Who made it?
Capcom enlisted the help of Iron Galaxy for this compilation, which has a pretty good porting pedigree behind it, including multiple deals with Capcom. It worked on Street Fighter III: 3rd Strike Online Edition, Darkstalkers ResurrectionSkyrim for Switch (and VR), and even helped out Retro Studios on the recent Metroid Prime Remastered.
The studio’s latest title, Rumbleverse, was rumored to be coming to the Switch, but the servers for the battle royale brawler (which received good reviews and word of mouth) shut down six months after its release.
What is the premise?
Very simply, both games are side-scrolling to beat them, but they have a few differences. Tower of Doom lets you choose between four characters (Cleric, Dwarf, Elf, and Fighter) and fight your way through various dungeons against popular D&D monsters. It can be a bit tricky as monsters can use the same moves as you.
Shadow over Istar it adds a thief and a magic user to the party, as well as different costumes, meaning your friends can choose the same character as you (two priests? why not!). The sequel adds special moves, and you can stock up on items between stages at various shops. In both games, there are a number of choice-based paths that give you different routes and enemies.
Why should you play it?
The Wii U version isn’t the only version you can get, but it may have been the hardest to develop. But in the end it did, and it’s a damn good collection of two classic Beat ’em up action RPGs.
Like all good compilations, this isn’t just a bundle assembled and signed for delivery — it’s full of concept art, new challenges, exclusive content, and tons of gameplay. It’s a loving port that looks back at the history of these two titles. Customizable House Rules are a fantastic addition, so you can turn this into a real arcade experience with lives, difficulties and all kinds of traps for you and some friends. And yes, there is local multiplayer.
What happens when an elf, a cleric, a thief and a fighter walk into a bar? Well, they get into some beautiful pixel art fights.
How much is that?
This is part of Capcom’s big eShop sale in North America, which means it’s only $2.99. In the UK and Europe it’s still full price, but by just a little bit £11.99 / $14.99
We’ll be back on the last day with another 3DS or Wii U eShop recommendation as part this series ‘Countdown’. Let us know below if you already have this in your collection and share your thoughts.
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