Pandora's Tower: The Basics
The spirit of Castlevania lives on.
In order for your friend to survive, she must eat the flesh of foes you slay in towers scattered across a beast-plagued land. Sound grim? That's the concept of Pandora's Tower, the latest Wii exclusive that's coming to Japan next month. With information coming out almost daily, I've gathered the pertinent facts for you to peruse. If you want Pandora's Tower to come to U.S. shores, start telling your friends about it now and get some chatter going.
What is Pandora's Tower?
The latest Wii exclusive, Pandora's Tower is an action-RPG developed by Ganbarion, the studio responsible for Jump Super Stars as well as a variety of One Piece games. Tower is due out in Japan this May.
What's the story?
You play as Ende, a warrior whose friend, Ceres, has become cursed by an ancient evil in the realm of Elysium. The only way to stop the curse from turning her into a beast? Strip the flesh from your enemies and feed it to her to keep the plague at bay or, in some cases, help eliminate it. Pretty grim stuff.
How does the game work?
Pandora's Tower is effectively a cross between Castlevania and Zelda, mixing action, puzzle-solving and exploration with limited RPG-esque concepts. Ende carries a variety of weapons, though his primary mode of attack is his chain whip, which can not only carry out various offensive attacks, but grab, restrain and maneuver objects and enemies. The game can be played with the Wii Remote and Nunchuk, or in a more traditional manner with Wii's Classic Controller.
Curing Ceres is your main goal, which requires you to subdue and tear away meat from your enemies. More routine enemy remnants will only hault Ceres' mutation, but bosses will begin to reverse her condition. Naturally, getting to these big bad guys requires a bit of work. Your battleground consists of a dozen or so towers that contain various tricks, traps and creatures. Each tower has a particular theme or environment, just like the Zelda dungeons we know and love.
Does the curse factor into gameplay?
Not directly, but it does appear to act as a timer. As you progress through the game, Ceres' condition will get worse. That's why you consistently have to work your way back to her to feed her. Presumably you can do more than simply buy yourself more time… perhaps you can slow the curse as well?
What are these RPG elements?
There isn't too much information about this available, but it appears as though you'll be able to acquire items that will allow you to upgrade your sword, chain and other weapons. Once acquired, Ende will have to visit a merchant, Graia, for some sort of upgrade process.
How does the game play?
Unfortunately, the IGN Nintendo crew has yet to play Pandora's Tower. All the above information is courtesy of our friends over at Andriasang, who have been keeping an eye on all the latest information coming out of Japan.
When are we getting the game in the United States?
That's the real question, isn't it? Though Pandora's Tower is due out May 26, 2011 in Japan, there is absolutely no word about a United States release.
Something tells me the game might be quietly announced for a Stateside release at E3 2011, perhaps alongside a few other outstanding titles like The Last Story. Nintendo certainly needs more titles to propel Wii sales in 2011 until its successor arrives in 2012. Pandora's Tower would certainly be an interesting addition to that lineup.
http://wii.ign.com/articles/116/1164865p1.html
