Dungeon Defenders is a title for the cooperating and thinking gamer. This latest tower defense installment on the Xbox Live Arcade won’t require you to be the fastest, or the strongest, or the player with the best accuracy. In fact, if you’re a lone wolf or the type of player who risks everything for glory, this game is not for you. Dungeon Defenders rewards co-operative teamwork based on methodical strategy, and it is difficult to progress through the stages without this style of play. While this isn’t the most thrilling tower defense game, nor the most polished, there is still a fair amount of fun to be had if you’re playing with the right people.
The story is simple. There are four characters that have distinct classes: the apprentice, the squire, the huntress, and the monk. These are the children of great men and women who long ago put evil forces into magic crystals. However, when the parents leave their children alone in the castle for a period of time, they disturb these crystals. This causes enemies to invade the castle, in order to free the evil from the crystals, because, well, they like evil. The classes must work together to find the best possible way to keep the invading armies from the crystals.
The enemies begin pouring through doors at the borders of the various levels and work their way to the middle of the maps, typically where the crystals can be found. Through the various character classes, barriers, barricades, missile towers, power drainers, and booby-traps. Finding the perfect place to lay these traps and barriers is where the strategy comes into play, and it is quite satisfying experimenting with different placements and bases. From the defense units that are available, there is a nice variety of purposes, however it would have been nice to seen an even greater number of types of defense units. However, what lack in defense bases is made up for in the weapons held by the characters.
There is tons of variety in the characters’ weapons, with countless different types of staffs, swords, bows, and guns. These are all unique as each can be picked up with various types of attributes, with different skill levels applied to these attributes. Picking up weaponry and armor in this game is every loot-whore’s dream come true. I found myself running through the level clicking X as fast as I could in hopes of picking up the good weapons before one of my teammates. Players can sell any items that are inferior to their present equipment, and the profit can be used to upgrade weapons and armor, or purchase weapons, armor, or familiars. Comparing your current equipment with your inventory is made simple, since a thumps up or thumbs down represents the quality of the item compared to the presently equipped item. This makes looting very simple and fun.
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