Review: Dungeon Defenders

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!

Dev Diary: The War of the Worlds

Other Ocean Interactive and Paramount Digital Entertainment today released a new developer diary to celebrate the upcoming launch of their latest XBLA/PSN/PC game. The new downloadable title, The War of the Worlds, will be available on Xbox Live Arcade on October 26th. Release dates for PSN and PC services are forthcoming. More information about the game can be found below the video.

The War of the Worlds Details

• Developed in conjunction with Paramount Digital Entertainment, The War of the Worlds is a dark and breathtaking new vision inspired by the classic H.G. Wells novel, retold as a single player, 2D action-adventure and narrated by the acclaimed and distinguished actor Sir Patrick Stewart. Set in London, the gameplay narrative parallels the timeline and events from the 1953 movie adaptation, but introduces a new story arc, characters, locations, and sub-plots. With gameplay paying homage to classic cinematic platformers such as Flashback, Out of This World and Prince of Persia, the game follows the exploits of an unknown everyman struggling to escape the Martian invasion of London and rescue his family. Forced to think through insurmountable odds, players will outsmart an army of alien tripods, spiders and drones as they make their way through a landscape of total devastation.

• The War of the Worlds will be available on XBLA October 26th for 800 MS Points ($10.00). For more information about The War of the Worlds, please visit www.waroftheworldsgame.com or visit the game’s official Xbox page at http://marketplace.xbox.com/en-US/Product/The-War-of-the-Worlds/66acd000-77fe-1000-9115-d80258410b64.

SkyDrift Receives Official Launch Date

Digital Reality today announced that their upcoming flight racing game, SkyDrift, will launch for both Xbox Live Arcade and PlayStation Network on September 7th, 2011 for 1200 Microsoft Points ($15). SkyDrift puts players in the cockpit of one of eight planes (with over 30 skins), as they battle for first place in this insane arcade racer. More information about the game can be found below.

Details About SkyDrift

“SkyDrift is more than your typical arcade style racing game,” says Péter Nyester, SkyDrift Producer, Digital Reality. “Our team worked hard to deliver realistic, cutting edge graphics that are visually stunning, which really transform the overall feel of the gameplay. Skydrift combines all the best elements of arcade-heavy games with stimulating graphics and smooth game play – creating the ultimate racing experience.”

Dominate against the deadliest opponents in the most spectacular exotic locations from all around the world. Choosing from 33 racing events on several reversible, living tracks, players will compete against opponents in single player or multiplayer challenges with up to eight players- the possibilities are limited only by your own imagination! Become the master of the sky with challenging achievements, collectable rewards, and tons of tactical power-ups that range from offensive and defensive in nature and can be stacked with other power-ups. The goal is simple: if you can’t overtake them, shoot them down!

For more information about SkyDrift, please visit the official website at http://skydriftgame.com and YouTube page and then follow us on Facebook and Twitter.

Rock Beats Everything!

Developer/Publisher ATLUS and ACE Team today announced that their latest downloadable title, Rock of Ages, will be available for the Xbox Live Arcade platform on August 31st, while a PlayStation Network and PC date are forthcoming. A new trailer for the game has been released, which reminds us all that rock beats everything, while also paying homage to many classic gaming moments! ATLUS and ACE Team describe Rock of Ages as a “balls-to-the-walls game of tower offense featuring fast-paced strategy, high art, and gigantic boulders.” It looks like a very interesting concept, and I’m loving the destruction aspects showed off in the trailer.

Fresh screenshots of Rock of Ages can be found on our official Flickr page. For more information on the game, please visit www.atlus.com/rockofages.

Dead Block Receives DLC

Candygun Games today announced that their Xbox Live Arcade title Dead Block has received its first set of downloadable content (DLC). Dead Block puts players in the shoes of one of four individuals, as they try to eliminate and survive against waves of zombies. The first piece of DLC features four new locales to explore, including: a Motel, a Turkish Bath, an Office building, and a Slaughterhouse. All four new levels are available in both single player and four player offline co-op. The Dead Block DLC is available now on Xbox Live Arcade for 240 Microsoft Points.

Dead Block is available now on Xbox Live Arcade (800 Microsoft Points) and PlayStation Network ($10). You can read our review of the game right here. More screenshots of the new DLC can be found on our official Flickr page.

For more information, please visit the Dead Block website at www.deadblock.com, follow the characters on Twitter, subscribe to the YouTube channel and ‘Like’ the game on Facebook.

Ugly Americans: Apocalypsegeddon Release Date

345 Games has announced that their latest downloadable venture, Ugly Americans: Apocalypsegeddon, will be available on the PlayStation Network on August 30th, and Xbox Live Arcade on August 31st. The title, based on the popular animated series that airs on Comedy Central, will retail for 800 Microsoft Points ($10 on PSN). More information about the game can be found below in the official press release.

