Hell Warders
- February 21, 2019
- Anti-Gravity Game Studios
Hell Warders isn’t the prettiest of games you’ll play on Nintendo Switch – even in docked mode its visuals really struggle to shake off that last-gen sheen – but look past its unoriginal Gothic aesthetic and there’s a competent (if uninspiring) Tower Defence game to be had. If you’re planning to tackle this alone, it’s best avoided, but if you want to hook up with the admittedly small number of people playing online, the occupants of hell certainly won’t slay themselves.
"Hell Warders" is an action RPG meets tower defense game where you play as a powerful hero with unique abilities to resist demon hordes. Set up defensive units, control their position and upgrades, and team up with up to four players in cooperative play. Choose from three diverse heroes, each with their own weapons, skills, and abilities. * Action RPG and tower defense in one * Cooperative play with up to 4 players * Class-based heroes with unique abilities and weapons
Reviews
- The game is highly enjoyable when played with friends, offering hours of fun and strategic gameplay.
- It has a unique blend of tower defense and action elements, providing a fresh experience for fans of the genre.
- The developers are responsive to community feedback and are committed to improving the game, showing potential for future updates.
- The game suffers from numerous bugs and stability issues, making it frustrating to play at times.
- Combat feels clunky and imprecise, detracting from the overall enjoyment and satisfaction of gameplay.
- There is a lack of content and customization options, leaving the game feeling barebones and incomplete.
- gameplay14 mentions
- 43 % positive mentions
- 36 % neutral mentions
- 21 % negative mentions
The gameplay is a blend of tower defense and hero-based action, offering an engaging experience that emphasizes player skill and strategy, particularly in multiplayer settings. While the mechanics are generally enjoyable and visually appealing, some players find the game somewhat generic and in need of polish, especially regarding controls and animations. The potential for future updates and improvements is noted, with a desire for more character options and refined gameplay mechanics.
“Graphics and gameplay are nicely done, and I really enjoyed the game as it demands everything from a player during each battle, like your judgment, intellect, and skill.”
“In-game, you can also have mini level-ups called talent ups to further individualize gameplay style, such as increasing HP or increasing damage, which reset upon the end of the game.”
“I see great potential in this game; the core gameplay is a unique mix of tower defense and hero-based action game, but the game doesn't burden you with complex resource management and numbers crunching you see in traditional tower defense games. You can go right into the action and slay monsters from the very beginning of each game.”
“Although the game is not very polished yet, the concept is interesting and I'm looking forward to future updates to add more characters and improved gameplay.”
“Hell Warders borrows most of its gameplay from Dungeon Defenders.”
“Apart from this, you could see most of the gameplay with the current status.”
- graphics13 mentions
- 46 % positive mentions
- 31 % neutral mentions
- 23 % negative mentions
Overall, the graphics of the game receive mixed reviews; many players appreciate the attractive visuals and smooth animations, while others criticize the game's outdated aesthetic, particularly on the Nintendo Switch. Despite some glitches and a last-gen appearance, the graphics are generally considered well-optimized and fitting for the gameplay experience. Players enjoy the diverse play styles and immersive atmosphere created by the graphics and musical score.
“The graphics and musical score fit well, and the heroes have diverse play styles.”
“Graphics and gameplay are nicely done, and I really enjoyed the game as it demands everything from a player during each battle (like your judgment, intellect, and skill).”
“A 3rd person tower defense against hordes of demons, lots of content, many maps, upgradables and good 3D graphics, well optimized game and original.”
“Hell Warders isn’t the prettiest of games you’ll play on Nintendo Switch – even in docked mode its visuals really struggle to shake off that last-gen sheen.”
“Hell Warders isn’t the prettiest of games you’ll play on Nintendo Switch – even in docked mode its visuals really struggle to shake off that last-gen sheen.”
“While in low graphic settings, the input is much more responsive.”
- music4 mentions
- 25 % positive mentions
- 25 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The music in the game is generally appreciated for its relaxing quality and compatibility with the graphics, enhancing the overall experience. However, some users noted that the music and sound effects could be improved, indicating a mixed reception.
“The graphics and musical score fit well, and the heroes have diverse play styles.”
