Defend Your Castle

Christine Morris — Thu, 30 Apr 2009 17:05:17 +0000

Defend Your Castle

By Christine Morris on April 30th, 2009
Our Rating: :: FUN
iPhone App - Designed for the iPhone, compatible with the iPad

Being a fan of the web version of this game, I couldn’t wait to get my hands on it. It is basically the same game, but they have modified it for the iPhone platform. Still fun and addictive, but maybe only at the sale price.

Developer: XGen Studios
Price: $1.99
Version Reviewed: 1.0

Graphics / Sound Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
Game Controls Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
Gameplay Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Re-use / Replay Value Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Overall Rating: 3.75 out of 5 stars

Initially when you load this and first see the game play, it is pretty interesting, but I’m not sure if it’s trying too hard to be unusual. I do confess to liking throwing the characters and watching them splat to their deaths. Still, I’m not sure why their round heads stay on the game for so long. They look like out of place clothing buttons actually. On the game screen the clouds are floating and hanging down which looks interesting. Also it turns from day to night which is an extra element to keep it fresh.

The men running towards the castle seem a bit too large. I appreciate that you have to have something larger in order to click it, but maybe then the castle should just be a large front rather than seeing the full castle.

When you complete a level there is a screen that comes up with a little congrats message. It tells you how many kills and if your castle was defended. This is set up in a desk style which at first I found a bit confusing. I can see the idea is trying to incorporate ‘game’ elements, so you got a dice, scrabble tiles, playing cards etc.. but I have no idea what that’s relevant to. It is a game about castles and invaders. Those extra elements just confuse.

You can also save your game here, which is done well because you can save more than one version. This is great to compete or let other people try it.

The fortifications and upgrades page that comes next is also a bit confusing, but at least it has something to do with the game this is written on ‘notepad’ paper and is like a drawing of the castle. Possible things to do include upgrade the walls and repair them. Also on this screen is the option to buy upgrades and repairs. You can also pause within the game which is always an essential feature of game apps I think.

What it’s missing, which the internet game had, was that I really liked flinging the characters miles away and watching them land eventually. Because it is such a a small area and they are so large, you just don’t get that same satisfaction factor.

I also couldn’t see a way out of the game to a main screen or a help area. A help menu for people coming to the game first time round might also be a nice addition. This would make it easier to understand the general upgrades that you can purchase etc. If you click on a tower while in this main screen, then it explains how you can upgrade it to train your troops.

There is an archery, demolition lab, stonemasons shop and and magical arts tower that you can purchase. I loved buying the archers, and it is easy enough to get more of them. Also having the little guys rebuild your tower is essential. It is a fun play, and addictive enough to go back to it. I can’t quite put my finger on what is missing. I guess it’s just the huge effort in trying to make it different, where maybe they could have just made it simpler.

I loved when the game started to get a bit harder. There was these little characters with those cap gun circles as bombs, which you can blow up. (you’ll need to look at the picture to see what I’m talking about)

The game currently is on sale priced at $0.99. It’s cheap enough and you will go back to it. I think I would be tempted to buy this at that sale price. I like that I can just save a game and get back to it. That element makes it more playable and addictive than the web version.