” An Angelic Bullet Hell “
About The Team
Kantal Collective is the indie team behind the title Otherwar. After some digging it seems like a solo adventure reddit posts about the game’s journey. They have shared stories of grinding through four years of development, learning the ropes of game development the hard way, and this being their second Steam title. you can tell the game is from an indie team as it has that passionate vibe to the game, pouring heart into a unique idea without a big studio backing. Props to them for sticking with it and releasing updates to fix early bugs. this team’s story resonates with the classic made with love ethos.
Introduction
Otherwar caught my eye as this quirky hybrid of tower defence and bullet hell, where you are basically an angel holding the line against demonic hordes trying to crash Heavens gates. The game was released back in February 2023 by Kantal Collective and published by Untold Tales, it’s a short but punchy game with about 9 levels, available on Steam and now consoles like Xbox and Switch. At first glance, it looks like a simple pixel art defender, but it sneaks in some strategic depth and chaotic dodging that keeps you on your toes. I dove in expecting a quick playthrough, but ended up replaying levels to tweak my setups. It’s not a AAA game and it shows in places, but for a bite sized indie title, it’s got charm and a fresh twist on familiar genres.
Story
The narrative is pretty straight forward and serves more as a backdrop than a story basically you are an angelic defender summoned to protect the Gate of Heaven from waves of hellish invaders. Think biblical apocalypse meets cartoonish hell spawn. You fight monster such as demons, skeletons raised by necromancers, and creepy critters like eyeball-shooting monsters or web-slinging spiders. There’s no heavy dialogue or cutscenes but it is all implied through the escalating threats and level designs that feel like puzzles in a divine war. the game is very light hearted with a humorous edge to the over the top enemies, but it builds tension as the hordes get smarter and more aggressive. Otherwar is not going to win awards for storytelling, but it fits the fast paced action perfectly without getting in the way.
Gameplay
This is where Otherwar shines and occasionally frustrates. The game is a top down mash up where you place towers in fixed slots along paths (marked by red and blue arrows for alternating waves), choosing from about 10 types like offensive turrets, slowing fields, or even ones that shoot down enemy projectiles. Money’s tight, so you can’t spam builds you have got to have some strategic plan in place this is even down to the upgrades (up to three levels per tower) and position them to counter specific threats. Then comes the bullet hell part of the game, enemies don’t just march they fire back with wild patterns, like swirling leaves or exploding shots, forcing you to dodge as the angel while smiting foes directly. Levels are puzzle like, with boss fights that switch paths and demand quick adaptations. Your angel has an upgrade tree for skills like better guns or revives, but I found myself grinding earlier levels to afford them, which can feel repetitive. The pace is deliberately slow bullets and movement aren’t frantic like traditional bullet hells which lets you plan evades but might bore the speed demons. Accessibility options are a nice touch, like colour blind modes and difficulty tweaks. Overall, it’s addictive once you click with the rhythm, but the limited tower variety and short campaign (a few hours) left me wanting more content.
Sound
Sound design here is functional but not ground breaking, think chip tune inspired tracks that amp up the retro feel, with upbeat electronic beats during waves that build intensity without overwhelming. Enemy attacks have satisfying pew pews and squelches, like popping eyeballs or crunching skeletons, which add to the chaos. The music loops a bit too much in longer sessions, and there’s no standout soundtrack that sticks in your head post play. It’s serviceable for immersion, especially with the pixel aesthetic, but could use more variety or dynamic shifts during bosses. If you’re playing with headphones, it enhances the tension nicely.
Graphics
The visuals nail the timeless pixel art look clean, classy sprites with a vibrant colour palette that makes the environment pop against the infernal reds and blacks of the hordes. Enemies are creatively designed, from leafy trees firing circular barrages to webby spiders, all with smooth animations that fit the bullet patterns. It’s not hyper-detailed, the top down view keeps everything readable during hectic moments, and effects like explosions or slowing fields look crisp. Some might call it basic, but I appreciated the charm; it reminds me of old school arcade games with a modern polish. Runs buttery smooth on modest hardware too, no complaints there.
Conclusion
Otherwar is a solid indie gem for fans of tower defense or bullet hell looking for something offbeat it blend creates fresh challenges, and the strategic depth makes victories feel earned. That said, the slow pace and grindy upgrades might turn off players wanting non stop action, and it’s on the short side without much replay value beyond achievements.
