Tower defense games are anything but lacking in the iOS platform. You pick what tickles your fancy, and the Tower Defense genre in the iOS will certainly give you something for it. Zombies got Plants vs. Zombies, Aliens have Tower Madness, Action gives you Dungeon Defenders and so on and so forth.
It is not surprising that currently, in my email, I have a queue of over ten tower defense games waiting for review. While I am all up for tower defense games, I am a little bit picky on what I will continue to play. This one, Defen-G Astro, will definitely stick in my springboard. It combines the Tower Defense Genre with a simple 2D scrolling game. Curious? This is Defen-G Review.
Video used with permission.
A Lane-Based Side Scrolling Tower Defense Game
Boy, that subtitle was a mouthful!
Defen-G Astro ($2.99 – iPhone version only, you need to zoom in if you’re using iPad) is another player in the crowded field of Tower Defense, however, unlike the typical tower defense game where you see thing in a top-down third person angle, you will see things in a 2D side scrolling point of view. Yup, very much like Mario Bros.
Like any tower defense game, you would have to protect something from waves of enemies. This time you would have to protect the Tower of Atea, the source of life from incoming vile hordes of aliens.
Enemies come in different ways, there are melee enemies, enemies that shoot missiles, enemies that fly and those that fly and shoot things. There are basically five types of defenses (four towers, one bomb) at your disposal and each planet (or constellation) gives you a new set of towers which are basically upgraded equivalent of your existing ones. The towers can be stacked up to three in a column, but there are some combinations which cannot be combined.
Gunbound!
Besides your defenses, you also have some other commands for usage. You have this healing potion to replenish the health of your warriors, shield potions and some godly powers to help you in battle, like fireballs or icicle rain.
The game got some pretty impressive style of presenting itself visually, where the characters are drawn in silhouette style. The music, though, is pretty average in my opinion.
One Strategy for Many Levels?
One of the things that seems to be a little off with the game is that it seems that one generic strategy can apply to many levels, especially in the beginning. Just place a blockage, two melee warriors on top of it and OP (overpowered) archers behind. It seems like a no-brainer strategy, but when you are presented a strategy game, it should follow that there are some challenge that come with it.
To Wrap Up
While Defen-G Astro lacks a little challenge and depth compared to other TD games, it does present itself very well and its 2D twist of the genre is something to check out too. 4/5.
Defen-G Astro at a Glance:
Pros: Great 2D Tower Defense twist, nice artwork
Cons: A little too easy, no iPad version
The Point: Every tower defense lover should at least try this one!
Price: $2.99 (iPhone version only)
Download Link: Defen-G Astro – innodis
Wow a new take on TD Games