Witchy Tower is a pretty good take on the "Icy Tower" gameplay loop, though i'll note that Witchy Tower DOESN'T feature a replay system, at least not as of writing this, which might be a deal breaker for some.
Witchy Tower features cute graphics, two game modes and six unlockable characters, as well as the ability to add your own character like the original Icy Tower, and you can also fully rebind your controls if you don't like the defaults.
The controls aren't as smooth as I see mentioned in other reviews, but they're not bad. Navigating horizontally is mostly responsive however there are several occasions when you're clearly on a platform and the jump just doesn't register, doesn't matter if you're on keyboard or controller, and jumping too quickly can penalize your momentum. -- Witchy Tower also doesn't allow "hold to rejump" like the original Icy Tower, so you have to press the button each time meaning in some situations where you need a frame-perfect escape, you'll just fall.
The width of the tower can also feel too wide at times, depending on how the platforms spawn, and jumps where the platforms are quite literally on opposite ends of each other aren't possible with how momentum works in this game, so you're better off avoiding them. --- Back in the early 2010s, Icy Tower had a port for the Nokia Meego phone that featured an overly wide tower, and the game was pretty much unplayable because of it. -- The width of the tower in this game is almost similar, just slightly smaller, so Witchy Tower has some of the same issues that terrible port had; games like this should have a more box-like play field rather than rectangle, granted Witchy Tower isn't actually impossible like that port, but it does remove some of the enjoyment.
The first of two modes in this game, Witchy Mode, is very interesting because you have to balance skillful jumps, collecting money, buying power ups and dodge hazards all while doing combos and escaping a death laser from a lady with bouncy breasts.
Throughout the tower, you'll find green stars littered around that you can collect to purchase perks from Star Witches in the tower, and they appear at random as you ascend; Some of the perks are a simple purchase while other Star Witches have a 'meter' that can be charged with extra money by holding down the CONFIRM button; This adds a unique dynamic to the game because purchases, and charging the meter, is not quick.. you have to wait for each star spent to leave your wallet and each Star Witch also has a unique animation that needs to play before you get your purchase, so you have to strategically decide if you WANT to spend for the power, if you WANT to charge the meter and also if you even HAVE TIME to charge at all since you're trying to escape a death laser, and like Icy Tower, the game will get faster as the clock ticks down so trying to get power-ups late into the gameplay will become very difficult and you'll have to rely on jumping skill.
Power ups range from being thrown high up, to a triple air jump, a one-time shield against hazards and also a black heart that will one-time protect your from the death laser; there is also a Star Witch who will give you free money and a 'x2' wallet multiplier that you can pick up; Aside from the death beam, the hazards include several gizmos that will temporarily freeze you on ice, a bounce-pad gizmo (all directions!) and a electric-thing that will steal your money, if you touch it.
In my original review, I criticized having to wait for each individual green star to leave your wallet and I still feel this way, at least for purchases that don't have a charge meter, and I also still wish you didn't have to wait for each character's animation after making a purchase; Maybe it would be better if they did the animation during the purchase and not after?
Classic mode is like the original Icy Tower, it's all about combos and jumping skill... while still avoiding a death laser. No powerups, no hazards.. just you and the boob lady. While witchy mode is much more enjoyable to me now that the developer has reached out and explained you can charge Star Witches' meters, there's something to be said about the classics and I'm glad this mode exists. simple and fun.
Witchy Tower is a great game with some issues, but well worth your time especially for the price, and it has achievements if you care for that. -- lot's of fun to be had here.
