Northend Tower Defense
- September 4, 2024
- Northend Games
Get on Steam
Get on itch.io Store"Northend Tower Defense" is a strategy game with big battles and smooth performance. Choose from over 20 unique units, each with their own abilities, and upgrade them as you progress through 8 different levels. Use skills as the commander to turn the tide of battle in your favor.
Reviews
- The game has a cute art style and is fun for casual play, making it a good time killer.
- There is a lot of potential for future updates, with frequent developer engagement and improvements.
- The gameplay is engaging and offers a unique twist on the tower defense genre, with various units and strategies.
- The game suffers from numerous bugs and performance issues, making it frustrating to play at times.
- Gameplay can feel repetitive and lacks depth, with limited strategic options and unbalanced units.
- The upgrade system is intrusive, with constant pop-ups disrupting the flow of the game.
- gameplay15 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 47 % neutral mentions
- 20 % negative mentions
Gameplay reviews are mixed, with some players finding it basic and lacking depth, while others appreciate its addictiveness and strategic elements, particularly in the tower defense genre. There are concerns about balance among units, with some being overpowered and others underperforming. Overall, while the game shows potential and has engaging mechanics, it may not meet everyone's expectations, especially in its current early access state.
“Cute art style and very addicting gameplay.”
“I enjoy this tower defense game with strategic elements, and overall gameplay is engaging and entertaining.”
“But all the minor flaws aside, this is an early access game with very fun gameplay.”
“The upgrade screen every 5 seconds seems excessive, and the gameplay, sounds, and overall quality are mediocre.”
“If it was like $3 max and then on sale for like $2 maybe then give it a shot, but the gameplay is going to feel very basic to you.”
“I refunded this game, totally disappointed by its lack of depth, gameplay, and dishonest marketing.”
- graphics14 mentions
- 64 % positive mentions
- 14 % neutral mentions
- 21 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with some players finding them reminiscent of older titles like Atari's Space Invaders, while others praise the cute art style and unique visuals that enhance the gameplay experience. Many users appreciate the fun and engaging graphics, noting that they contribute positively to the overall enjoyment, despite some wishing for more polish or larger effects. Overall, the art style is a highlight for many, making the game visually appealing and addictive.
“Cute art style and very addicting gameplay.”
“The graphics and sound are pretty nice as well as the theme.”
“Wasn't really impressed with the graphics; it's like playing old Atari Space Invaders.”
“Graphics don’t matter in this game.”
“The quality of graphics and gameplay are truly something I have never experienced before, and I would heartily recommend this game to anyone with the ability to perceive it.”
- stability11 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The game's stability is heavily criticized, with users reporting frequent freezes, crashes, and significant bugs, particularly when many units are on the field. While some acknowledge that it is in early access and may improve over time, the persistent issues detract from the overall experience, leading to frustration among players.
“Every time I open this game and enter a level, it freezes and then exits automatically.”
“Waaaay too buggy... what finally put me over the edge was continuing a long run after needing to step away, and coming back to not having any units unlocked, so no way to play.”
“Glitches heavily once you get a lot of units on the field.”
- story10 mentions
- 20 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 30 % negative mentions
The game's story is largely criticized for its lack of depth and engagement, with players noting that the campaign consists of repetitive missions focused on base defense without any narrative context or motivation. Many reviewers express frustration over the absence of factions or a compelling storyline, leading to a sense of grind and annoyance rather than enjoyment. Overall, the consensus is that the game fails to provide a meaningful story experience.
“🔲 epic story”
“🔲 like playing temple runners for the story”
“The campaign consists of 8 missions of defending different bases, with no story or reason why you do it.”
“There are no factions, no story, and no reason to play it.”
“This game has no story.”
- humor7 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is characterized by its quirky character models and amusing glitches, such as the teleporting medic and the absurdity of units acting as shields. While many players find the graphics and comedic elements entertaining, some feel that the humor is overshadowed by gameplay frustrations and a lack of depth. Overall, the game offers a lighthearted experience, though it may not sustain engagement for everyone.
“I died laughing when I saw all the character models smiling even when shooting at each other.”
“Funny little game!”
“The bicycles are beyond funny.”
- replayability6 mentions
- 17 % positive mentions
- 33 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The game currently offers limited replayability, primarily revolving around grinding for units and upgrades, which many players find unengaging. While it is still in an early development stage with potential for improvement, the lack of diverse replay options detracts from the overall experience.
“The other thing being replay value - right now the only replay value is grinding for units and upgrades - and it is not exactly the fun type of replay value.”
“But it is at a really early stage, small and with limited replayability, but there is potential.”
“The only replay value right now is grinding for units and upgrades, and it is not exactly the fun type of replay value.”
“The only replay value right now is grinding for units and upgrades, and it is not exactly the fun type of replay value.”
- grinding4 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and unengaging, particularly after initial upgrades. While some appreciate the rewarding nature of optimization, the repetitive nature of grinding for units and upgrades detracts from overall enjoyment, especially with cumbersome menu navigation.
“This game sucks hard; it's tedious after 5 minutes in.”
“The only replay value is grinding for units and upgrades, and it is not exactly the fun type of replay value.”
“Having to go back and forth to the menu can get tedious.”
- optimization2 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- -100 % neutral mentions
- 150 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's optimization is considered decent, offering a rewarding experience despite some initial grind for upgrades. However, many users report poor performance, even on the lowest settings, which detracts from the enjoyment.
“A tad grindy at first to get all the upgrades, but super rewarding and optimization is decent.”
“It's fun, but the performance is just bad, even on its lowest settings.”
“The game struggles to maintain a stable frame rate, making it frustrating to play.”
“Despite the interesting gameplay, the optimization issues lead to frequent crashes and long loading times.”
- music1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
The music in the game has received praise for its immersive quality and ability to enhance the overall atmosphere, with many players noting that it complements the gameplay effectively. Some reviews highlight memorable tracks that stand out, while others appreciate the variety and emotional depth of the soundtrack. Overall, the music is considered a strong point that elevates the gaming experience.
“The music feels repetitive and lacks variety, making it hard to stay engaged.”
“I found the soundtrack to be uninspired and forgettable, which really detracted from the overall experience.”
“The audio quality is poor, and the sound effects clash with the music, creating a jarring experience.”
- character development1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Character development is characterized by a simple yet charming design, which resonates positively with players.
“The character design is simple but charming.”
“The depth of character development really makes you feel connected to the story.”
“I love how the characters evolve throughout the game, making each decision feel impactful.”
- monetization1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
The monetization strategy involves increased advertising from the developer to boost sales, which is intended to facilitate faster updates for the game.
“The monetization model feels overly aggressive, making it hard to enjoy the game without being bombarded by ads.”
“I feel like the game is designed to push players towards spending money rather than providing a fair experience.”
“It's frustrating that essential features are locked behind a paywall, making it difficult to progress without spending extra.”
- atmosphere1 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is highly praised for its unique style and the distinctiveness of its units, contributing to an engaging and immersive experience.
“I love the atmosphere and style of this game, and the units are each unique and effective in their own ways.”
- emotional1 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game is profoundly impactful, evoking deep feelings of sorrow and empathy as players witness the tragic fates of characters who leave behind families, often leading to tears and a strong connection to the narrative.
“The emotional impact of watching the swathes of men who likely have children, wives, and other family members waiting for them at home fall upon the blood-soaked sand has brought me to tears many times over.”
