《潘朵拉之塔 君のもとへ帰るまで》（Pandora's Tower）是由Ganbarion開發，任天堂發行，於2011年5月26日在日本Wii平台上推出的動作角色扮演遊戲。屬於當年任天堂推動Wii平台中後期「核心向企劃」的一環，與《異度神劍》（Xenoblade Chronicles）、《最後的故事》（The Last Story）並列為「Operation Rainfall」運動中三大經典之一。與其他兩款以大世界與多人冒險為主的作品不同，走的是濃厚黑暗奇幻風格，強調孤獨、犧牲與救贖主題。

故事發生在名為伊利斯里亞（Elyria）的國度，主角艾爾恩（Aeron）是一名退役戰士，他的戀人艾蕾娜（Elena）不幸被詛咒，身體逐漸化為怪物。為了拯救艾蕾娜，艾爾恩必須前往懸掛在深淵上的「十三座塔」，打倒塔中潛伏的魔獸，取得牠們的「獸肉」帶回給艾蕾娜食用。唯有吞食這些魔獸之肉，艾蕾娜才能暫時壓制體內的詛咒。整個過程充滿殘酷與痛苦，兩人之間的情感也在這段黑暗而扭曲的旅程中逐漸深化。最終，艾爾恩將面臨艱難的抉擇，選擇拯救戀人，還是放棄一切。

在角色設定上，艾爾恩是一名寡言但堅毅的青年戰士，擁有靈活敏捷的體術與鍊鎖武器「歐林（Oraclos Chain）」。艾蕾娜則是純真善良、外表脆弱卻內心堅強的少女。兩人的互動是遊戲情感核心，艾蕾娜會根據玩家在遊戲中的行為與選擇改變態度，甚至影響多結局走向。此外，還有神秘的情報販子梅維斯（Mavda），以中立觀察者身分協助艾爾恩與艾蕾娜，是貫穿全作的重要關鍵人物。

玩法採第三人稱視角動作冒險結構，結合即時戰鬥、解謎與探索要素。艾爾恩進入每座獨立設計的塔樓，解開機關、對抗怪物、蒐集道具與素材。最大特色是「鍊鎖系統」，歐林可用來綑綁敵人、拉動機關、吊掛、穿越地形，甚至奪取敵人體內核心或拋擲物品，增加解謎與戰鬥戰術性。戰鬥節奏偏向硬派，需善用鍊鎖與近戰武器搭配，針對敵人弱點展開連續攻擊，或利用鍊鎖進行場地控制。

塔內行動會影響艾蕾娜的詛咒進度。畫面右上角會顯示詛咒進度條，若未及時帶回獸肉，艾蕾娜將完全獸化，導致悲劇結局。必須在限定時間內完成探索，並持續回到據點餵食艾蕾娜。每場戰鬥後，也能與艾蕾娜互動、送禮、對話，提升親密度，影響最終結局與故事細節。遊戲共有六種不同結局，取決於親密度、行動時間與劇情選擇。

在市場評價方面，在日本上市後獲得中上評價。知名遊戲雜誌《Fami通》給予31/40分，稱讚其獨特世界觀、黑暗童話般的敘事風格，以及鍊鎖系統所帶來的戰術樂趣。不過也指出部分操作反應略顯生硬，與鏡頭視角偶有不便。歐美玩家社群則相當重視本作，IGN給出7.0分，認為雖然畫面表現普通，但劇情張力與角色情感刻劃出色，塔樓解謎與Boss戰設計別具一格，屬於值得體驗的冷門佳作。GameSpot給予8分，肯定鍊鎖操作系統，但指出遊戲初期教學偏少，導致上手稍慢。

歐美地區由於「Operation Rainfall」活動成功，促成本作於2013年正式登陸歐美市場，成為許多硬派玩家與動作RPG愛好者心目中，Wii平台末期的隱藏名作。即使畫面水準不若當代主機，但那份沉重卻動人的故事、緊張的倒數壓力與詛咒設定，讓其成為少數以情感牽絆貫穿整體玩法的動作遊戲範例。

總結來說，這是結合動作冒險、解謎與戀愛情感要素的黑暗奇幻作品。獨特的鍊鎖操作與時間限制機制，搭配壓迫而淒美的故事氛圍，為玩家帶來緊張且難忘的遊戲體驗。對於喜歡故事導向、黑暗奇幻或是《異度神劍》、《最後的故事》風格的玩家來說，絕對值得一試。

“Pandora’s Tower: Until I Return to Your Side” is an action role-playing game developed by Ganbarion and published by Nintendo, released for the Wii in Japan on May 26, 2011. It was part of Nintendo’s initiative to appeal to core gamers during the later years of the Wii’s lifecycle and is often mentioned alongside Xenoblade Chronicles and The Last Story as one of the “Operation Rainfall” trio — three critically acclaimed titles that Western fans campaigned to bring overseas. Unlike the other two, which focused on grand worlds and ensemble casts, Pandora’s Tower delivers a dark fantasy tale centered on themes of solitude, sacrifice, and redemption.

