The King of Tower Defense Returns This Week: Fieldrunners 2 In-Depth Video Preview

Fieldrunners was one of the original breakout iOS gaming hits. First released in 2008, this game checked all the right boxes and really helped herald the iPhone's potential as a gaming device. As time passed, the folks at Subatomic Studios continued to update the game, released an iPad version, and even a version on the Playstation Network. A lot of amazing things happened for Subatomic Studios along the way. But where was their follow up game? Years passed and nothing.

Then we got word in January that they had a new game in the works and found out shortly later that Fieldrunners 2 was that game. Now, nearly 4 years after the original was released, we have a preview of Fieldrunners 2. We've had the opportunity to play with the pre-release build for a week, and honestly, we're blown away. It's everything we loved in Fieldrunners, but turned up to 11. The preview below is taken from the pre-release app, but the final version will be out later this week.

One of the first thing you will notice with Fieldrunners 2 is that it improves on just about everything in the game. The graphics are better, the sound is better, and the variations in gameplay are greater. They have left in the familiar gameplay, the included puzzle levels, and completely new map types. Let's start out with something that will look familiar to Fieldrunners fans.

Grasslands - Here's a level that will remind you of the original Fieldrunners. But you'll quickly notice the video improvements in this full retina version. Not only are the animations crisper, they are also much smoother.

Fieldrunners has a load of new levels, and not only the open / pathless tower defense style of the original Fieldrunners. There are also path levels where the creeps will loop over and back on top of the path, adding some interesting strategy to the level. Here's an example video of a set path level, known as Tangled Turnpike in Fieldrunners 2.

When progressing through the game, you will at times unlock special puzzle levels. These levels go beyond the normal tower defense and require that in addition to guarding your base, you also have to complete the puzzle. Here's an example of a puzzle level where you must place your limited towers in locations that will guide the creeps between one or multiple towers.

As you can see, the king of tower defense has returned. Fieldrunners 2 will be out later this week. It's one to look forward to. Follow us on Twitter and we'll let you know as soon as it's available.