Towerfall: Ascension

Towerfall: Ascension is one of those games you can't stop playing with friends. It can be descibed as a mix of several games like Jump 'n Bumb, PowerStone 2 (Dreamcast) or BattleBlock Theater. What's nice: The graphics, the music (really nice retro touch) and the fact that the game runs on Windows, Linux and Mac OS! The single-player is not really great and the coop-mode is ok, but not the real deal. Better battle for hours against three other friends! That's how the game should be played!

This is, by far, the best local multi-player I played in years. Multiple and different scenarios (each one with certain game changing features, like walls that let the arrows through, but not the players, and vice-versa), different kind of arrows, unlockable characters, and more. Seriously, if you want to have a really good time with friends, just buy this, plug 4 controllers and enjoy!

Towerfall Ascension runs fantastic on Linux Mint 17.3 64 bit. Controlled with a Logitech F310 set to XInput. Nvidia GT 720 graphics. PROS: + Fluid and tight controls. + Fun as a barrel of monkeys in both single player and local multiplayer. + Easy to play but difficult to master. + Pixel graphics (though they've become a cliche' of the indie scene) work for the play style. + Gamepad (XInput) friendly. + Modest hardware requirements. CONS: None that I can think of. Some may gripe about "no online co-op", but, given the arcade feel of Towerfall, I really think local co-op is best. This game really has a "sit across the couch and socialize with people" feel to it. Online play would probably ruin it.

As long as you haven't played this game with friends, you're missing on all the fun. It's super easy to pick up (jump, dodge, shoot and move are your only actions, add in the arrow catching and you've got the basics covered). From there on, the homing arrows, the power-ups unique to each tower, the fantastic soundtrack and the overall attenton to detail found in this game guarentee you hours upon hours of fun. Don't think all this means that there's no depth to the gameplay because the controls are simple, once you start mastering the dash to fit into narrow spaces, the dodge-stomping to quickly finish off your opponents, the dash cancelling to rapidly gain momentum, delaying your arrows to catch your opponents during their dash cooldown and all those other little tricks, you'll become a force to recon with. And never, NEVER let your guard down, you never know when a deflected arrow is going to fall on your head.