Just when you thought you were done with Tower Defense games comes an exciting new one from Critical Thought Games. geoDefense [App Store, $0.99] is a retro-inspired version of the game that offers some wonderful touches to the genre.
Like The Creeps, geoDefense offers set paths on which the enemies (“creeps") traverse to get to your base. Your job is to set up tower defenses to destroy the oncoming waves of enemies. There are 5 tower types with 7 upgrade levels each.
The graphics and animation included in the title offer a wonderful arcade-y feel and are a surprising touch. We recommend checking out the video embedded below.
The developer’s goal in designing the game was to make it more of an arcade action game than other traditional tower defense games. He describes his thoughts behind the design:
Once you get past the introductory stuff, and into the meat of the game, it can be very fast and require you to think a lot about what you are doing. Every level is beatable… but sometimes a very distinct strategy is required.
I was going for a very kinetic… high-energy experience. With some not-so-obvious game play elements. For example, the vortex towers have several different ways they can be used… and using them right is often key. Plus… the bonus system is key to highscores once you get past the “how do you even beat this thing" stage. But how you get better multipliers is something you have to figure out… I’m not telling you.
….
Tower Defense games are all about the “tipping point" where get to the point that your income is going up faster than the creep power and you’ve essentially won. But I worked really hard to eliminate that from the way geoDefense plays. It is possible to cross the tipping point in some cases, but because of the controls I have over each waves progression I made it so that seldom happens. This is why you often have to fight to the bitter end… and winning without losing any lives is pretty rare…. nothing is more exciting than fighting down to that one last guy and pulling off a victory!
Indeed, one thing this game has not been accused of is being too easy. Early reports from our forums have high praise about the game, though many have been unable to get past many of the “easy" levels — we suspect that this may come from applying more traditional Tower Defense strategies into this new game. If you’re looking for a new tower defense challenge, this is an easy recommendation at only $0.99.
The main negative with the current version appears to be the use of touch controls to place towers. This can be a bit awkward as your finger obscures your view. This and a few other interface issues are said to be addressed in a future update.
This video of Easy Level 3 was provided by Habakuk:
App Store Link: geoDefense, $0.99
wow, sounds nice. i hope it's going to be more along the lines of Brothers In Arms and not that crappy Metal Gear Solid game they're making.
If I'm not wrong, Metal Gear Solid is developed by Konami directly, not Gameloft. Gameloft has been pushing serious titles so they may very well be capable of pulling this off.
From the artists rendition, it looks like this game might actually have a lot in common with Gameloft's Brothers in Arms for this platform. The player/character in the rendition is taking cover, ala BiA. Could it perhaps be built on the BiA engine?
Anyway...Gameloft announces this game, but still no Derek Jeter Pro Baseball 2009 announcement? WTF is taking so long, Gameloft? We need a "serious" baseball game as a contrast to Gamevil's anime style game. C'mon already. You and the Capn' can make it happen! ;)
@j0maldo
Not only is MGS developed by Konami themselves, it's developed by Kojima Studios directly. So that very disappointing game is actually developed by the studio behind the main MGS games.
Still wish that game was at least a point and click adventure game with instances of light gun (or in this case, tap screen) shooting action, ala Kojima's classic Snatcher and Policenauts. From what I've seen it's just tap click and look at some static shots with story text on top of them. Lame.
I'll tell you one of the most underrated gems in the Appstore is Wild West Guns, after paying only 5 bucks for that, I'm on board with Gameloft for anything they release that may be "up my alley"!
Why are these good games coming out after i bought my psp?? i cant afford games for both device
Nobody's going to badmouth Terminator: Ambush? (Did that ever really take off?) Fun TV show... not so fun game.
huh... 3rd Person shooter, covering, GameLoft... That sound like a BiA makeover for Terminator. No way I'm gonna buy this, lost enough money on BiA. Stupid controls...
hope they use bia engine just add more gameplay
I really enjoyed BIA and every Gameloft title I have ever purchased, so this one seems like something I would buy. But, I don't know a lot about it, just an artist's conception of the game (or maybe it is a real screenshot). But, I will be watching this game very closely.
can wait looks so amazing
That is the coolest graphics on the iPhone! Can't wait!
@vikram and haha
dont you guys read?
"Artist rendition"!!!!!!!
geeze
Who's that guy walking through the background on the screenshot?
Bia controls were fine, you just had to get used to them...
Anyway, from a company that brought us Hero of Sparta or Real Soccer, one can only expect the best (meanwhile they launch CRAP on ngage LOL)
There were plenty of freaking awesome 2D movie based titles on the GBA. How about a fun and dynamic game, not another attempt to make the iPhone a PS2?
this is shit, the terminator from terminator salvation are not that shiny, they are old and grity