Kingdom Rush 5: Alliance TD
- July 25, 2024
- Ironhide Game Studio
- 6h 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.
Mac OS
PC
Windows
Reviews
- The artwork and animation are stunning, showcasing high-quality visuals.
- The introduction of two heroes adds a new layer of strategy and gameplay depth.
- The game maintains the charm and humor of the previous Kingdom Rush titles, with plenty of references and easter eggs.
- The campaign is significantly shorter than previous entries, with only 16 levels and no additional post-game content.
- Many players feel the game lacks innovation, with towers and heroes feeling recycled from earlier titles.
- The difficulty level is inconsistent, with some levels being too easy and the final boss being underwhelming.
- gameplay181 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 61 % neutral mentions
- 6 % negative mentions
The gameplay in "Kingdom Rush 5: Alliance" is a blend of familiar mechanics and new features, such as the dual hero system, which adds strategic depth and variety. While many players appreciate the engaging tower defense mechanics and the increased difficulty, some criticize the game for lacking innovation and having a short campaign. Overall, the gameplay is polished and enjoyable, though it may feel repetitive for those seeking significant changes from previous installments.
“The gameplay is incredibly engaging, with a perfect blend of strategy and action that keeps you hooked for hours.”
“The addition of the 'alliance' brings a fresh dynamic to the game, allowing for more diverse and strategic gameplay.”
“The strategic depth and variety in towers and heroes keep the gameplay exciting and challenging.”
“Easier levels in the beginning lure you in and then the gameplay just nukes you.”
“Clear challenges are now devoid of purpose for the gameplay loop.”
“The maps were annoying to play because of the 'eye' mechanic of the maps, healing and buffing the enemy units.”
- story109 mentions
- 20 % positive mentions
- 76 % neutral mentions
- 4 % negative mentions
The story in the game has received mixed reviews, with many players appreciating its engaging narrative and character interactions, while others criticize its brevity and lack of depth compared to previous installments. Although the storyline is considered solid and entertaining, many users express disappointment over its short campaign length and the absence of additional content or side missions post-completion. Overall, while the story adds enjoyment to the gameplay, players hope for more substantial future updates to expand the narrative experience.
“The story this time around is both thrilling and nostalgic.”
“The game continues to throw surprises at you; it has probably the best 'story' in the series, with more comics than usual that provide some interesting character interactions.”
“Overall, I love it, simply because it's Kingdom Rush, really cool graphics and design, cool story and characters, good music and so on.”
“Not much is 'new' aside from that, to be honest, aside from the new alien-looking enemies and the continuation of a story that I don't really bother much with, lmao.”
“The story feels very short, even compared to the other Kingdom Rush games, which all have a very short story.”
“The campaign is short, there's no side missions, the enemy mobs are overly spongey, and the heroes are, in my opinion, boring.”
- graphics72 mentions
- 53 % positive mentions
- 43 % neutral mentions
- 4 % negative mentions
The graphics in the latest Kingdom Rush installment are widely praised for their vibrant, cartoonish art style and attention to detail, blending elements from previous games while introducing new features. However, some players note a slight downgrade in visual quality compared to earlier entries, with criticisms aimed at the lack of variety in tower options and overall content. Despite these concerns, the game's stunning visuals and immersive design continue to be a highlight, contributing to an engaging gameplay experience.
“The artwork is amazing and quality work.”
“The graphics and sound design are top-notch, creating an immersive experience that draws you into the world of Kingdom Rush.”
“Stunning art and animations: the visuals are as charming and polished as ever.”
“Outdated graphics, terribly slow gameplay.”
“Look, if you enjoy this game that is 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 cartoon style.”
“Quality of visuals, sounds, music, and design visibly deteriorated.”
- music32 mentions
- 34 % positive mentions
- 56 % neutral mentions
- 9 % negative mentions
The music in the game receives mixed reviews, with many praising it as phenomenal and a significant improvement over previous titles, enhancing the immersive experience. However, some players feel it lacks the iconic quality of earlier Kingdom Rush games, describing it as generic or less powerful. Overall, while the soundtrack is appreciated by many, there are notable criticisms regarding its impact and fittingness within the game.
“This game's music, sound effects, and voice acting are very good and make the game more immersive.”
“The music in this game is just phenomenal.”
“It's probably my favorite out of all the Kingdom Rush games; all the music in all the levels really fit their respective areas.”
“I have to say that for me, the soundtrack does not really hit; other Kingdom Rush games have really iconic music and I just do not feel that this one reaches them.”
“Music is pretty generic and again overcompressed.”
“My main complaint is about the music.”
