Most gamers will attest that an entertaining story is one of the most important things to be found within a video game. The way characters interact and change throughout a game can be, well, moving. However, there are some games that simply don’t need to do too much on this front due to addicting gameplay. Trendy Entertainment’s Dungeon Defenders is a great example of how core mechanics can more than make up for the lack of an epic tale.
Dungeon Defenders is a downloadable title (available on XBLA, PSN, and PC) that is one part tower defense and another part RPG. The player is put into the role of one of four classes that most gamers should be familiar with: Apprentice, Huntress, Monk, or Squire. Each class has their own specific abilities that allow them to contribute to the overall task of eliminating all of the monsters that invade the screen. For example, my Apprentice named Akamu is able to cast powerful spells to hit enemies from afar, where my friend’s Squire named Sabyr is able to construct giant barriers to protect us.
The cartoony look and amazing effects in Dungeon Defenders create an entrancing world.
As you conquer each round the number of baddies grows, and the sheer amount of them can become overwhelming. Level designs start out pretty basic, but continue to become more complex as you journey on. Communication is absolutely key when playing Dungeon Defenders; think of it as the Portal 2 of tower defense games. Players must talk during the build phase to protect the almighty Eternia Crystal, as well as when their barriers become damaged. Mana gained from killing opposing forces is used to build and upgrade more barriers.
Even though the task of every level is ultimately the same, Dungeon Defenders still managed to hold my interest throughout my play-through. The way players must work together to take down a horde of enemies is entirely satisfying. Knowing that the success, and demise, of your team depends on how well you work together makes each round exciting. There is also the surprise factor of finding loot that is spread throughout the levels. You’ll find yourself constantly upgrading your equipment and weapons in the middle of rounds.
Your character stats and loot can be found within a series of intuitive menus.
While Dungeon Defenders is an overall great experience, that’s not to say that it is without its flaws. One of my biggest complaints of most RPG titles is that the loot you acquire doesn’t actually change the look of your character. Sure, the weapons do change, and the effects of them are pretty amazing most of time, but the fact remains that other gear doesn’t. The spells that my Apprentice casts are incredible looking, and I just wish that the other gear applied to my character did too. I understand it’s a daunting task for the developers, but I’d gladly do with a smaller pool of gear if it changed my look. That would add to the great sense of player customization that is already seen in the game. Imagine running into players online who are donned in a full purple outfit because it is the rarest of items. You would be pretty impressed!
One smaller complaint is that I feel like the Squire class is a bit overpowered. In an online match, our high level Squire set barriers at most of the major pathways, so there wasn’t much else for the rest of the group to do. He insisted that we sit back untouched by the enemies, which isn’t the most exciting strategy. I feel like the classes could rely on one another more equally.
FINAL THOUGHTS:
Dungeon Defenders packs so much content that is hard to believe it is a downloadable game. The blend of tower defense and RPG elements make for an amazing cooperative experience. An intuitive interface and sexy presentation will help draw in even non-fans of the genre(s). The design is unique enough to set itself apart from other games set in similar worlds. Traditional RPG elements like loot hunting and leveling up will keep players coming back for more… and more. All of the above combine to make Dungeon Defenders a great game that will reward you for venturing through the castle walls for hours to come.
RATING: 9.0/10
Amazing!
Dungeon Defenders is available now on Xbox Live Arcade for 1200 Microsoft Points, and PlayStation Network and PC for $15. You can try the demo, purchase, and queue up your downloads here!
glory by the gram 