Od's Tower: Indie Game Developer Pita Madgwick Crafts a Pixel Art Tribute to Tower of the Sorcerer

Od's Tower: Indie Game Developer Pita Madgwick Crafts a Pixel Art Tribute to Tower of the Sorcerer Od's Tower is the latest project from New Zealand-based pixel artist and indie game developer Pita Madgwick, renowned for creating high-quality asset packs on itch.io.

This upcoming PC title stands as an ambitious homage to the classic freeware game Tower of the Sorcerer (also known as Magic Tower in Japan), a seminal release from 1996 for the NEC PC-98 and later Windows computers.

Pita Madgwick's deep-rooted passion for pixel art and retro gaming is evident throughout Od's Tower, which invites players to step into the boots of May, a courageous fighter tasked with ascending a mysterious fortress that has materialized without warning.

Spread across 50 uniquely designed floors, the game tasks players with battling monsters, uncovering treasure, and solving intricate puzzles, all wrapped in rich, handcrafted visuals.

On his official website, Madgwick describes Od's Tower as "a massive, cunning puzzle adventure presented as an RPG experience." The game promises at least six distinctive segments to explore and introduces a vibrant lineup of original characters for players to befriend or combat.

Staying true to old-school gaming traditions, Od's Tower offers strategic depth with resource management and even features design elements like soft locks, challenging seasoned players with its unforgiving, puzzle-centric gameplay. In a recent statement, Madgwick emphasized that Od's Tower is "a heartfelt homage" to Tower of the Sorcerer, reflecting his affection for the classic's unique blend of puzzle mechanics and RPG elements.

He notes that fans of the original will find plenty of familiar challenges, while newcomers can look forward to discovering the foundational gameplay that inspired a generation of indie developers. Tower of the Sorcerer, originally created by NAO in 1996 and later ported to Windows by developers Oz & Kenichi, occupies a special place in gaming history, particularly within the Chinese market where it spawned the 'Magic Tower-like' genre.

This blend of top-down RPG aesthetics and resource-based puzzle-solving set the template for countless subsequent games.

Madgwick has expressed his excitement to contribute to this ongoing tradition, even revealing that he was unaware of the genre’s wide-reaching legacy when he first began development, but is "thrilled to now be a part of such a rich heritage." Od's Tower is set for release on itch.io, with a potential Steam launch on the horizon.

While there is no confirmed release date as of yet, development updates are available through Pita Madgwick's social channels including Twitter/X and Bluesky.

As anticipation builds, Od's Tower promises to deliver a nostalgic yet innovative experience, blending retro aesthetics with modern indie craftsmanship in a meaningful tribute to an often-overlooked classic.

Od's Tower Tower of the Sorcerer Pita Madgwick New Zealand PC Game Developer