Mainframe Defenders
- February 25, 2020
- Synthetic Domain
- 75h median play time
Get on Steam
Get on itch.io Store"Mainframe Defenders" is a tower defense game set in a digital world. Protect the mainframe by strategically placing an array of towers and abilities to fend off relentless waves of cyber enemies. With upgrades, power-ups, and various difficulty modes, players must adapt and evolve their strategies to safeguard the mainframe in this synthetic domain.
Nintendo Switch
PC
Playstation 4
Windows
Xbox One
Linux
PlayStation
Xbox
Reviews
- Engaging turn-based tactical gameplay with a variety of mechs and customization options.
- Deep strategic elements with meaningful choices regarding unit upgrades and equipment.
- Retro graphics and a catchy soundtrack that enhance the overall experience.
- Repetitive mission types and a lack of variety in gameplay can lead to monotony.
- User interface and readability issues can make it difficult to track unit stats and effects.
- Some players may find the difficulty spikes frustrating, especially in later missions.
- story148 mentions
- 16 % positive mentions
- 78 % neutral mentions
- 5 % negative mentions
The game's story is minimal and often feels secondary to the gameplay, with many players noting a lack of depth and variety in mission types. While the missions are designed to be quick and engaging, they can become repetitive, and the narrative elements are often overshadowed by gameplay mechanics. Overall, players express a desire for a more compelling storyline and greater mission diversity to enhance the experience.
“The story of this game begins with the penetration of the virus into the research complex 'Stargazer'.”
“A fascinating tactical game with unusual graphics, a variety of loot, and interesting missions!”
“The campaign features a wide variety of missions.”
“There are no random events or random encounters, so missions of the same type can seem monotonous.”
“The story bit is not even needed, as the objectives tell you what you need to do at the start, though for some reason, they only tell you part 1 of the objective, and not that you’ll have to kill all the enemy bots anyway.”
“The game has, in the couple of hours I played it, like five mission types it repeats endlessly, and even random level generation doesn't really make them different except keeping you guessing which direction the objective is in.”
- gameplay121 mentions
- 48 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 2 % negative mentions
The gameplay is characterized by deep, turn-based tactical mechanics that offer a satisfying blend of strategy and customization, particularly through mech upgrades and equipment choices. While the interface can be somewhat obtuse and the enemy variety limited, many players find the gameplay addictive and rewarding, especially as they learn to navigate its complexities. Overall, it provides a compelling experience for fans of the genre, despite some criticisms regarding repetitiveness and UI design.
“The gameplay is surprisingly complex, despite the simplicity of its mechanics.”
“Great mix of tactical and roguelite gameplay.”
“The gameplay is fun, and I enjoy, greatly, that the devs have set up such an array of items where synergy is almost everywhere.”
“I found the gameplay to be a bit on the repetitive side in terms of player/foe movement and combat options, which aren't too different from what you can expect from other turn-based strategy games on the market.”
“Difficult to read text combined with gameplay that mostly consists of comparing numbers added to the general frustration I had at not really understanding what was going on.”
“There are about 4 mission types and grinding them becomes boring after a lot of gameplay.”
- graphics121 mentions
- 41 % positive mentions
- 54 % neutral mentions
- 5 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are predominantly described as retro pixel art, which elicits mixed reactions from players. While some appreciate the nostalgic aesthetic and find it charming, others criticize it for being simplistic and visually unappealing, leading to eyestrain and confusion. Overall, the visuals are seen as a love-it-or-hate-it aspect, with many players suggesting that the engaging gameplay compensates for the lackluster graphics.
“The graphics are in a style that's unique but somehow nostalgic to me.”
“The retro graphics are pleasing to the eye, and the soundtrack is fun too.”
“Its visuals are stellar, if you're into the retro style, with plenty of very satisfying little animations and effects.”
“The graphics are so bad and lame this is impossible to get into, but it does look like there's some welcome depth in the game design, level design, and different unit types and so on.”
“A choice was made to use obsolete, decades-old retro pixel 'art' as a substitute for contemporary PC graphics.”
“While there are options to change the resolution for the game, all this does is scale up the simplistic 2D art assets used to make the game, which makes little or no difference to the graphics quality.”
- music78 mentions
- 67 % positive mentions
- 29 % neutral mentions
- 4 % negative mentions
The music in the game has received widespread acclaim, with many players praising its catchy and engaging soundtrack, often described as fitting well with the retro aesthetic. While some noted that the tracks can feel repetitive and could benefit from better looping, the overall sentiment is that the music enhances the gameplay experience significantly. Many players expressed a desire for the soundtrack to be available as a downloadable content option, highlighting its quality and appeal.
“The music is so fitting for the game, it's hard not to love it.”
“Excellent synthwave soundtrack fits the retrofuturist aesthetic and the various screen filters turn anyone's 2k monitor into a buzzing CRT screen from the early 80s.”
