Press release:
TOKYO – Nov. 10, 2022.
The Tokyo-based (Japan) indie games developer SHUEISHA GAMES are today very happy and excited to announce that their roguelike/deckbuilding/survival adventure “The Tower -To the Bottom-” is coming to PC (via Steam) and the Nintendo Switch (via the Nintendo Eshop) on January 19th, 2023 (as announced during the 2022 edition of the Japanese-language Indie World showcase event).
SHUEISHA GAMES, the new video game publishing arm of prestigious manga publisher SHUEISHA (One Piece, Bleach, Naruto, My Hero Academia, Demon Slayer, One Punch Man, Jujutsu Kaisen, Hunter x Hunter, Death Note), the Japanese parent organization of VIZ Media, welcomes The Tower -To the Bottom- as its latest release and debut Steam title.
Developer Tasto Alpha features Tom Ikeda, known for directing Lollipop Chainsaw and serving as lead game designer on the critically-acclaimed Little King’s Story and BLACK BIRD.
Living atop a bizarre, shifting tower, a group of 20 lost children scrounge for survival. In hopes of finding precious bread, and in search of the rumored paradise at the bottom, they descend into the tower’s depths, two at a time. Choose two of the children, each with different starting cards and traits, battle the strange inhabitants of the tower, and uncover mysteries throughout branching paths in a real-time twist on deckbuilding roguelikes.
Draw from your deck with the ability to deal a new hand at any time, and unleash attacks and defensive moves in real time to skillfully counter and negate enemy effects. Contend with cards that flip thus altering their functions, either throwing a wrench in carefully-laid plans or providing a surprising new strategy.
After each battle, choose the appropriate reward; adding one of the game’s 70 cards might help slay future foes, but bread can help feed the inhabitants back up top or heal the current adventuring party.
Increase affinity with the kids and earn experience with each new run, unlocking new starting cards and traits. Discover new upgrades for the kids’ base as they advance from starving children to a self-sufficient commune, albeit one seeking answers to just what lies beyond the ends of The Tower.
Get to the bottom literally and metaphorically, in an enthralling story set in a tarot-inspired world featuring character design by Masaoki Shindo, the artist behind the hit manga currently serialized in Weekly Shonen Jump, RuriDragon.
“We couldn’t have picked a better title for SHUEISHA GAMES to jump into the roguelike genre with than The Tower -To the Bottom-, especially since we were able to get Shindo-sensei to provide a unique take on tarot archetypes for Tasto Alpha’s inventive experience,” said Masami Yamamoto, Executive Officer & Executive Producer, SHUEISHA GAMES.
“The game offers a great blend of the proven fun of deckbuilding roguelikes, with original card mechanics and survival aspects that make it something all its own.”
The Tower -To the Bottom- releases on Nintendo Switch and Steam for PC on Thursday, January 19, 2023, for $19.99 with support for English, Japanese, Korean, Simplified Chinese, and Traditional Chinese text. A demo is now available on Steam.
For more information on the game, visit the official website, and follow @TheTowerEN and @SHUEISHA_GAMES on Twitter.
About SHUEISHA GAMES
SHUEISHA GAMES is a new video game publisher born by crossing the boundaries between the publishing and game industries, founded by the owners of the influential and popular Jump shonen manga publications and Viz Media. SHUEISHA GAMES aims to combine the ability of a publishing company to find and nurture new talent with the power of a game company to develop and deliver titles, bringing unique games to a worldwide audience.
SHUEISHA GAMES’ first wave of titles includes The Tower -To the Bottom-, Captain Velvet Meteor: The Jump+ Dimensions, SOULVARS, ONI: Road to be the Mightiest Oni, and UKIYO, with an upcoming large-scale collaborative effort in the works with NetEase Games tited unVEIL the world currently in production. Early recognition for their works includes awards from Japan’s premier indie showcase BitSummit, and selections by Day of the Devs and Asobu Indie Showcase.
Jonas “O.J” Ek
The Gaming Ground
Twitter: @TheGamingGround
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Tags: Adventure, Deckbuilding, Indie games, PC games, Roguelike, SHUEISHA GAMES, Steam, Survival, The Tower, To the Bottom