#godsavant

[f1ng3rs]

Katana ZERO (F1NG3RS Remix), by LudoWic, F1NG3RS

track by LudoWic, F1NG3RS

For the 1 year anniversary of Katana Zero by @askiisoft/@devolverdigital, I did an official remix of LudoWic's title track "Katana Zero". Coming to streaming services on 4/18! Available now through Bandcamp via WicRecordings! Art by @godsavant  

[space-movements]

KATANA ZER0 - Releases tomorrow April 18th.

Art by - godsavant

[askiisoft]

Before the 'rules' became the core conceit of Tower of Heaven, there were more substantial portions of the game dedicated to straightforward platforming puzzles. This particular level was inspired by Tetris and, less explicitly, the final stage of Mitsume Ga Tooru, involving rows of platforms rising up towards a spiked ceiling.

Note how the final panel doesn't bring Eid even remotely close to the door at the top of the chamber; I'm not sure if I gave up on the idea or simply forgot where I'd drawn the exit. Otherwise, this level might have made it into the final game, if we'd taken more time.

[askiisoft]

First Mockup (Tower of Heaven)

Here, we have the very earliest style mockup for of Tower of Heaven. This is the first image I ever drew for the game, back when we were still fleshing out its core conceits. I say 'first', but it came after a long string of other test characters and art styles I'd been trying out all night, sitting in a log cabin being swarmed by gnats.

Note these numerous UI and game elements not present in the final product:

A special "rules" button. Yes, we're aware "thou shalt no longer check the rules" was hardly a handicap, and this is proof.

A more angular and stiff version of Eid, with shadow (yes, that's his name). Originally, his arms didn't even move, as he was but a placeholder at that point.

A VHS/video camera HUD. Pause Ahead cribbed from Tower of Heaven in more ways than you'd think.

Limited lives. The biggest change. Many would agree that Tower of Heaven's saving grace is the ability to retry as many times as it takes.

[askiisoft]

This is the first promotional image for Tower of Heaven I ever drew. At the time, I'd just begun learning pixel art and had no concept of anti-aliasing, something which carried throughout the rest of that game. This also marks the beginning of my obsession with exaggerated perspective and color economy.

It's been quite a while, hasn't it?

flashygoodness adds: "This piece is notable for being the direct inspiration for Atop the World, the main theme of Tower of Heaven and the first composition written in the entire soundtrack."

[the-unvarnished-truth-blog]

Best OST for an indie game ever. Play the original Tower of Heaven download or the flash version. Preferably the original, as the controls are better (at least for me).