There certainly is no need for gems. I hate them, so I have collected over 20,000 at this point. I have 75/75 stars, and the campaign beaten in veteran. The strategy is to always use crossbow towers, the occasional axe tower, and maybe one necromancer if you want. Alternately, spam Mechas with level 2 missiles. That's what I did for the Jungle Boss level, and in veteran, with no items. I do think that strat could be improved with a couple axe throwers just to take away magic and make enemies take more damage (the totem special abilities), but it worked well enough.
Doesn't that sound sort of boring? It doesn't seem that KRF has done much to increase the variety of strategies, which was an issue in KR also.
Actually, I'm getting really pissed off with the "ERMAGERD I just use one strategy all the time it's such a lame game" argument. Truth is, on those stages mentioned, a strategy with the mine tower, arch Mage, some soldiers (assassins or Templars, whatever you prefer) and an axe tower for the debuffs works equally well without any crosbow towers or necromancers. There are tons of potentially viable strategies for each level. And they diversify even more when you throw in the heroes. For example, you might decide to not have a barracks in a lane with Alric in it, because he can effectively block up to 4 enemies at a time. So stop complaining about lack of variety if you just haven't thought of alternatives yet.
Thanks for all the advise everyone, I'll give it a pop. It wasn't the final final monkey level I struggled with but the last proper level before that. I was mainly using archers and necromances with Templars at the top of the map and bottom. I wasn't criticising the use of gems either just that the big 'smart bomb' that you can buy feels over powered..... Glad it was my incompetence and not the game as well!
But if the game allows you to use a single strategy on all levels, then it lacks diversity, even if another strategy would also work. In the best TD games, you have to use different strategies on different levels; it's not just that you can choose to.
Wait until you get to Veteran mode. You absolutely have to try out different strategies; one strategy will never work for all the levels.
Of course, that's exactly the opposite of what several people have said in this thread, e.g., most recently Scorpion008.
Has anone else experience severe graphical glitches with the game? Many buttons are missing on the map screen, and the acheivement screen's text is half cut off.
Your tower setups are awesome! Just did the Grawl and DWAARP one, and the reinforcements took care of the flying enemies nicely.
Looks great! I'll be getting this soon, but Ive heard people complain that the in-app heroes are ridiculously priced :/
They are, but if you want to drop ~$30 on all heroes to complete the best looking and sounding TD game on the market, be my guest.
I suppose it also has an option to only allow you to play part of the game, and leave the coolest stuff behind paywalls.
If by truly optional, nearly identically priced to the first game, and less than a burger is "ridiculously" priced, sure. People will complain about anything, the fact people are complaining that anything about a game isn't free or, better yet, pays you, is irrelevant. Use your brain to ask, are these people being reasonable? It might not make sense for you to pay $7 for a dragon hero (highest cost hero between both games), so don't do it. The base game is $3 and will entertain you for a solid week at the least, there is no IAP necessary to finish this game with 100% achievements, and it's well worth the cost. You want ridiculously priced? Go look at a pedestrian freemium builder like Spongebob Moves In where they're charging you $4 up front and ask $15 for a non-interactive character, $25 to max slots on the Krusty Krab, and have another $50 worth of characters after you're done getting the $15 one. That's ridiculous. Some optional heroes that don't change the game much at all for a few bucks each and actually let you play with them? Again, people will complain about anything.
While I know it is pointless to have these debates over the internet, the idea of theft bothers me. I am unsure why our society has come to accept theft as an acceptable alternative to consumer dissatisfaction with prices. Ironhide has the right to price their game any way that they see fit. It is THEIR game, not yours. If they DO price it too high, the market will bring down the price as people will not buy it. If people ARE paying for IAPs, then they used a good pricing model. Except for the people who steal them.
Except that KRF is one of the best TD games EVER, and Spongebob whatever is a piece of crap I wouldn't touch if you paid me too, so...there's that. I realize that ridiculous exists in even greater extreme, but when devs have an amazing formula for a game they should keep everything reasonable to strengthen their fanbase. Right now they are choosing their wallet over their fans. Sure, we aren't all that angry; they could be doing much worse, but this could just be the beginning. I can't exactly blame them for what they do, and to be honest, if I had a real job I think I would buy all the heroes at their full price. Just because this is one of the few Dev groups who have the right ideas and do not blatantly rip us off, nor force their inapp on us. If they found a way to coordinate a $.99 hero sale (for all heroes) for all their hardcore fans, even if it was only for an hour, then they would be doing the very best they could, in my eyes. Also, for those who think you need gem items for iron or heroic challenges or veteran mode, you don't, Period. Just change your strategy, and spamming crossbow towers with level 1 barrage is a good start, as I have found. And yes, not all maps work with one strat, I admit this now.
You seem to honestly enjoy and respect the game. You just stated that KRF is one of the best TD games ever. Try to remember that it would not exist if not for Ironhide games, and making games is their business. They may really love making games. That is fine. But their goal is to make money. That is why they make games. That is a basic tenet of capitalism and free enterprise. If they are not making money, they have no incentive to make games. And then where would we get our quality games? Take Warhammer Quest. I absolutely love the game. I bought the game, and all extra IAP, for a total of $19. I will immediately buy any future IAP, and look forward to doing so. Why? Because I love playing it. I could never make the game myself. Rodeo games did me a tremendous favor making me this great game. I am happy to pay for their services, so that they continue to make content for it.
Quick question, are some of the Iron Man / Heroic challenges on Veteran difficulty designed with the use of gem consumables in mind or is it possible to complete them without them?
