Kingdom Rush 5: Alliance TD
- July 25, 2024
- Ironhide Game Studio
- 8h median play time
Get on Steam"Kingdom Rush 5: Alliance TD" is a strategy game where players join forces with unlikely allies to defeat a powerful evil. Players can control two heroes on the battlefield and command a variety of units, including Paladins, Archers, Mages, and Necromancers. The game features fast-paced and captivating gameplay, with the possibility of units arguing and causing chaos, adding a unique twist to the strategy genre.
Reviews
- The game features beautiful graphics and engaging gameplay, maintaining the charm of the Kingdom Rush series.
- The introduction of dual heroes adds a new layer of strategy and fun to the gameplay.
- The tower variety is impressive, with many unique towers and heroes that encourage diverse strategies.
- The campaign is significantly shorter than previous entries, with only 16 levels and no post-game content.
- Many players feel the game lacks innovation, with some towers and heroes feeling like rehashes from earlier titles.
- The difficulty level is perceived as too easy, especially on higher difficulties, leading to a lack of challenge.
- gameplay140 mentions
- 34 % positive mentions
- 61 % neutral mentions
- 5 % negative mentions
The gameplay of the latest Kingdom Rush installment has received mixed reviews, with many praising the familiar tower defense mechanics and the introduction of the dual hero system, which adds depth and strategy. However, some players feel that the game lacks innovation and content, with a short campaign and repetitive mechanics that don't significantly evolve the series. Overall, while the gameplay remains engaging and polished, it may not meet the high expectations of long-time fans seeking fresh experiences.
“Good ol' Kingdom Rush delivers again with solid tower defense gameplay mechanics that are familiar but different enough to keep you engaged.”
“The gameplay is incredibly engaging, with a perfect blend of strategy and action that keeps you hooked for hours.”
“The two-hero system is very fun and allows the player to put together many new strategies, making you feel more involved in the gameplay.”
“Outdated graphics, terribly slow gameplay.”
“Short campaign, 9 hours of gameplay at high difficulty, already finished and no reason to play it again.”
“Same straightforward levels path, same tower types, same wave-stopping mechanics, same special abilities, same enemies, same boss fights, same hero mechanics, everything is almost the same.”
- story90 mentions
- 20 % positive mentions
- 77 % neutral mentions
- 3 % negative mentions
The story in the latest Kingdom Rush installment has received mixed reviews, with many players finding it engaging and creative, while others criticize its brevity and lack of depth. Although the game features interesting character interactions and builds on previous titles, the main campaign is perceived as short and somewhat underwhelming, lacking side missions and significant plot twists. Overall, while the storytelling elements are appreciated, players express disappointment over the limited content and the feeling that the narrative could have been more developed.
“The story this time around is both thrilling and nostalgic.”
“The game continues to throw surprises at you; it has (while still very simple) probably the best 'story' in the series, with more comics than usual that provide some interesting character interactions.”
“Additionally, the game's story is incredibly amusing, adding another layer of enjoyment to the overall experience.”
“With just a bog standard 16-stage campaign divided into 3 bog standard areas, a bog standard story with absolutely zero twists, and a bog standard ending of the overseer himself being trampled like any villain of the week, Alliance fails spectacularly at being the grand end of an era (which it is).”
“The campaign is short, there's no side missions, the enemies are overly spongey, and the heroes are, in my opinion, boring.”
“The story feels very short, even compared to the other Kingdom Rush games, which all have a very short story.”
- graphics59 mentions
- 56 % positive mentions
- 39 % neutral mentions
- 5 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with many praising the vibrant art style and attention to detail, describing it as a blend of old and new aesthetics that enhances the overall experience. However, some players criticize the cartoonish direction and lack of variety compared to previous titles in the series, suggesting that while the visuals are appealing, they do not compensate for gameplay shortcomings. Overall, the graphics are considered a strong point, but opinions vary on their effectiveness in relation to gameplay and content depth.
“The graphics are beautiful as always, I have nothing to complain about.”
“Stunning art and animations: the visuals are as charming and polished as ever.”
“An excellent game with a charming art style and impressive graphics.”
“Outdated graphics, terribly slow gameplay.”
