The best new title on Xbox Live Arcade this week is also the best new Tower Defense game for ages, with a dangerously addictive four-player co-op mode.
The first time we saw this game it was being demonstrated on the Xperia Play (whatever happened to that?) and was proudly proclaimed to be the first Android game to use Unreal Engine 3 – the same technology used for Gears Of War 3 and many other HD console games. However, this seemed an odd thing to boast about at the time because the graphics were nothing to write home about.
If only they’d mentioned it was the most addictive co-op game since Gauntlet we might have taken more notice.
The original version of the game, referred to as ‘First Wave’, has been out on smartphones for almost a year now and even features cross-format play between the iOS and Android versions. But this has something even more exciting: four-player split screen co-op.
Before we get to that though we better explain exactly what sort of game this is, although that can be divined fairly easily from the seemingly generic name. It’s a Tower Defense game mixed with an action role-player, which seems like such an obvious idea we don’t understand why it’s never been done before – or at least done as well as this.
Even if you don’t recognise the phrase Tower Defense you’ve probably played one of the games, especially if you own a smartphone. The idea is that huge waves of enemies slowly inch across a map, in this case trying to destroy a magic crystal you’re protecting in the middle, and you set up barriers and defences along the way to stop them.
You can rely on either fixed emplacements to shoot at enemies automatically or you can join in yourself and hack or shoot at them with your weapons/magic. Most Tower Defense games rely purely on setting up defences, but even so the basics of the gameplay in Dungeon Defenders isn’t particularly remarkable.
What makes it special is the depth of options and attention to detail, starting with the four deceptively different character classes. Each has both different hand weapons and the ability to build different defences, with the Apprentice being the newbie-friendly all-rounder that sets up barricades and towers and fights with a fireball-spitting wand.
The Squire is a sword-wielding knight that can block off approaches, while the Huntress uses various kinds of ranged weaponry and stun-inducing traps. Finally, the Monk is a healer type who can slow down enemies. All of the characters have a long and complex upgrade path, which encompasses not just their own abilities but the effectiveness of their defences too.
All the while you’re fighting you’re also trying to pick up mana crystals, which are used to pay for new defences. These are set-up during a discreet Build Phase, before the next Combat Phase begins and all your well laid plans are shattered. You can still build while fighting but all the goblins and orcs do tend to get in the way a bit.
Not only is Dungeon Defenders extremely difficult when playing on your own but it’s also pretty boring, but the supportive nature of the four classes means that with friends it almost seems like a completely different game.
Unusually this isn’t a euphemism for the joys of back-stabbing, as although there is a lot of loot to potentially fight over the game doesn’t encourage this and even offers a shared inventory for both items and mana. Instead the fun comes from genuine co-operation, as you help each other out and try to ensure you all compliment each other’s skills.
If you do want a fight there is a separate competitive mode, as well as a strategy-only option where you can’t fight hand-to-hand, a survival mode, and a set of extra difficult challenges.
The game’s not perfect: the auto-targeting often seems to have a mind of its own and the menus need to be stared at for precious long seconds before you have any idea which button is supposed to activate which option. And despite a very long tutorial many of the game’s finer points aren’t mentioned anywhere but on the loading screens.
The simple counter to this is that a) the game’s only £10 and b) everything else about it is fantastic. In what’s been a fairly mediocre year for Xbox Live Arcade and PlayStation Network this is a stand out and our new favourite Tower Defense game.
In Short:Superb mix of Tower Defense and action role-player that is one of the year’s best and most addictive co-operative games.
Pros:A great mix of genres, with well-defined character classes and mountains of extra abilities, loot and weapons. Excellent co-op play and lots of extra modes.
Cons:Almost impossibly difficult on your own – and more importantly no fun. Some minor problems with targeting, menus and tutorials.
Score:8/10
Formats: Xbox Live Arcade (reviewed), PlayStation Network, PC, PS Vita, Android and iOSPrice: 1200 Microsoft Points/£10.20Publisher: Reverb PublishingDeveloper: Trendy EntertainmentRelease Date: 19th October 2011Age Rating: 12
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