“Great tower defense game, but a fly in the ointment is the music and sound effects.”
“I relaxed for 5 minutes listening to this music, long enough to realize that I would be okay.”
- story4 mentions
- 25 % positive mentions
- 25 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The story conveys a moral about perseverance and the unpredictability of life, though it is criticized for being a standard and overused fantasy narrative. Players find the gameplay engaging, particularly in cooperative settings, but the narrative itself lacks originality.
“The moral of the story is that you never know what life has in store for you. If I had given up when all odds were against me, I wouldn't be where I am today.”
“The standard boring, used-to-oblivion fantasy story.”
“Moral of the story: you never know what life has in store for you, and if I had given up when all odds were against me, I wouldn't be where I am today.”
- optimization3 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 67 % negative mentions
Users report mixed experiences with optimization, noting issues like delayed input that may not be solely related to the game's performance, even on high-end systems. While some mention mob chunkiness and optimization concerns, they generally feel that these issues do not significantly detract from the overall visual quality of the game.
“I am not sure if that is an optimization thing, but I am running on a super rig and hero animations were smooth and fine, so I doubt it.”
“Delayed input - I don't know if this is my PC performance issue or something else.”
“The mob chunkiness and optimization issues that I mentioned previously do not make the game look as bad as the video suggests at all.”
- replayability2 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
Players highlight that effective end-game content, such as additional difficulty modes, can significantly enhance replayability, as seen in games like DD1. Conversely, some titles suffer from poor mechanics and lack of clarity, leading to frustration and a complete absence of replay value.
“End-goal/end-game, being able to work towards a goal even after beating the main content lends the game incredible replayability if done correctly (look at what DD1 did with its nightmare difficulty mode).”
“Gone are the damage numbers, the units are clunky, the pathing is unintelligible. You can't understand what units do what, nor see the path of bullets. Zero progression, zero replayability, zero updates.”
- emotional2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Users express a mix of emotions regarding the game, feeling initially drawn in by its attractive graphics and gameplay, but ultimately experiencing disappointment due to perceived lag and a lack of improvement over time. This reflects a desire for the game to reach its potential, highlighting the emotional investment players have in its development.
“Firstly, the graphics and gameplay are very attractive to me and made me feel I want to support this game to build to its potential.”
- grinding2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -50 % neutral mentions
- 150 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious, particularly with the orbs or towers, and note a lack of clarity in the leveling system. However, many appreciate the game's unique blend of tower defense and hero-based action, which allows for immediate engagement without the complexities of resource management typical in the genre.
“Grinding through tedious orb (or tower) picking, along with a lack of function description and a confusing leveling system behind the towers, makes the experience frustrating.”
“The game has great potential, but the grinding aspect detracts from the enjoyment, as it feels like a chore rather than an engaging part of the gameplay.”
“While the core gameplay is a unique mix of tower defense and hero-based action, the repetitive grinding can become tiresome and detracts from the overall experience.”
- stability1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
Overall, players acknowledge some glitches that can disrupt gameplay, but they consider these issues acceptable given the game's early access status.
“Some glitches can make you feel uncomfortable while playing, but it's acceptable for an early access game.”
“The game crashes frequently, making it hard to enjoy the experience.”
“I encountered several bugs that disrupted my gameplay and made it frustrating.”
Critic Reviews
Hell Warders Review
Hell Warders isn’t the prettiest of games you’ll play on Nintendo Switch – even in docked mode its visuals really struggle to shake off that last-gen sheen – but look past its unoriginal Gothic aesthetic and there’s a competent (if uninspiring) Tower Defence game to be had. If you’re planning to tackle this alone, it’s best avoided, but if you want to hook up with the admittedly small number of people playing online, the occupants of hell certainly won’t slay themselves.
50%Hell Warders Review
Hell Warders won't even be remembered as the sloppy low-budget experiment that it is. It won't be remembered at all. It is much too rough to meet the standards of average gamers, and not weird enough to be interesting. It certainly is a huge hassle to play for more than four hours, but those first few moments before the balancing gets out of hand are actually enjoyable.
40%Hell Warders Review – Keep Hell Simple (PS4)
60%