The story takes place in the kingdom of Elyria and follows Aeron, a former soldier whose beloved, Elena, has been cursed and is slowly transforming into a monstrous creature. In a desperate bid to save her, Aeron must venture into the ominous “Thirteen Towers” suspended over a gaping chasm, slay the beasts lurking within, and retrieve their flesh for Elena to consume. Only by eating this “beast flesh” can Elena temporarily suppress the curse. The journey is brutal and tragic, deepening the emotional bond between the two as they face the bleak and nightmarish reality together. Ultimately, Aeron must make a harrowing decision — to save the one he loves, or risk losing everything.

In terms of character development, Aeron is a quiet but determined warrior, agile and skilled in hand-to-hand combat, wielding a chain weapon known as the Oraclos Chain. Elena is gentle and pure-hearted, physically fragile yet emotionally resilient. Their evolving relationship is at the heart of the game, and Elena’s reactions change based on the player’s actions, decisions, and interactions, ultimately shaping one of the game’s multiple endings. Another key figure is Mavda, a mysterious peddler of knowledge who assists the couple. As a neutral observer, she serves as a constant presence throughout the narrative, providing both guidance and enigmatic commentary.

Gameplay adopts a third-person action-adventure structure that blends real-time combat, puzzle-solving, and exploration. Each of the thirteen towers presents a self-contained dungeon filled with traps, monsters, and environmental challenges. The game’s standout feature is the Oraclos Chain, which players use to bind enemies, activate mechanisms, swing across gaps, pull objects, or extract cores from monsters. The chain introduces tactical variety both in combat and traversal. Combat emphasizes precision and timing — players must exploit enemy weaknesses using a combination of the chain and melee weapons, and can manipulate the battlefield for strategic advantage.

Time plays a crucial role in the gameplay loop. A “curse gauge” on the screen shows Elena’s transformation progress while Aeron is inside a tower. If players delay too long in retrieving beast flesh, Elena will succumb to the curse, resulting in a tragic ending. This introduces a tension-filled timer mechanic that pushes players to balance thorough exploration with urgency. After each expedition, players return to the observatory to feed Elena and interact with her — offering gifts, engaging in dialogue, and building intimacy, all of which affect the game’s six possible endings.

Upon its Japanese release, Pandora’s Tower received generally favorable reviews. Japan’s Famitsu magazine awarded it 31 out of 40, praising its unique setting, fairy tale-style dark narrative, and the tactical depth of the chain mechanics. However, some criticism was aimed at slightly clunky controls and occasionally awkward camera angles. In the West, the game gained a cult following, particularly among fans of the Operation Rainfall campaign. IGN scored it 7.0, acknowledging the average visuals but lauding the strong narrative, emotional character arcs, and creative boss and dungeon designs. GameSpot gave it an 8, applauding the chain system but noting that the game lacked sufficient tutorials in the early stages, which could make the learning curve steep for some players.

Thanks to the success of Operation Rainfall, Pandora’s Tower was officially released in Western territories in 2013, becoming a hidden gem among hardcore players and action RPG enthusiasts. Despite not matching the graphical fidelity of contemporary systems, its heavy yet heartfelt story, the looming pressure of time, and the emotional stakes tied to gameplay helped solidify its place as a rare example of an action game where emotional bonds drive mechanical progression.

In summary, Pandora’s Tower is a dark fantasy title that skillfully weaves together action-adventure gameplay, environmental puzzles, and relationship-based storytelling. Its unique chain mechanics and time-bound gameplay, paired with a poignant and oppressive atmosphere, deliver a gripping and unforgettable experience. For players who enjoy story-driven games, emotional narratives, or the style of titles like Xenoblade Chronicles or The Last Story, Pandora’s Tower is absolutely worth playing.