“The game has great music - really love it!!!”
“The graphic is bad, the music is bad and the fighting animations are boring.”
“Music is cool, but super repetitive.”
“It definitely feels a little unpolished and low budget in some areas - e.g. the way music tracks end and repeat instead of cleanly looping.”
- replayability23 mentions
- 39 % positive mentions
- 48 % neutral mentions
- 13 % negative mentions
The game's replayability is a mixed bag, with some players praising its high replay value due to unlockable content, varied strategies, and customization options, while others find it limited, often resorting to the same builds and strategies. Many appreciate the tactical depth and the potential for new experiences with each run, but some feel that the overall content may not sustain long-term engagement. Overall, it seems to offer a decent level of replayability, particularly for fans of the roguelite genre.
“Great replayability with new unlocks and different builds.”
“To me this is perfection in rogue-like games and makes this one highly replayable.”
“It took me 5-6 hours to finish the first playthrough, but this is a roguelike, so when a playthrough ends you unlock new stuff (new mechs, new items), so it has a lot of replayability.”
“Just don't expect much replayability; I found myself running the same builds and strategies.”
“The game has a lack of content and low replay value.”
“Not a game I can recommend; it was too easy and doesn't have much replayability.”
- atmosphere10 mentions
- 70 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 30 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is widely praised for its nostalgic 1980s vibe, enhanced by a captivating soundtrack and unique visuals. While many players appreciate the moody and immersive experience, some note that the repetition and ease of gameplay can detract from the overall impact. Overall, the atmosphere is considered a standout feature, contributing significantly to the game's charm.
“Loved the atmosphere it creates.”
“I am pleasantly surprised by this atmosphere of the 80s and this music.”
“Even the music is chosen perfectly and harmonizes with the atmosphere of the game.”
“Like the overall atmosphere of the game, but the repetition is a big letdown for me.”
“Having bought this game once, you will get a whole bunch of positive emotions; you will be able to remember the atmosphere of the games of the 1980s.”
“Small in scale, big in atmosphere.”
- grinding5 mentions
- 60 % positive mentions
- -40 % neutral mentions
- 80 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious, particularly due to the limited variety in mission types, which can lead to boredom over time. However, the absence of filler dialogue and excessive micromanagement is appreciated, as it allows for meaningful choices without overwhelming players with trivial tasks.
“No filler dialogue, no tedious experience last hit management, no worrying about what color your units' offspring's hair will be.”
“The grinding feels rewarding, as every effort contributes to meaningful progress in the game.”
“I appreciate how the grind is balanced; it never feels like a chore, but rather an engaging part of the gameplay.”
“I'm sorry, but even the tutorial is tedious.”
“There are about 4 mission types, and grinding them becomes boring after a lot of gameplay.”
“Although it will get grindy for gameplay and replay value.”
- monetization4 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The monetization aspect of the game has received criticism for featuring persistent advertisements in a paid title, which many users feel is inappropriate. Additionally, concerns have been raised about the presence of fake reviews and potential scams associated with the game's promotion, further detracting from the overall experience.
“Though a little disappointed to see an advertisement on the lower left corner of the home screen.”
“Games you pay for should not have advertisements... remove that and I'd definitely recommend.”
“Permanent ads in a paid game.”
- emotional3 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game successfully evokes a strong sense of nostalgia through its retro graphics and 2D design, resonating deeply with players' childhood memories and creating an emotionally touching experience.
“A strategy game that evokes a touching nostalgia.”
“This game reminded me of my childhood; the pixel and 2D graphics made me feel nostalgic.”
“Retro graphics made me feel nostalgic.”
- stability2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Overall, user experiences with stability are mixed; while some players report a smooth experience without glitches or crashes, others note that the game is somewhat buggy in its current state.
“Kinda buggy in its current state.”
- humor1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Players find the game's humor to be exceptionally entertaining, particularly for those who appreciate its specific tactical and strategic elements.
“If you are into a certain type of tactics and strategy, this game is hilariously good.”
“The humor in this game is so clever that it keeps you laughing even during intense moments.”
“I love how the game balances serious gameplay with absurdly funny dialogue and situations.”
- character development1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Character development begins with engaging potential, but players often find that it becomes stagnant as they max out abilities early in the campaign, leading to a lack of further progression or desire for growth.
“The character development is incredibly deep, allowing players to truly shape their heroes' personalities and skills throughout the journey.”
“I love how the choices I make impact my character's growth, making each decision feel meaningful and rewarding.”
“The progression system is well-balanced, providing a satisfying sense of achievement as I unlock new abilities and traits for my character.”
- optimization1 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Players find the gameplay enjoyable, highlighting that effective optimization of mechanics such as critical damage and status effect procs significantly enhances the experience.
“Overall, the gameplay is very enjoyable once you understand the basics; there is a lot of optimization involved with the mechanics like critical damage and status effect procs.”