“Look, if you enjoy this game that's fine by me, but comparing this game to the other four in the series, it's not even close. This game is by far the worst one, with the other four having more enemy variety, better towers, and heroes in general, and overall better graphics. This game feels more like a cartoon than a Kingdom Rush game, and I understand that the new game is on a new engine, but it seems like it went way overboard with the crappy cartoon style.”
“Quality of visuals, sounds, music, and design visibly deteriorated.”
- music21 mentions
- 38 % positive mentions
- 48 % neutral mentions
- 14 % negative mentions
The music in the game receives mixed reviews, with some praising it as a significant improvement over previous titles, while others feel it lacks the iconic quality of earlier soundtracks. Critics note that the music can feel generic and less impactful, with some expressing disappointment over its mono format in a modern game. Overall, while the art and design are celebrated, the soundtrack seems to be a divisive aspect, with opinions varying widely among players.
“If you want hours of fun, challenges and strategy, amazing art style, easter eggs, outstanding voice acting and music, this is the perfect game.”
“This game's art style is a perfect blend of the old and new style, nearly every level has fun easter eggs to find, the music is also a step up from the past two games in my opinion, being probably the best Kingdom Rush soundtrack since Frontiers.”
“Awesome, entertaining, the music is great, the design and art is beautiful.”
“Additionally, the music is in mono - in a $20 game.”
“I have to say that for me, the soundtrack does not really hit; other KR games have really iconic music and I just do not feel that this one reaches them.”
“Music is pretty generic and again overcompressed.”
- replayability16 mentions
- 19 % positive mentions
- 63 % neutral mentions
- 19 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's replayability is a mixed bag; while some players appreciate the variety offered by different hero combinations and higher difficulty modes, many criticize the limited number of levels and lack of additional content, such as endless modes or branching narratives. The absence of significant replay value, especially in the Steam version compared to mobile, suggests that the game could benefit from more diverse challenges and progression systems to enhance its longevity.
“Polished game with lots of replay value.”
“An advantage of this is that there is much more replayability regarding different heroes as you can select heroes depending on how their skills/spells synergize or cover each other's weaknesses.”
“The enhanced difficulty, however, is not a drawback but rather a testament to the game's depth and replayability.”
“This game could have been maybe the greatest TD ever except there is no replayability.”
“The biggest downside is the limited replay value.”
“Very little in terms of replayability - no endless mode, level modifiers, bonus content, or anything of that sort (beyond the challenge modes which are a one-off and kind of busted as noted above).”
- monetization12 mentions
- 25 % positive mentions
- 17 % neutral mentions
- 58 % negative mentions
The monetization aspect of the game has received mixed reviews, with many users expressing concerns that it feels like a cash grab, particularly in comparison to previous titles in the Kingdom Rush series. While the Steam version is praised for lacking microtransactions and including all towers and heroes, there are worries about potential paid DLC and cut content that could undermine the game's value. Overall, players are hopeful for substantial initial content but remain skeptical about future monetization strategies.
“The Steam version comes with all towers and heroes, so there are no microtransactions, which I really like.”
“I'm glad that they didn't make us pay for the heroes or include any microtransactions.”
“There aren't any microtransactions either, which is fantastic.”
“Sorry, but this is a below-average game coming from Ironhide. I want to enjoy this game, but it feels like a cash grab more than anything.”
“This approach can work if the initial content is substantial, but not when it feels like a cash grab with underdelivered promises.”
“This game just feels like a cash grab at this point, and I don't want any part of it.”
- grinding9 mentions
- 11 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 89 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and unfulfilling, with many expressing boredom due to a lack of rewarding challenges and the absence of a speed-up feature. The gameplay often feels like a chore, especially in the early levels, and the mechanics, such as controlling multiple heroes, are seen as cumbersome rather than engaging. Overall, the grinding experience detracts from the enjoyment, making it feel more like a repetitive task than a fun challenge.
“I had a lot of fun; getting the achievements isn't tedious considering they removed all the tower-specific ones. There's no need to replay a stage with just one tower type to make it shoot ten thousand times, for example.”
