Developers Dreamlit have uploaded fresh footage from their open-world eco-tribal extravaganza Towers Of Aghasba. It’s an abbreviated but generous presentation of equatorial exoticism and somewhat prehistoric wildlife, with key verbs such as “exploration,” “village building,” “gardening,” “raising creatures,” and “murdering a mega-lazy with a piece of wood.” Take a look at this, at the top is the release date – November 19, 2024.
Kaan liked the product when he saw it at the PlayStation showcase in May. I’m quite interested myself, but as an older and more jaded soul, I also suspect a certain emptiness. The premise is that you are a junior architect of the Shimu tribe on a mission to restore the landscape destroyed by the Withered forces. To do this, you will connect with local gods, rebuild villages and plant huge trees that turn the surrounding land green and attract various fantastic animals.
You can kill them for their craftable, vibrating bits, or cultivate them for longer-lasting benefits, or because you don’t want to kill the nice, goofy pastel dragon that just snuck into your jungle. If you find this eco-friendly attitude irritating, or you honestly despise pastel colors and tackiness, you can always escape to areas where the Withered still have power.
As the name suggests, Withered look like giant undead tree people. Their dominions are shrouded in swirling layers of monochromatic fog – it reminds me of the Kurosawa mode from Ghost Of Tsushima. Combat takes place in real time and appears to be a familiar mix of combos, archery, and dodging. There is a system for crafting weapons, armor, and potions, but it doesn’t seem to be the most critical thing. If you need reinforcements, you can apply co-op support. You also get a glider like the one in Zelda. Don’t tell Link. I’m sure he has plenty of spares.
Things I like: the sheer abundance of vegetation and creatures in the flourishing areas, and the accompanying emphasis on understanding animals and their habits, which reminds me of Subnautica. I can’t wait to lurk under the leaves and rub my thighs while the stupid pastel dragon sniffs dubiously at the berries I just left for him. I wonder if the game’s ecosystem simulation extends to cases of food poisoning?
I also like the organic and bulbous look of the buildings, although the game’s powerful tribal motifs feel like they were caricatured from indigenous cultures without proper thought.
It’s a shame they dropped the holographic template-based building system – I understand it’s more user-friendly and no, I have no idea how I would build a checkerboard house without holographic templates, but the downside to the world of organic shapes is really arbitrary computer elements clang. “Your creativity will be both challenged and rewarded,” the trailer’s narrator enthuses as an on-screen character swings a hammer and brings an entire ornate flower bed to life.
You can read more at Steam page. I’d love to play this game, but I wonder if Towers Of Aghasba will ultimately turn out to be just another survival game with some superficial environmental themes. I want to see at least five minutes of uninterrupted gameplay before I join Kaan on the dizzying wait glider.
