moreover, each tower can be upgraded 3 times to improve your chances of survival. Yet, don’t think that’ll happen quickly, as you’ll need gold and plenty of grind to be victorious.
Understanding the route of your foes is easy. They follow paths that are lined by your towers. Consequently, you can slow them down by selecting the correct defences for the job. This is restricted slightly as you can only buy 5 of each tower. This was annoying, but a good idea as it prevents cheating and “cheesing” victory.
Finally, luck will be your new friend. As the bosses appear, these tanks run riot. They follow no set path, so it’s a bit of a pain to take them down. This is where lucky placement and the right blend of towers are important. Get it right, and the gates will remain intact.
Otherwar is incredibly old-school.
Pixelated games are my thing. Yes, I love modern realism, but I grew up with limited graphics and horrible colours. Thankful, Otherwar captures that perfectly. The sprites look rough, and the levels are basic and understated. Additionally, the animation is particularly smooth. These choices are deliberate and enhance the retro feel.
The audio follows suit with an aggressive but dated soundtrack. The sound effects are simple, effective, and define a bygone era. Though the aesthetic will not appeal to everyone, I appreciated the nod to my gaming roots.
Simple controls.
Otherwar is bloody slow. The bullets are slow, the monsters move like snails, and the Angel doesn’t fly. However, it doesn’t matter. The controls are wonderfully refined, and the UI works well. The result is a rudimentary affair that is relatively simple to master.
Dying was a familiar experience. Yet, I wanted to push on and try to win. This tough but rewarding design creates a basic and addictive gameplay loop. Subsequently, there is replay value and longevity if you fall for its charms.
Otherwar is a slow burner.
Slow-burning games don’t always strike a chord. I want to get on with things and plough through the content. Luckily, I gave Otherwar enough time to grow on me. If I hadn’t, I would have missed out on some retro and challenging tower defence action.
Though this isn’t perfect and it won’t appeal to everyone, I like it. The graphics are old-school, the music is aggressive, and the controls are simple to master. Yes, there are a few bugs, and things are awkwardly slow, but I grew to ignore these shortcomings. Accordingly, I like it and recommend buying it here! Can you stop the hordes of hell? Choose your towers, avoid the projectiles, and protect the gates with your life.