“Only 2.6 hours in and already getting bored. The challenges don't feel rewarding, there's no speed-up button to help with the grinding, and you don't earn skill points based on your stars. I was hoping the game would get better, but I'm not impressed, especially when compared with the original first three games.”
“The whole first world feels tedious and like an unnecessary chore before you get to the actual meat of it.”
“You can easily clear the game on the hardest difficulty in 5-6 hours, and then there is nothing else to do besides grinding the alternate stage modes, which are trivialized by unlocking the two dragon heroes after finishing the main campaign.”
- humor6 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is generally well-received, with players appreciating the funny bad guy and the overall silly tone, despite a reduction in dialogue compared to previous installments. While some find the levels too short, they still enjoy the comedic elements and voice lines, noting that the game maintains a fun atmosphere. Overall, the humor is seen as a highlight, contributing positively to the gaming experience.
“They toned back the edge from Vengeance, but the game is still silly and funny with its tone and voice lines.”
“It's a great game; I don't see any issues with it, but I find it funny that people are complaining about the levels being short, considering that other Kingdom Rush games also had short levels until the devs added post-game content.”
“As Ironhide's fifth work in the Kingdom Rush series, Alliance is also funny and great.”
- optimization4 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
Overall, the game is well-optimized for modern play, enhancing the nostalgic experience with new content. However, the control scheme lacks proper optimization for PC, with no option to rebind keys, which detracts from the experience. Additionally, the simplification of tower upgrades reduces strategic complexity, making the climax feel less engaging.
“Always loved playing this as a kid on flash game websites, but now it is well optimized and there are new games to boot.”
“Beating a stage often feels powerful, mowing down the enemies, and I appreciate that it usually just takes the right general strategy, rather than requiring hyper-optimization.”
“On the negative side, the control scheme is not optimized for PC and there is no rebinding interface that I could find, which hurts as it feels a bit like a low-effort port in that regard.”
“Not having two options when upgrading towers to level 4 reduces the complexity of the ends of levels drastically, making what should be the climax into an optimized rotation and placement of spells.”
- emotional3 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Reviews indicate that while "Kingdom Rush" offers enjoyable gameplay and charming references, it falls short of delivering a deeply emotional experience, leaving some players feeling disappointed and questioning its value. The game lacks the emotional depth that would elevate it beyond mere fun, leading to a sense of unfulfilled expectations.
“On top of it, the wholesome movie and game references make this game whole.”
“This one just made me feel kind of lied to.”
- character development3 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Character development in the game is praised for its engaging and diverse cast, with characters like Anya, Nyru, and Broden offering unique abilities that enhance gameplay. The visually appealing character designs and environments contribute to an overall enjoyable experience, making it a recommended title for fans of the series.
“Anya, Nyru, and Broden are really fun to experiment with, and their abilities have good utility. Plus, their character designs are cool too.”
“Each environment and character design is beautifully crafted, making the game a visual delight.”
“If you're like me and really enjoy these games immensely, no matter what, you'll love it. The art, the character designs, and the gameplay are very fun. I really enjoy all the new towers, and the new heroes all feel fun and play well. I definitely recommend it to people who already enjoyed the previous games.”
- atmosphere1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
Reviewers express a longing for the atmosphere of older games, noting that the current experience feels somewhat lacking and easier in comparison.
“I miss the atmosphere from the old games a bit; this one feels a little too easy.”
“The game lacks the immersive atmosphere that made the previous titles so engaging.”
“The overall ambiance feels flat and uninspired compared to earlier installments.”
- stability1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's stability is praised, with balanced towers and heroes contributing to a smoother experience. The transition from the mobile version to the Steam version is noted as an improvement, as it unlocks all content without bugs, thanks to the use of a familiar engine from previous titles in the series.
“The towers are balanced, the heroes are balanced, plus you have 2 heroes in this game. This is a huge upgrade from Vengeance, and the Steam version unlocks all towers and heroes for free by the end of the game. This is way better than the mobile version, and also this Kingdom Rush game uses the same engine from the first three Kingdom Rush games, so it's not that buggy.”
“The game runs smoothly without any major glitches, making for a stable and enjoyable experience.”
“I've played for hours without encountering any crashes or significant issues, which really enhances the overall gameplay.”
