News Tower, developed by Sparrow Night, and published by Twin Sails Interactive is a noir themed strategy management game, with some base building aspects set in the 1930s. As for the gameplay, it can be accustomed to a simulator due to certain gameplay elements standing out compared to the rest. With the noir theme aesthetic mixed with a little art deco, makes the game standout with the pallet of colors, ensuring that the graphics look pleasing to the eyes. Aside from aesthetically pleasing graphics, in terms of a story, it is mostly up the imagination of the player in how they run the company with the gameplay mostly taking up the time needed for a story. While this can sour some players who want a story driven experience, the gameplay preoccupies most of the player’s attention keeping them immersed as they manage what news needs to be reported on.
A strategy simulation, base management game with building aspects is quite the genre for making a game for making a newspaper game. News Tower has achieved this remarkable mix of all those subjects that take up various genres borrowing some of the best aspects from all of them. The main one that the player will be interacting with is probable news reports for the papers, which are influenced by several different subject matters such as crime, economics, society, sports, entertainment, and several other specialized news types. This is in due part of how the developers wanted the gameplay loop to unfold when playing where reporters are sent out to investigate and then generate articles for the newspaper to then make money. While this is just a simplistic explanation as to how the game operates it goes further in-depth with reporters having specialized roles that decide on what they can report on. Moreover, as to how in-depth the reporters can be they can be further specialized and given buffs by purchasing accessories for their desk or a nearby wall for their skill sets. This allows or some customization in regards to how the player wants to furnish their reporter’s desk or room for maximum effect, with this feature going into some of the other elements in the base. Aside from the base, there is an over-world map that allows the player to interact with different areas and factions to either gain new items, money, or influence depending upon the player’s choice. Moreover, with the game being set in the 1930’s certain thematic elements of that era need to be present in the game.
The art style chosen for the game being art deco inspired by the 1930s fits with the theme of the game with some of the shading effects prominent in noir styled art pieces. This makes the game have a soft yet bold color palette with how they designed certain characters, environmental elements, and background pieces. Moreover, this decision on art style is synonymous with the 1930s and especially with the main setting of News Tower being set in New York City area. Alongside, this art deco esthetic is noir which is synonymous with using heavy shading and contrasting colors. However, the usage of the style is relegated to the shading elements in the art deco theme allowing for a blend of the two styes. Thereby making the game feel reminiscent of the era the game is emulating, even including the telegraph noises for when prominent news hits the scene. This leads into the sound design of the game really bringing forth the right sound effects that the general public associate with the era stemming from the typewriters, telegraph sounds, and old radio frequency channels all giving off that timely feeling.
News Tower is quite the mixture of video game genres that leave quite the impression on a player’s ability to manage a newspaper company for the time and simulates the role of a manger for said company. The gameplay is well thought out that the various gameplay elements that feel overwhelming are streamed lined to a point that they feel standardized. Furthermore, this standardized procedure is quite remarkable since it compiles a collection of video game genres into a cohesive experience that is quite relaxing. This relaxing environment is compounded with the art style chosen for the game using the art deco theme synonymous with the 1930’s with noir themed shading with the New York City area as the setting of the game. Sparrow Night has developed a wonderful game that is sure to captivate and hold onto any player that picks up the game.
News Tower is available for PC via Steam Early Access. For more information, follow the game’s official Twitter.
Related: Reviews by Kyle Manila
I would describe myself when interacting with games as a strategist with a pension for stealth and loud explosions.
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