• The time has come to pound the pavement and save the earth from impending doom!  345 Games, the video gaming arm of COMEDY CENTRAL and Spike TV, announced today that its upcoming shooter “Ugly Americans: Apocalypsegeddon” will be launching for PlayStation®Network on August 30 and for Xbox LIVE®Arcade August 31 for a retail price of $9.99.   Published by COMEDY CENTRAL Games and developed by Backbone Entertainment, this hilarious game unites the humor and spirit of the popular animated comedy-horror series “Ugly Americans” with classic and addictive dual analog shooting gameplay.  The game features all of the voice actors from the show, a script penned by the show writers and original characters created by the show creator Devin Clark.“It won’t be too much longer until gamers everywhere can get their hands on the first COMEDY CENTRAL branded arcade game,” said Dan Yang, general manager, 345 Games.  “We’ve been working hard to infuse ‘Ugly Americans: Apocalypsegeddon’ with a combination of addicting gameplay and the comedic sensibilities that has made the show such a success.  We feel that we’ve created an original and memorable game play experience.”With four-player top-down co-op gameplay that hearkens back to such classics as Gauntlet and Robotron, “Ugly Americans: Apocalypsegeddon” features four playable characters, each with their own unique abilities, weapons and strengths.  Players must comb the streets of New York City and pacify raving demons, delinquent man birds and zombies by lactating fire or hurling wacky objects like flying demon skulls, fish, baseballs and wrenches.  Investigate case files from the Department of Integration and battle devastating and distinctive bosses at the end of each mission, each bringing you one step closer to finding out who is trying to bring about the end of days!“Ugly Americans” Airs On Thursdays At 10:30 P.M. On COMEDY CENTRAL.

  “Ugly Americans: Apocalypsegeddon” will be available for $9.99 or 800 Microsoft Points.

  For more information about“Ugly Americans: Apocalypsegeddon”, please visit the official Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/uglyamericans

  Available in 99 million homes nationwide, COMEDY CENTRAL (www.comedycentral.com), the only all-comedy network, is owned by, and is a registered trademark of, Comedy Partners, a wholly-owned division of Viacom Inc.’s (NYSE: VIA and VIA.B) MTV Networks. For up-to-the-minute and archival press information and photographs visit Press Central, COMEDY CENTRAL’s press web site at www.comedycentral.com/press and follow us on Twitter @ComedyCentralPR for the latest in breaking news updates, behind-the-scenes information and photos.

New BloodRayne: Betrayal Screenshots

BloodRayne: Betrayal releases on Xbox Live Arcade on August 30th and PlayStation Network on August 31st. You can view more screenshots of the game on our official Flickr page.

Review: Boulder Dash-XL

Iconic rapper 2pac once stated that his every move was “a calculated step,” a few words that perfectly describe Boulder Dash-XL, the latest game brought by way of Catnip Games, First Star Software, and Kalypso Media. The new downloadable entry in the Boulder Dash series has the player taking on the role of either Rockford (a newly crafted robot) or Crystal (his female companion) in their adventures to find as many jewels as possible. You are sent to race through a plethora of levels that will test everything from your reaction speed to how fast you can solve the puzzles and get to the exit. So is Boulder Dash-XL a worthy re-envisioning of a classic franchise or are your diamonds better spent elsewhere?

The core gameplay mechanics remain the same to previous entries in the franchise, as you travel through dirt, push boulders, and collect rich stuff (Goonies, anyone?) in order to unlock the exit. Due to the welcomed simplicity of the gameplay, the controls themselves are easy to grasp right from the start, making Boulder Dash-XL a game that practically anyone can pick up after the first level or so. However, after I breezed through the first few levels, I realized that there was a learning curve after all.

Look at Rockford go!

As you progress from level to level in Boulder Dash-XL, you will eventually come to a point where they require quite a bit of thinking in order to get your character safely to the exit. One wrong move and you will have a stack of boulders crashing onto your tiny metal head. The bottom line is that you will die in this game… a lot, in fact, but each time you realize what you have done wrong and recognize that maybe that wasn’t the best idea. Each death gets you closer to putting together a blueprint for how to beat the level in a quick fashion and it’s a great feeling zooming across the exit square once you do.

It might sound simple on paper, but trying to evade rocks as they roll off one another is not an easy task, especially when you are simultaneously trying to dodge different groups of enemies. For instance, my least favorite were the fuzzy walkers, who chased me through tunnels time and time again, making my job that much harder. Other pesky enemies try to crush you, follow you relentlessly, and drop traps so that you can easily by attacked by their brethren. I must admit that I did get frustrated at times, but there was a fault in my movements, and eventually I pushed through all of the levels.

Oldschool gamers will love this addition.

One addition that changes the gameplay a bit is the ability to collect key cards that open otherwise unobtainable gems. You will have to dodge boulders and enemies to get to the cards and doors, but doing so gives you a nice reward for going the extra mile. Accessing each locked room adds to your diamond collection and saves you from having to backtrack when you do come up short on your total count that unlocks each exit. You can also use the Left Bumper to pause the action and the clock so that you can look around the stage and plot where you might need or want to go next. If you aren’t too keen on the challenges that Arcade Mode throws at you, Boulder Dash-XL also includes Puzzle Mode and Score Attack Mode. In the former, you play in untimed levels, where your goal is to simply collect all of the gems and get to the exit. In Score Attack Mode, you compete to get the best score possible by collecting diamonds, crushing enemies, and running as fast as you can.

