Pizza Tower is a 2D-platformer released in January 2023 on PC via Steam. The gameplay formula reminds of that in the Wario Land series with even more craziness and speed. I only came across this game by chance, but it captivated me as one of the most outstanding platformers I played, perhaps even a Surprise of the Year nominee.
Pizza Tower is a classic platformer inspired by the 90’s, heavily flavored with humor, sprinkled with absurdity and topped with action-packed speedy gameplay. Studio Tour de Pizza, which consists of two enthusiasts, worked on this project for 5 years. Developer mcpick said in an interview that it is his first project, and the entire development experience was gained while working with the Game Maker Studios engine.
The authors took the concept of the Wario Land series (mainly from the fourth part for the Game Boy Advance), added the speed of Sonic the Hedgehog, schizophrenic design in the style of Ren & Stimpy that seemed to be drawn in Paint, grotesque animation and a generous dose of madness. Also, I couldn’t help thinking that somewhere nearby there is a Boogerman-like superhero.
The overall plot of the game is as short as a shotgun blast: Peppino Spaghetti, a surprisingly agile and powerful fat balding Italian chef, decides to get rid of a competitor that wants to destroy his pizzeria with a laser gun. And to do so, he has to get into the Pizza Tower, go through all the floors with their tests and challenges and rip his way through the bosses.
Once players make it to the Tower, they will be taught Peppino’s abilities. Besides the usual up-down-left-right controls, Peppino can jump, grab enemies, accelerate and taunt. The rest of the moveset involves combining these moves for faster, more accurate play.
When it comes to accelerating, the chef has three speeds. Depending on the level of speed you’ve achieved, you can break through various strong map blocks as well as painlessly throw enemies off screen. Capturing an enemy gives you an option to choose which of the four directions you’d like to launch them to knock down other enemies in the path. Additionally, Peppino can roll up into a ball when running to be able to smash through smaller blocks.
Jumping is useful for when Peppino has to climb walls, bounce off of them, jump over chasms and quickly hop down. Meanwhile, taunting allows players to parry enemy attacks – although I comfortably beat the game without using it once in my playthrough.
You can also combine two or even three of Peppino’s abilities at once. For example, you can instantly hit the second speed to break through metal blocks if you simultaneously dash, grab and press the down button on a flat surface.
However, I will note right away that it is only possible to play using a gamepad, any gamepad, because the game requires your precision and adherence to timings. A hyperactive character has trouble getting into the right places, and you will have to practice to get used to it.
The tower is presented as a hub that consists of 19 levels which can be completed in any order. Your main task on each is to find the pizza ingredients that will bring you profit. In turn, profit is needed to open the boss doors and open the way to the next level. In addition, each level contains secrets and treasures that can grant you extra points. These points affect your rank in completing a particular level. Grabbing the S-rank is always nice.
In Pizza Tower, the developers are breaking the usual transformer mechanics. For once, Peppino is immortal. Getting hit or falling into the abyss will only reduce the overall number of points. The stages are divided into two parts: first is the exploration and collecting items, destroying enemies and finding secrets as well as making a wild dash to the exit.
The second stage can be summed up as It’s Pizza Time! It is activated by hitting the purple pillar which, in turn, starts a countdown. You have to return to the starting point within the allotted time. It is not as simple as it sounds since the game routes will change, opening separate passages. If you fail, you will have to start the level anew. Fortunately, it only takes about 10 minutes. All of this is accompanied by an amazing soundtrack.
The soundtrack is worthy of a special mention, as it is implemented in the style of a slightly modernized 16-bit music for Sega Mega Drive or Super Nintendo. Occasionally annoying, but nevertheless extremely lovely. Rock, metal, funk, and more styles are intertwined and sometimes compete for player’s attention on the same level as the dynamic gameplay.
Boss battles are an exception to the usual rules of level completion. Access to them is unlocked when you receive the required amount of cash for freeing special creatures from cages. Peppino and the enemy will receive health bars and start beating each other up. The battle is divided into phases with different boss behaviors and represented as something grandiose.
The bulk of the levels is built around unique tricks and transformations for when the hero gets a new ability. For example, turning into a ghost or a book, putting on knight armor, getting fire breath or something of the sort. Such transformations make the gameplay process more refreshing and try to convince players they aren’t getting lost in the same damn locations with a modest set of moves. It doesn’t always work out.
Behind the outward simplicity of Pizza Tower, there is a special ceiling of difficulty connected with obtaining an ultra-high rank “P”. It is related to the fact that at the end of the level players get a score based on the number of points, secrets and combos. The combo counter starts with the destruction of an enemy, and is maintained by collecting stuffing and killing other opponents.
The TV located on the top right deserves special attention. It is used to convey the emotions of Peppino as he is doing something. Glancing at his range of emotions is a brilliant way to lift the mood. The developers managed to weave a ton of content into the game. When reaching new levels, players receive either a new ability or some sort of transformation that will help them advance forward.
