iPhone Games: Crystal Defenders - Vanguard Storm Review
Crystal Defenders was Square-Enix’s first foray onto the iPhone (originally a mobile phone game, it also later appeared as downloadable content for the 360 and Wii, with a PS3 version forthcoming), and was a solid, though unspectacular tower defense game. Their follow-up effort is Vanguard Storm, a game that is far more unique, and ultimately far better than its predecessor. It’s been developed for the iPhone from the ground up, and is currently an iPhone exclusive, at least at the moment.
Where the original was a standard tower defense game seen dozens of times, Vanguard Storm is a completely fresh take on the genre, combining tower defense with a grid-based strategy game akin to Square’s Final Fantasy Tactics series. To keep things fast and furious though, Vanguard Storm runs in real time, forcing you to make quick tactical decisions based on the layout of the approaching hordes and the forces available for your use.
Unlike the typical tower defense game which has a defined path that enemies use to wend their way through the level, with your troops scattered along its route, Vanguard Storm is a grid based game, taking place on an 8X4 playing field. The right half of the field contains your troops, and you cannot advance them beyond the half way point. The enemies advance from the left side of the screen 1 row at a time, with the goal of breaking through your defences and reaching the far right side of the screen (naturally they CAN pass the half way point), in which case you fail the mission.
The grid based setup and play mechanics reminded me very much of the Mega Man Battle Network games on the GBA, which had a similar grid based setup. Each of your troop types, of which there are 8, have varying attack ranges and excel against certain types of enemies while proving ineffective against others. So not only do you have to set your troops up in the correct formation to take advantage of their attack ranges, you also have to ensure they’re attacking the proper enemies.
The touch screen is used to move your troops around, and their attack ranges are shown at all times, making the task of quickly positioning your troops in real-time much easier. A timer counts down on-screen as you carry out your turn, and if it runs out, your troops will be stuck in their current position.
The graphics haven’t seen much of an upgrade from the original, which is somewhat disappointing given it was designed from the ground up for the iPhone, but it does include plenty of snazzy special effects and explosions for attacks, and the characters and enemies animate more than they did in the original.
The music is outstanding and lives up to the high standards that many Square-Enix fans have for the company’s soundtracks. Many of the tracks are remixes from the Final Fantasy Tactics Advance games, and perfectly complement the setting and pace of the game.
Fans of tower defense and strategy are in for a real treat with Vanguard Storm. The game mechanics are superb, and the only thing missing is more. More troops, more enemies, and more maps and missions will only help elevate this game even further. As it is though, this is a challenging and fun game that shouldn’t be missed.
Pros:
- New gameplay mechanics give a much needed boost to the series
- Exceptional music
Cons:
- Could use a little more of everything
Score: 9/10
Price - $4.99