Deadly Towers (1986-)

• Developer: Lenar | Tamtex

• Publisher: Irem | Broderbund

• Genre: Role Playing

• Designer: Junichi Mizutari, R. Nagasu

• Composer: Yoshinobu Kasukawa

Deadly Towers is an action role-playing game developed by Lenar and released for the Nintendo Entertainment System in 1986. Published by Broderbund, the game was notable for being one of the earliest RPG-style titles on the NES, arriving during a time when the genre was just beginning to gain traction on home consoles. Deadly Towers did not receive ports to other platforms, remaining exclusive to the NES. Its design drew heavily from Japanese RPGs and dungeon crawlers of the era, combining exploration with action combat in a medieval fantasy setting.

The game’s story centers on Prince Myer, who must ascend the deadly towers built by the evil wizard Kaim to rescue the Princess Rosebud and rid the land of darkness. The inspiration behind Deadly Towers appears to come from a mixture of fantasy literature and early role-playing games, with an emphasis on challenging dungeon exploration and defeating waves of enemies. The towers themselves serve as sprawling labyrinths filled with traps, monsters, and puzzles, creating a persistent sense of danger as players navigate increasingly complex floors.

Gameplay involves moving Prince Myer through interconnected rooms and areas, battling enemies with a sword and occasionally using magic spells. The game features a top-down perspective and requires players to collect keys and items to progress through locked doors and hidden passages. Combat can be difficult and unforgiving, with enemies often attacking in large numbers and environmental hazards adding to the challenge. The soundtrack consists of repetitive but atmospheric melodies that attempt to evoke a sense of mystery and tension, though limited by the NES hardware’s audio capabilities.

Deadly Towers did not have a prequel or any official sequels, and its marketing was relatively subdued compared to more prominent NES titles. It was promoted mainly through print advertisements and word-of-mouth, appealing primarily to players seeking a deep and difficult RPG experience. Reception was mixed: some appreciated its ambitious scale and complexity, while others criticized its frustrating controls, confusing level design, and repetitive gameplay. Over time, Deadly Towers has developed a cult following, often remembered as one of the more obscure and challenging RPGs available on the NES.

Images from MobyGames