Tempest Tower calls itself a “tower defense platformer,” which sounds like an ambitious mix of genres. A game where you build defenses and then jump into the action yourself has serious potential. But in its current state, Tempest Tower is still searching for its identity, and if it wants to stand out in an already crowded market, it has some work to do.
A Platformer Without the Platforming?
The game promises a blend of tower defense and platforming, but the platforming aspect is… questionable. Yes, you can jump, but beyond that, there aren’t many mechanics that justify calling this a platformer. There’s no real traversal challenge, no movement-based puzzles, and no platforming finesse required. If this element is meant to be a defining feature, it needs to be fleshed out with meaningful movement mechanics that go beyond basic hopping around.
Traps Need More Personality
Traps are the bread and butter of any tower defense game. They should be inventive, rewarding to use, and force strategic decisions. Unfortunately, Tempest Tower plays it safe with generic traps that don’t offer much creativity. The energy system, which limits how many defenses you can maintain at once, is a nice twist—it forces resource management and adds some depth. But the actual traps themselves? Nothing we haven’t seen before. A greater variety of unique and impactful traps would go a long way in making the tower defense aspect shine.
Performance Woes: A Preview Build Problem (Hopefully)
It’s important to remember that this is just a preview build, but performance issues were a major frustration. Crashes at the end of waves, stuttering, and frequent slowdowns made it hard to enjoy the game. I couldn’t even finish the tutorial without multiple restarts. Optimizations are absolutely necessary if this game is going to reach a wider audience, because right now, it feels like it’s held together with duct tape and a prayer.
The Game Needs More Bite
For a game that combines real-time action with tower defense, Tempest Tower is shockingly forgiving. There’s little incentive to think critically about defense placement or combat strategy because mistakes don’t feel costly. Tower defense games should make you sweat over your choices, and action games should make you fight for survival. This game does neither. It needs a serious difficulty adjustment—more aggressive enemies, real consequences for poor planning, and fewer safety nets for players who take the easy route.
The Pushback Mechanic is a Bit Too Generous
Right now, the pushback mechanic is an overpowered crutch. Instead of carefully managing defenses or engaging in tense fights, you can just shove enemies back and reset the danger level. It removes a lot of the challenge and makes defensive planning feel optional. A cooldown system or more limited usage could help balance this and make combat feel more deliberate.
Final Thoughts: A Work in Progress with Potential
So, what is Tempest Tower trying to be? Right now, it’s a decent concept struggling to define itself. The tower defense aspect is functional but uninspired, the platforming needs actual depth, and the balance leans too heavily in favor of the player. That said, the game has room to grow. If the developers can refine these mechanics, inject some creativity into the traps, and improve performance, this could become a solid entry in the genre.
It’s worth keeping an eye on, but in its current form, it still has a ways to go. If you’re curious, you can check out Tempest Tower on Steam. Just be prepared for some rough edges.
Disclosure: I received a free review copy of this product from https://www.keymailer.co
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