Tower Defense games are one of my absolute favorite, but over the years they haven't really come very far. From StarCraft and WarCraft III custom games, thousands of flash games around the internet, and even the TD's on the iPhone it has been pretty much the same stuff. Each game has basically the same exact towers and basically the same objective. Some may just change the colors or naming of things or even add the ability to use heros or "super towers". For the most part though, the TD genre has stayed pretty solid as far as what you should expect. Dungeon Defense (I am happy to say) has managed to break away from that norm we are used to.Dungeon Defense goes against all of the rules when it comes to a Tower Defense game. The graphics are a little better than average and the controls are super-easy and even the gameplay is exciting for a while. What makes it stand out from the others though, is that the towers in this game move. Technically they are skeleton warriors not towers but you get the point. Each time an enemy approaches your skeleton army will move towards them and begin to attack. Now normally towers have a range and once an enemy gets inside the range it begins to shoot, with Dungeon Defense the tower range is how far it can see, and once an enemy is spotted it's "Charge!".
There are a series of 3 different maps in Dungeon Defense, each map consists of a semi-different game mode, but each still holds the same main objective of kill the baddies before they reach the end. There are also 3 different difficulties to allow you to start out easy and work your way up to hard. Once again there are 3 different units (towers): Swordsman, Archer, and Axeman. Didn't someone's mom used to always say good things game in 3's? Maybe something about prime numbers? Who knows. Regardless each unit can be upgraded a few times and at their final upgrade will receieve a special ability they will use randomly as they see fit. Each unit has it's strengths and weaknesses just like any other TD. Luckily after each wave each of your units will return to their spawning point and heal, and even if they die you only have to endure a simple cooldown before they pop up once again to fight on your side. I mean they are skeletons, right? You can't kill something that's already dead.
It isn't all without complaint however. My first complaint is the fact that you cannot choose where to place your new skeleton friends. There are green X's on the ground and you have to place units corresponding with those. Also there are only 3 units available, that doesn't do much for the mix-n-matchin. And as always more maps would be nice, there is talk of a new Labyrinth map in the iTunes description so guess we will just have to wait that one out.
Overall I love the idea behind Dungeon Defense. I love the fact that the developer has managed to take a genre so overdone with copies and remakes and make a TD that is still great and worth playing. This is a game I am really looking forward to being updated. The graphics aren't the best ever but they get the job done and the gameplay is really great until you beat all 3 levels. For $3 Dungeon Defense is a pretty good buy and if the developer keeps promises of updates it will be worth even more.
Functionality: 9/10
Appearane: 6/10
Value: 9/10
iGadgetJunkie Rating: 8/10
Overall: 8/10
Reviewer: Bret
iPhone Firmware: 2.2.1
Application Version: 1.1
Price: $2.99
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