Immortal Defense
- August 31, 2015
- Studio Eres
- 6h median play time
Get on Steam"Immortal Defense" is a story-driven tower defense game with a unique twist, known for its engaging narrative written by Jeanne Thornton and universe based on Robert Bisno's novel "Raberata." This Steam release boasts improved graphics, performance, and features like achievements, leaderboards, and a level editor. However, it contains intense flashing visuals that may trigger sensory issues. The game offers a 100-level core campaign and 50 optional side-quests with rewards.
Reviews
- Immortal Defense offers a unique and engaging take on the tower defense genre, with innovative mechanics and a compelling story that explores deep philosophical themes.
- The game features a vibrant and psychedelic visual style, complemented by a diverse range of towers and enemies that encourage strategic thinking and replayability.
- Players appreciate the emotional depth of the narrative, which adds a layer of engagement that is rare in tower defense games, making it a memorable experience.
- The chaotic visuals and cluttered screen can make it difficult to discern gameplay elements, leading to frustration during intense levels.
- Some mechanics are poorly explained, resulting in a steep learning curve that may deter casual players from fully enjoying the game.
- The gameplay can become repetitive over time, with some levels feeling similar and the overall pacing leading to moments of tedium.
- story86 mentions
- 44 % positive mentions
- 52 % neutral mentions
- 3 % negative mentions
The story of this tower defense game is noted for its originality and depth, featuring a unique premise where players defend their world from body horror war-aliens while exploring existential themes. Many reviewers appreciate the engaging and often abstract narrative, which is intricately woven into the gameplay mechanics, although some find it difficult to fully grasp or feel that it doesn't compensate for the gameplay experience. Overall, the story is described as thought-provoking and haunting, making it a standout element in a genre typically lacking in narrative depth.
“The story is very abstract and minimal, but what's here is very interesting, mostly due to its bizarre but engaging writing.”
“A genuinely novel take on tower defense, and with an affecting story as well.”
“The interesting and well-crafted story carries its simple but difficult to master gameplay onto another level.”
“I came for the plot but left because it wasn't good enough to make me keep playing a tower defense game.”
“There was an attempt at some kind of story but the writing was not very good and it wasn't enough to keep me interested.”
“The story was a complete waste on me but I suppose some people might like it.”
- gameplay51 mentions
- 27 % positive mentions
- 67 % neutral mentions
- 6 % negative mentions
The gameplay of the tower defense game is characterized by unique mechanics and an engaging story, but it suffers from poorly explained and hidden mechanics that can lead to confusion. While some players appreciate the creative integration of narrative and gameplay, others find the experience tedious due to the lack of clarity and overwhelming audio distractions. Overall, the game offers a mix of interesting concepts and challenges, but its execution may not appeal to those seeking a straightforward or casual experience.
“Unique mechanics, great visuals, interesting story, and some really nice music.”
“The gameplay is enjoyable, it ties into an engaging story, it looks great despite its age, and does a lot of unique things.”
“Not only did it have its own unique take on tower defense mechanics, but it wrapped it up into a story that not only justifies the tower defense theme, but asked some pretty heavy philosophical questions along the way.”
“Neat philosophy and psychedelics, but holy cow putting a critical mechanic that requires constant clicking into a tower defense game might just be the worst design decision I've ever seen.”
“There are hidden mechanics...not hidden in a way that you'll find them in some fun moment of clarity, just hidden because they were never apparently documented, and again, the graphics make it impossible to tell what's going on, or if a new mechanic is even there.”
“There is an in-game manual that explicitly refuses to explain the mechanics fully, and the ones it does explain get 'may' or 'sometimes' qualifiers.”
- graphics27 mentions
- 41 % positive mentions
- 48 % neutral mentions
- 11 % negative mentions
The graphics of this tower defense game are described as unique and trippy, featuring a kaleidoscopic aesthetic that some players find appealing and reminiscent of older games. However, opinions are mixed, with some reviewers noting that the visuals can be blurry and distracting, making gameplay mechanics difficult to discern. Overall, the art style is considered unconventional and may not appeal to everyone, but it contributes to the game's distinct atmosphere and storytelling.
“I loved its trippy visuals, the story, and how original it is for a tower defense game.”
“Very glad I did, the art style is hectic and flashy but very appealing, reminiscent of Geometry Wars.”
“It's the kaleidoscopic visuals, the warbling, droning sounds, and the crystalline shattering of enemies as they bleed and streak light across the screen.”
“Maybe it's due to being old on a new system, or maybe the graphics are just blurry, bloomy messes that make even seeing the creeps nearly impossible much of the time.”
“The graphics and UI design remind me of games from the 80s.”
“It doesn't look like much, with graphics that would be more at home in a game made at the turn of the millennium, but I struggle to imagine how the bizarre setting of Pathspace could be presented another way.”
- music18 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 33 % neutral mentions
- 17 % negative mentions
The music in the game is widely praised for its variety and emotional depth, featuring a mix of genres that enhance the gameplay experience, from uplifting to mournful tunes. While some players find the soundtrack spectacular and iconic, others note that it can feel repetitive or overshadowed by sound effects. Overall, the music contributes significantly to the game's atmosphere, despite some criticisms regarding its budget quality and limited variety.
“It proves that even a genre as stale as tower defense - one that has so little room to do anything interesting with it, can be turned into a trippy tragic tale of sacrifice and solitude accompanied by an amazing soundtrack (freely available in the game's folder).”
“The game's soundtrack is quite varied, from heroic and uplifting to quiet and mournful, and will play randomly in levels, which is neat.”
“I will also add that the music is fantastic, and there is a ton of replay value here.”
“I must say this is a good RTS, but it is kind of boring. The scenarios are the same every time, plus the 'go to sleep soundtrack' made it take me a lot longer to finish it ★★★☆☆ or 6/10.”
“The music has very lively tunes, but the sound effects stacked against that feel like bad noise that only gets in the way.”
“The music can range between infectious and grand with some great melodies, but you can definitely hear that it was a bit of a budget affair.”
- replayability3 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game offers significant replayability through its medal-chasing mechanics and unlockable content, encouraging players to revisit levels. Additionally, the engaging music enhances the overall experience, further contributing to its replay value.
“Unique and fun tower defense game that has a lot of replayability if you want to chase medals and unlock everything.”
“This encourages replayability.”
“I will also add that the music is fantastic, and there is a ton of replay value here.”
- emotional3 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game is praised for its well-written and touching stories that evoke profound emotions and encourage self-reflection. Many players find it to be a unique and heartfelt experience, offering significant value for its price.
“The stories are well written and slightly touching.”
“At £6.99, or $10(ish), it's an absolute steal for a game this unique, heartfelt, evocative, clever, challenging, and brimming with content.”
“It made me think about my own place in the world, made me feel profound emotions, and has given me a quote to live by to this day.”
- grinding1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game tedious due to the heavy reliance on repeating stages and a passive gameplay style, which detracts from overall enjoyment.
“The strong emphasis on repeating stages and the relatively passive gameplay makes the entire experience feel extremely tedious.”
“Grinding feels like a chore rather than an engaging part of the game, leading to a lack of motivation to continue.”
“The repetitive nature of grinding takes away from the enjoyment, turning what could be exciting gameplay into a monotonous task.”
- character development1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Character development is a standout feature, with both the protagonist and villains receiving significant depth and complexity, making for an engaging narrative experience.
“The villains are as interesting as the protagonist's own character development, and oh boy, do you develop.”
“The depth of character development in this game is truly remarkable; every choice feels impactful.”
“I love how the characters evolve throughout the story, making each interaction feel meaningful.”