- replayability22 mentions
- 14 % positive mentions
- 73 % neutral mentions
- 14 % negative mentions
The game's replayability is a mixed bag; while it offers multiple tower and hero combinations that encourage experimentation, many players feel it lacks sufficient levels and variety to sustain long-term engagement. Some appreciate the challenge of replaying levels on higher difficulties, but others criticize the limited content and specific strategies required for certain maps, which can diminish replay value. Overall, while there are elements that enhance replayability, such as different heroes and difficulty settings, many reviewers suggest that the game could benefit from additional content and features to truly maximize its replay potential.
“The multiple tower choices in this game give it a lot 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.”
“- With multiple difficulty levels and countless strategies to explore, the game offers significant 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).”
- monetization14 mentions
- 21 % positive mentions
- 21 % neutral mentions
- 57 % negative mentions
The monetization aspect of the game has received mixed reviews, with players appreciating the absence of microtransactions in the Steam version, which provides full access to all heroes and towers. However, there are concerns that the game feels like a cash grab, especially with hints of cut content and potential paid DLC, leading to skepticism about the game's long-term value and integrity. Overall, while the lack of microtransactions is praised, many players fear the game may devolve into a monetization scheme similar to other mobile titles.
“The Steam version comes with all towers and heroes, so there are no microtransactions, which I really like.”
“Glad that they didn't make us pay for the heroes or 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.”
- grinding10 mentions
- 10 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 90 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and unfulfilling, often leading to boredom due to a lack of rewarding challenges and the absence of quality-of-life features like a speed-up button. Many feel that the gameplay becomes repetitive, especially with the need to manage multiple defense points and the overwhelming nature of certain enemy waves, detracting from the overall enjoyment. Overall, the grinding experience is seen as a chore rather than an engaging part of the game.
“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 I'm 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 the game.”
“Some of the waves really are tedious; it's a shame when the last wave in a level consists of 20 acolytes or spiders, making it feel anticlimactic and boring.”
- humor8 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in "Kingdom Rush: Alliance" is characterized by its abundance of pop culture references, funny animations, and a lighthearted tone, although some players noted a reduction in dialogue compared to previous titles. While the game maintains a silly atmosphere and includes humorous easter eggs, some players found the levels too short and expressed mixed feelings about certain gameplay elements, such as the prevalence of flying enemies. Overall, the humor is well-received, contributing to the game's fun and engaging experience.
“Like all of the Kingdom Rush games, Alliance is fun and full of lots of pop culture references and funny animations.”
“They toned back the edge from Vengeance, but the game is still silly and funny with its tone and voice lines.”
“The game is packed with humorous easter eggs, offering a delightful nod to fans and newcomers alike.”
- optimization5 mentions
- 40 % positive mentions
- 20 % neutral mentions
- 40 % negative mentions
Overall, the game is well-optimized for performance, enhancing the nostalgic experience for players. However, the control scheme lacks optimization for PC, with no option for key rebinding, which detracts from the overall experience. Additionally, the limited upgrade options for towers reduce strategic complexity, making the gameplay feel less engaging during critical moments.
“I find most people who look at Kingdom Rush games want to know how good the gameplay is, and I'll give Alliance a lot of points for the performance here.”
“Always loved playing this as a kid on flash game websites, but now it is well optimized and there are new games to boot.”
“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 underwhelmed and misled about its value.
“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 highlighted by the engaging abilities and appealing designs of characters like Anya, Nyru, and Broden, which enhance gameplay and provide good utility. The beautifully crafted environments and character designs contribute to a visually delightful experience, making the game enjoyable for fans of the series. Overall, players appreciate the fun and well-balanced new heroes and towers, recommending it to those who enjoyed previous installments.
“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.”
- atmosphere2 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- -50 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of "Origins" in the Kingdom Rush series is praised for its unique setting, which, while different from the traditional medieval fantasy, still resonates with players. However, some fans express nostalgia for the ambiance of earlier games and note that the overall experience feels somewhat easier.
“Origins is my favorite Kingdom Rush game due to the atmosphere and setting. Despite having a different setting, the alliance oddly satisfies me a lot here, even though it isn't in a more medieval fantasy context.”
“I miss the atmosphere from the old games a bit, and this feels a little easy.”
“Origins is my favorite Kingdom Rush game due to the atmosphere and setting, despite having a different setting. The alliance oddly satisfies me a lot here, even though it is not in a more medieval fantasy setting.”
- stability1 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's stability is praised, with balanced towers and heroes contributing to a smoother experience. The use of a familiar engine from previous titles minimizes bugs, and the Steam version enhances stability by unlocking all content for free, making it a significant improvement over the mobile version.
“The towers are balanced, the heroes are balanced, and the game offers a significant upgrade from Vengeance. The Steam version unlocks all towers and heroes for free by the end of the game, making it far superior to the mobile version. Additionally, this Kingdom Rush game uses the same engine as the first three Kingdom Rush games, so it's not that buggy.”
