Siege Hero Review

The developers of Siege Hero, Armor Games, originally created a little game called Crush the Castle. It was a fun game, but it became obscured by the unsuspected success of Angry Birds. That certainly didn't dampen their spirits, though, because now they're back with something similar, but with enough of a spin to make it an entirely new experience. Their latest title equips players with rocks and other projectiles in a conquest to destroy any and all standing structures. The game currently has 63 levels laid out over three different ages, and there are even plans to expand. Facebook Connect, Twitter, leader boards, and Game Center achievements are all included, and they provide the game with some solid replayability. There are also bonus stages to unlock by achieving perfect scores on the normal levels.

It's hard not to compare Siege Hero to Angry Birds because of its cute graphics and humorous sound effects, but there's a major difference between the two games that makes Siege Hero seem like a completely different genre; Siege Hero is in first person. Basically, the view is from the eyes of the catapult. I know it sounds like a strange decision for a tried and true formula, but it works wonderfully. One of the biggest advantages to the new viewpoint is much less scrolling. I found that there was less downtime because the full level was always visible, and the developers even implemented a zoom feature that's unlocked within the first few levels. The game involves more strategy than skill due to the fact that firing projectiles is as easy as tapping the screen. I felt like I was playing a puzzle game instead of an action game because of how easy it was to hit my mark, but this allowed me more time to perfect my demolition strategies without having to worry about overshooting or wasting ammo. The game manages to stay fun with a variety of ammunition and some very clever level designs. Due to the streamlined interface I was able to replay each level several times without getting annoyed, which made earning perfect scores on each level less of a chore.

Siege Hero does things differently, but that's not always a bad thing. It offers a fun twist on a well loved genre, and it's loaded with content. The game leans towards the strategy and puzzle categories, which might be a turn off for anyone seeking a more visceral experience, but players who don't have the patience or the skill required for aiming will love the easy access offered by Siege Hero.

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