Pandora's Tower - Who's with me?

[Darran@Retro Gamer]

I thought I'd started writing about my experiences as I'm now on the fourth level and I really want to complete it. I'm hoping by talking about it that three things will happen. Other people will join in with their own experiences of the game. It will persuade me to complete it, and more people might take a punt on it.

[retrojc]

Haven't even openned mine, but it looks fantastic.

[Darran@Retro Gamer]

Get on it then.
It's basically a really good adventure game with light RPG overtones and dating sim aspects. It sounds rubbish, but it's anything back, thanks to some intriguing gameplay mechanics. The most obvious is that your girlfriend is slowly turning into a monster, so you only have around 30 minutes of real time to return with the demon flesh that she so desperately needs to stop her transformation into a monster. Luckily, you can return to your base at any time, and the towers that house the bosses you need to defeat don't reset, so you can take your time.

Another nice gameplay mechanic is the combat chain you use. It's like the one found in Lords of Shadow, but feels far more versatile. You can chain monsters together, target specific body parts to hinder them, slam them into the floor or other monsters and much more. You can even chain a monster up allowing you to leg it if a fight gets too tough. Style wise it's very similar to Castlevania with gothic environments and beautiful orchestral music that suits the atmosphere perfectly.

you can upgrade weapons by finding specific items, or create them by combining existing ones. Gifts can be giving to your girlfriend, you can give her items which she'll turn into useful items for you and you'll slowly build your relationship for her. It's not a huge part of the game, but is nevertheless a nice touch.

Some will baulk at the broad English accents (I personally love them) and the fixed camera angles can frustrate, but so far I'm really enjoying the journey.

[QuantumCrayons]

Haven't got round to this or Last Story since uni's tough the now, but they're waiting for me

[retrojc]

Haven't got round to this or Last Story since uni's tough the now, but they're waiting for me

Know that feeling!

Did gain employment this morning thoug

[Black Ridge]

Its sitting nicely in its special box from HMV alongside The Last Story & Xenoblade Chronicles. I havnt made a start yet as I'm playing Xenoblade and thats consuming me! Considering i got XC on release and Ive yet to touch Last Story, this suggests it will be a while before i touch it!

Looks great though. Ive heard that its better to play with the WiiMote. Now im not a huge fan of this controller and the only game that has proven its more useful than the classic controller is Sin & Punishment Successor of the Skies IMO.

[Shinobi]

I'm on the fifth Tower now just can't stop playing it!!! Not sure about beating the fifth boss other than hitting the back legs so it falls to use the chain, but then 'Elena' had almost become a monster.. Will need to go back to it but 'Elena' likes me, made me cakes and all sorts so probally heading for that good ending

[killbot]

I'm on the fifth Tower now just can't stop playing it!!! Not sure about beating the fifth boss other than hitting the back legs so it falls to use the chain, but then 'Elena' had almost become a monster.. Will need to go back to it but 'Elena' likes me, made me cakes and all sorts so probally heading for that good ending

I think she always makes you cakes if you give her dryad berries. I could be wrong though. I'm on to the third tower now - when do I get this item I've been hearing about which lets you warp back to the Observatory at any time? It's getting annoying needing to leave myself time to exit the tower even if I'm just taking back beast flesh.

I'm loving the game to bits though. Can't believe it was only scoring in the low 70s in most mags, I think it'll go down as being a bit underrated personally. And Mavda might be my favourite character in any game ever.

[TheNewMonkey]

Im loving it! i haven't touched The Last Story since i started this, that chain has got to be one of the best weapons in any game ever!

[dste]

I'm halfway through Last Story so will be a couple of weeks yet before I get to start on Pandora's Tower.

Loving Last Story though so cannot complain really.

[Shinobi]

I'm on the fifth Tower now just can't stop playing it!!! Not sure about beating the fifth boss other than hitting the back legs so it falls to use the chain, but then 'Elena' had almost become a monster.. Will need to go back to it but 'Elena' likes me, made me cakes and all sorts so probally heading for that good ending

I think she always makes you cakes if you give her dryad berries. I could be wrong though. I'm on to the third tower now - when do I get this item I've been hearing about which lets you warp back to the Observatory at any time? It's getting annoying needing to leave myself time to exit the tower even if I'm just taking back beast flesh.

I'm loving the game to bits though. Can't believe it was only scoring in the low 70s in most mags, I think it'll go down as being a bit underrated personally. And Mavda might be my favourite character in any game ever.

She just randomly gave me some cake she made when I was leaving, and the like bar went up.. The warp item you get in the first tower it looks like a working model of an atom to me(red/yellow/blue balls joined together) can't think of the name of it...

I do agree Mavda has an awesome voice, that Skeleton she carrys round sounds like a across between a old person and Tidy Up of Stop it and Tidy Up, and that Offical Nintendo magazine was knocking the voice acting; fools

You can let Elena's bar go quite low, and she turns up in the cellar as a monster woman!!! If you give her flesh and sleep next to her till she wake your relationship bar goes up.. Best £35 I spent on that limited edition

[Darran@Retro Gamer]

Man I'm on the fire boss and I just can't kill him. Keeps twatting me with his giant sword.

[James A]

Man I'm on the fire boss and I just can't kill him. Keeps twatting me with his giant sword.

Hit him back harder

Might try and get this today. Noticed Game have the special edition in so might use some of the credit ive built up there on it.

[Darran@Retro Gamer]

Okay then I took out the fire boss. You need to [spoiler] double chain his various body bits, which eventually causes him to fall to the floor. You can then censored slap him for massive damage [/spoiler/]
While the towers are based on generic locations (just been in a fire tower) they don't feel it. Many of the levels are also quite puzzly in nature, requiring a little head-scratching in order to work out how to break the chains that hide each boss. It's also refreshingly old school, and feels like a 2D adventure made 3D if that makes any sense.

[snesfanboy]

i gave it a go last night and i like it

keeping track of the time to get the flesh to Elena can be a bit frustrating, as does the fixed camera at times, but the controls are good and the atmosphere is great, and the fact poor Elena has to chow down on that hideous flesh has quite a creepy, uneasy air, bit unusual for Nintendo games

will try to give it another go today, i wonder how long it takes to get through 1 tower?