Summary
It’s becoming increasingly rare to get a brawler game in this modern age, so when one comes out, it should be celebrated.Towerborneis the latest to arrive, and it’s only in Early Access at the moment, thanks to Game Pass’ preview programon Xbox consoles. While it is only in a basic state, it is fully featured with a lot of live-service functions.
Players can get intoTowerbornealone or with friends to go through missions, get loot, and level up. Unlike other RPGs, they can choose four classes and are not locked into them.There are four classes inTowerborneso far, including Pyroclast, Rockbreaker, Sentinel, and Shadowstriker. Let’s rank how fun each is to play.
4Sentinel
A Classic Sword And Shield Combo
The Sentinelis a common sword and shield setup for a warrior or fighter in an RPG. Players can get a variety of swords in one hand to attack enemies, while their special innate skill is the ability to block incoming attacks. IfTowerbornehas one thing going for it, it’s how cool and varied the weapons look, with some swords resembling things fans would find inaKingdom Heartsgame. Using the shield will not negate damage, but it will lessen damage. Still, players are better off rolling away from harm instead of relying solely the shield.
Because the Sentinel’s specialty is blocking, it lacks the pizazz of other classes who begin with attacks, especially since the shield isn’t even that useful. The first offensive skill players can get with the Sentinel is like a lightning dash. It’s a fine attack, and there are better skills for the Sentinel as time goes on. Overall, though, it’s a very routine interpretation of awarrior in an RPG,which is not a bad thing. It just takes a while to unlock the good skills and look flashy.
3Rockbreaker
Smash Through The Competition
TheRockbreakeris like amonk class in other RPGs, as they use their fists to deal damage. They are a bit slower than typical monks, though, and their weapon of choice, gloves, are hilariously oversized. They look like the toy Hulk hands that released alongside Ang Lee’s 2003 movie, which produced quite a few great memes and jokes on TV. The Rockbreaker’s gloves probably won’t illicit that many memes, but regardless of their size, they are fun to use. Players can build up momentum to make these things hit like trucks.
The starting skill will force players to charge the gloves and unleash a powerful air blast at enemies. This can knock enemies back or into the air, making them vulnerable to subsequent attacks. The first unlockable skill is similar, although the attack will loosen the ground and do more damage. Most of the skills that follow are heavy hitters, and overall, the Rockbreaker class is the strongest of the bunch offensively. However, because the gloves are slower to use, this can be a bit of a hurdle for some players who like faster or more balanced classes in their RPGs.
2Shadowstriker
A Fast Nina-Like Damage Dealer
TheShadowstrikeris like a classic rogue orthief class in an RPG. Players can equip a set of twin daggers, which are fast to use. The downside is that the Shadowstriker class is also the weakest in terms of strength, but that all depends on the gear. Players can make up for this deficiency by warping around the battlefield quickly on their feet or with their innate skill. Players can throw a dagger, which will transport them to the enemy after it explodes.
Even if the dagger doesn’t hit, players will still be transported across the battlefield. It’s a good way to escape an enemy’s powerful attack, like when players are up against a boss. The first unlockable skill will throw three daggers on the ground. If enemies are hit, they will take damage and receive additional damage when the daggers explode after a few seconds. The more the Shadowstriker levels up, the faster it will become, evolving into more ofa ninja classthan a typical rogue or thief build, which is fun, but it takes dedication to reach that level of speed and fluidity.
1Pyroclast
A Battle-Ready Mage
There are nomage classes inTowerborne,which is weird for an RPG,even a brawler, but thePyroclastcomes close. Players will use a giant two-handed staff that has a furnace at the end. By attacking enemies, the furnace will generate more heat. Once the meter is full, players can unleash it to go into a heightened state, burning enemies and dealing damage over time as they attack. It will also create a new wave of combos, typically ending in fiery flourishes to burn enemies even further.
Players can manually pump up this meter, but it takes a long time. It’s the one class inTowerbornethat can cause damage over time, and that’s necessary for players to survive alone or in a party. While the swings with this staff can be slow, akin to the Rockbreaker’s gloves, the fire-infused attacks alone make it worthy of being the best class in the game so far. That’s not even mentioning the first unlockable skill, which will shoot players into the air, causing a fiery tornado. Overall, the destructive force of the Pyroclast makes it an easy winner.