The biggest problem I had with Boulder Dash-XL was the inability to sort of rewind time or erase a move that I had made by mistake. Without this feature, you will find yourself having to restart levels over and over again after you have inadvertently trapped your character. Though levels load quickly and there should obviously be some blame directed at the player, this can make a somewhat frustrating experience even worse. I also felt as though the sound effects were rather generic and wore out their welcome after a good chunk of my playthrough of Arcade Mode.

FINAL THOUGHTS:

Boulder Dash-XL is a great game that constantly challenges the player to outwit gravity itself. The core concepts are easy to understand and the controls are great for people just being introduced to the franchise. Though it is quite challenging in many parts, it rewards players for finding the best solution to each puzzle. There are plenty of levels and modes included to keep you busy for quite some time. The only major negatives are the inability to recall your move(s), and the fact that the overall sound design leaves something to be desired. Boulder Dash-XL is a worthy revisit to a classic franchise that packs plenty of fun for the price of admission.

RATING: 7.5/10

Boulder Dash-XL is available now on Xbox Live Arcade for 800 Microsoft Points ($10). You can try the demo, purchase, and queue up your downloads here!

Twisted Pixel x Halfbrick Studios

Everybody loves… vitamin C? Developer Twisted Pixel (The Maw, Ms. Splosion Man) today announced that they have formed a partnership with fellow developer Halfbrick Studios (Fruit Ninja). Those who purchase Twisted Pixel’s upcoming Kinect (and retail) debut The Gunstringer will also get a download token for the full version of Fruit Ninja Kinect. The Gunstringer puts players in the body of a marionette sheriff that is out to seek revenge after his posse betrays him. Fruit Ninja Kinect is a downloadable adaptation of the hit mobile game, which lets players use their arms to slice through a mix of juicy treats.

The bundle containing both titles will be released on September 13th in North America, Australia, New Zealand, and Asia, with an MSRP of $39.99. Meanwhile, gamers in the EMEA markets can pick up the games a few days later on September 16th. The first game add-on for The Gunstringer, entitled “The Wavy Tube Man Chronicles,” will be available as a free download to celebrate the launch in adequate fashion. Plus, pre-ordering the bundle at select retailers in the U.S. and Europe will earn you two exclusive avatar props to show off on your digital self. If you want to brush up on your ninja skills early, you can download Fruit Ninja Kinect as part of the Xbox Live Summer of Arcade on August 10th.

Review: Dead Block

In Candygun Games’ 1950’s inspired game Dead Block, you play as one of three characters: a construction worker Jack Foster, an overweight boy scout Mike Bacon, and a traffic warden Foxy Jones. Each character has a special set of traps and secondary attacks that you use as you move through a set of buildings that are being invaded by zombie hordes. Traps like Jones’ massive bomb are placed in windows and doorways while the other AI characters scavenge through items scattered throughout the level in order to find a speaker, amp, and guitar. Unfortunately, the set up for Dead Block sounds a lot better than how it actually turned out.

Jack values his brain

One of the main side objectives is searching through globes and cacti to locate items (like keys and coins) that can be used to advance you through each level. You’ll find yourself looking through books for bolts (to build more traps) and obliterating a bathtub with a wrench (to collect more wood for blockades). However, the core mechanics of the game become too repetitive, too fast, ultimately making you do the same thing in each of the ten single player levels. There is no way around it, this will be the most action your B button has ever gotten, as you’ll be spamming it to break up all kinds of furniture. To search through items in the environment, you’re required to alternatively pull the left and right triggers. My biggest complaint is that none of this feels very fun. There are so many objects in each room that your main goal of finding the equipment to rock out becomes tedious and boring.

That’s not to say that Dead Block is entirely a mess. I actually found myself digging the vibe set up by the introductions to each level and the basic idea of a more goofy (and strategic) zombie tower defense game. For example, if you don’t keep a close eye on the windows and doors around you, an overbearing number of zombies will be creeping up on you in no time. I was surprised by how smart the AI is, though having them traverse around on their own would have been more helpful. There is some change in the game play when you are given the task of killing X amount of zombies before activating a giant zombie killing machine. I found this deviation to be more enjoyable than the main game, as I felt that I could pretty much experiment and play the level however I wanted. The inclusion of different traps, weapons, and a multiplayer mode (local only, unfortunately) may keep some players coming back until they explore everything the game has to offer.

Foxy is one bad mamma jamma!

FINAL THOUGHTS:

Dead Block is a great example of an idea that sounds great on paper (or a story board), but fails to deliver when attempted to be fully realized. I feel as though the game could have greatly benefited if the campyness or zombie elements were better explored. More variation in the game play and better controls would have made the less interesting parts somewhat more bearable. The ending is abrupt and lacks any sort of climax to make the player feel rewarded for making it to the finish line. As it stands now, Dead Block suffers from a set of good ideas that drag along and are never fully brought together to make a core experience worth recommending for the asking price.

RATING: 4.0/10

Dead Block is available now on Xbox Live Arcade and PlayStation Network for 800 Microsoft Points ($10). You can try the demo, purchase, and queue up your downloads here!