Elf Defense Eng (by Jellyoasis Inc.) [Universal]

[lillumultipass]

Hi guys!

I was wondering how this games compares to Defender Chronicles 2 for instance. I am looking for a TD game with lots of RPG components and I think this one contains some, right?

Thanks!

[Ayjona]

Originally Posted by lillumultipass

Hi guys!

I was wondering how this games compares to Defender Chronicles 2 for instance. I am looking for a TD game with lots of RPG components and I think this one contains some, right?

Thanks!

This is one of the best traditional TDs I've played, almost up there with Kingdom Rush. However, in terms of RPG elements and progression mechanics, Defender Chronicles 2 is so far ahead as to be another genre entirely.

Whereas Elf Defense has persistent upgrades for towers, unlockable special towers and consumables to purchase, Defender Chronicles 2 has thousands (if not more) artifacts and equipment, four different heroes with individual statistics to upgrade, all those special units which are unlocked through medals and achievements, special advantages and units purchased in the in-game shops, all those unlockable difficulty levels which lead to further progression, and other reasons to grind and replay and play the game beyond the last level.

So, in comparison, where Elf Defense is a really nice traditional TD with upgrades, Defender Chronicles 2 is an RPG with tower defense mechanics. Both games are splendid, but for what you are looking for, I think Elf Defense is a few steps too far away on the TD-RPG spectrum.

Kingdom Rush might actually be a better choice, as the persistent upgrades feel a little more RPG-y to me. If you dare head further away from the traditional TD formula, Heroes & Castles and Bug Heroes offer some kinda defense experience (but not really tower defense, in any official meaning of word), but with a greater focus on RPG mechanics.

Then there's always Dungeon Defenders, the now defunct and never quite realized forgotten gem of iOS action-RPG-tower defense. If you can stand all the running around and fighting, there is definitively a VERY good TD with lots and lots and even more RPG components in there. But the iOS version is sadly a very pale shade of the PC version (same basic game, but never received any of the VAST amounts of DLC and upgrades and polish and content), so you'd be better off going desktop for this one.

[syntheticvoid]

hmmm... widescreen support?? maybe... coming...?? maybe... ?? =oP

[C.Hannum]

Originally Posted by lillumultipass

I was wondering how this games compares to Defender Chronicles 2 for instance. I am looking for a TD game with lots of RPG components and I think this one contains some, right?

There is nothing here I would call vaguely RPG. The Defender Chronicles games have the whole story, progressive world map, choice of leaders, persistent gear for leaders, etc.

This game has no story and the only persistent elements are unlocking the super towers and the option of permanently beefing up the normal towers, all of which is accomplished by a metric ton of grinding or IAP.

It is a good TD game (in fact, it's a much better TD game than the DC ones in my opinion), but if it's the cloakings around the game that distinguish the DC games you're looking for, I don't see this fitting the bill.

Although also lacking in much of a story, I'd say Kingdom Rush if you haven't played it already is the much better fit (and the much better TD game anyhow).

[lillumultipass]

Thanks a lot guys for these thorough answers!

I might try Kingdom Rush as well, although I think I recall reading that you couldn't save once playing a level, something which is a pain for a mobile game...

Meanwhile, I have bought DC 2

[Ayjona]

Originally Posted by lillumultipass

I might try Kingdom Rush as well, although I think I recall reading that you couldn't save once playing a level, something which is a pain for a mobile game...

Yeah, and with levels stretching on for sometimes more than 20-30 minutes (and occupying enough memory that on older devices, such as my iPhone 4, answering a phone call will remove the game from its frozen state and zero all level progress), Kingdom Rush is near unplayable under many conditions common to mobile gaming. I've on several occasions tried to convince the devs (discussing the mobile paradigm and how many prefer to game on their iDevices, or at least the conditions under which they often find themselves reaching for their smartphone, and pointing them to the negative reactions to the lack of mid-game saving in Dungelot, a game where sessions can reach similar duration). But they do not feel that this feature is important enough for inclusion, neither in the original Kingdom Rush, nor in the upcoming sequel (though it might be added to Kingdom Rush Frontiers at a later date).

In spite of this, Kingdom Rush is very well worth the asking price and more. Just don't count on it for subway-style burst gaming. For that, Elf Defense might be the traditional TD of choice.

(But do leave a comment in the thread for the upcoming Kingdom Rush Frontiers that you, too, would like to see a level save mechanic, and perhaps we can expedite its inclusion.)