Hany Party Game (Tower Master) gp32_console is another simple strategy/action game where you play a jumping boy (or girl - not really sure) that needs to progress up a tower by jumping on various types of floors. Once you get to the top, as long as you complete it within a certain time period, you can go on:
Overview
This game basically entails guiding your jumping character up a tower by directing it off several different types of platforms within a set amount of time. That's really all that's to it.
Graphics B)
The graphics are colorful, but the player character is way too small. You're almost the size of a dot bouncing around on the screen. The bouce animation and the movement up the tower is smooth, so that's good, but there really isn't much to animate, so its also not that surprising. The player controlled character could have been much larger, its a shame they made it so small.
GRAPHICS = 6.5/10
Music and Sound :unsure:
Just like the other Hany Party Game, Star Ball, the music is basic with the same happy kids-TV-program sound. Again, there is some popping when the song loops, which is barely noticeable as the loop is relatively long, but it's definitely there. This is not surprising as it actually part of the same bundle and by the same developer as Star Ball.
MUSIC & SOUND = 7/10
Playability
Well, you jump off different types of a pieces in an attempt to get to the top of the tower in a set amount of time. The different pieces/platforms you encounter include solid steel pieces, pieces/platforms which disintegrate in 1-5 hits (whether with your feet or your head), and boosting green pieces/platforms (which shoot you up higher in the tower without jumping). There are also bonus items like candy and fruit to collect as you make your way up. Your character is jumping continuously, so you can't stop. It's more a matter of timing than a true platformer. Think Ice Climbers where you just can't stop jumping. Bizarre, I know. The the B button is your boost button and will give you a little boost in height to help you reach those extra high ledges/platforms. Keep in ind that you have a limited amount of boost, so use it sparingly. Usually there's another way to bounce up to the next platform without it, but if you're running out of time, don't hesitate to use it.
There are three levels (easy, normal and hard) with about 10 boards or so per level.
Now the big problem. At the beginning, the boards may take you between 2 and 5 minutes, which isn't bad. There's no midgame save, but 2 to 5 minutes isn't too long. However, as you get to later levels, they can take upwards of 10 or even 15 minutes. Without any type of save feature, it makes it difficult to play this game during a commute or waiting in line (unless the line is really long or your commute is really long). Also, if you mess up near the end, you really don't feel motivated to bounce your "dot person" up another 15 minutes of various platforms.
PLAYABILITY = 8/10
Overall
It's fun when you start, but gets frustrating as you near the end. About 2/3 of the game is reasonable in length, the last third becomes outrageous. Anyone can play, but most will give up after trying one of the fifteen minute stages. It gets repetitive awfully fast. However, you can replay any level, so the early levels are fun, if for nothing else, to beat your old times. You can get the smartmedia card version from Lik-Sang for $19.99 USD under the title Hany Party Games. This "cartridge" is a 16 MB SM card with both Star Ball and Tower Master bundled together. You could also download it from Joy GP for 8000 kw (about $6.90 USD). Again, its slightly cheaper if you buy both of them and download them, but the "cartridge" is nice and comes complete with a nice box and instructions. Plus you can use it on any GP32, not just your own. Either way, its a nice addition to Star Ball if you buy the "cartridge", but not that great of a game by itself. Try it at your own risk. I enjoyed it at first, but not nearly as much as Star Ball.
OVERALL = 7.5/10
Ha Kung
http://www.angelfire.com/extreme/hwong
Overview
This game basically entails guiding your jumping character up a tower by directing it off several different types of platforms within a set amount of time. That's really all that's to it.
Graphics B)
The graphics are colorful, but the player character is way too small. You're almost the size of a dot bouncing around on the screen. The bouce animation and the movement up the tower is smooth, so that's good, but there really isn't much to animate, so its also not that surprising. The player controlled character could have been much larger, its a shame they made it so small.
GRAPHICS = 6.5/10
Music and Sound :unsure:
Just like the other Hany Party Game, Star Ball, the music is basic with the same happy kids-TV-program sound. Again, there is some popping when the song loops, which is barely noticeable as the loop is relatively long, but it's definitely there. This is not surprising as it actually part of the same bundle and by the same developer as Star Ball.
MUSIC & SOUND = 7/10
Playability
Well, you jump off different types of a pieces in an attempt to get to the top of the tower in a set amount of time. The different pieces/platforms you encounter include solid steel pieces, pieces/platforms which disintegrate in 1-5 hits (whether with your feet or your head), and boosting green pieces/platforms (which shoot you up higher in the tower without jumping). There are also bonus items like candy and fruit to collect as you make your way up. Your character is jumping continuously, so you can't stop. It's more a matter of timing than a true platformer. Think Ice Climbers where you just can't stop jumping. Bizarre, I know. The the B button is your boost button and will give you a little boost in height to help you reach those extra high ledges/platforms. Keep in ind that you have a limited amount of boost, so use it sparingly. Usually there's another way to bounce up to the next platform without it, but if you're running out of time, don't hesitate to use it.
There are three levels (easy, normal and hard) with about 10 boards or so per level.
Now the big problem. At the beginning, the boards may take you between 2 and 5 minutes, which isn't bad. There's no midgame save, but 2 to 5 minutes isn't too long. However, as you get to later levels, they can take upwards of 10 or even 15 minutes. Without any type of save feature, it makes it difficult to play this game during a commute or waiting in line (unless the line is really long or your commute is really long). Also, if you mess up near the end, you really don't feel motivated to bounce your "dot person" up another 15 minutes of various platforms.
PLAYABILITY = 8/10
Overall
It's fun when you start, but gets frustrating as you near the end. About 2/3 of the game is reasonable in length, the last third becomes outrageous. Anyone can play, but most will give up after trying one of the fifteen minute stages. It gets repetitive awfully fast. However, you can replay any level, so the early levels are fun, if for nothing else, to beat your old times. You can get the smartmedia card version from Lik-Sang for $19.99 USD under the title Hany Party Games. This "cartridge" is a 16 MB SM card with both Star Ball and Tower Master bundled together. You could also download it from Joy GP for 8000 kw (about $6.90 USD). Again, its slightly cheaper if you buy both of them and download them, but the "cartridge" is nice and comes complete with a nice box and instructions. Plus you can use it on any GP32, not just your own. Either way, its a nice addition to Star Ball if you buy the "cartridge", but not that great of a game by itself. Try it at your own risk. I enjoyed it at first, but not nearly as much as Star Ball.
OVERALL = 7.5/10
Ha Kung
http://www.angelfire.com/extreme/hwong
