 3D mobile gaming is expanding by leaps and bounds thanks to the Iphone and its open SDK. The only problem with this is that some fine games from smaller developers may get buried in the avalanche of apps being released in the app store. Hopefully this won’t happen to TowerMadness from Limbic as this is a refreshing and innovative slant on the tower defense genre. Whereas most tower defense games are locked to a top-down or ¾ perspective, TowerMadness can be played from any perspective including down on the ground alongside your canons and guns adding greatly to your immersion in this action/strategy fun-fest. You zoom the 3D camera downward by spreading your fingers on the screen and then move side to side across the field by swiping left or right and forward and back by up and down. The objective, reminiscent of cattle mutilation, is to protect ten sheep from an invasion of aliens who are beamed down by spaceships on the far side of an open field.
  
While it is possible to set your towers while on the ground, for strategic purposes it’s more advantageous to use the zoomed out top-down view which might make the 3D camera seem superfluous. But there’s more to TowerMadness than meets the eye. After you finish a round TM saves your game and lets you view the replay from any angle using the full capabilities of the 3D camera. You can also control the speed of the replay or pause wherever you choose. Better yet, you’re able to view the best online scores and replays and watch the strategy of other top players in 3D action. Which, of course, could be you!
  
The graphics, though somewhat blocky and bland, are sharp at any viewing angle and capture a light-hearted feel as you defend your flock. The towers have good detail up close and nice weapon effects from the rail guns, laser canons, guided missiles, plasmatrons and electroshock towers.
There are 16 different types of aliens and 9 towers in 3 categories; energy, explosive and lightning each with 5 upgrades. Their stats (damage, cost, build time etc.) are all spelled out in a “towerpedia”. While there are only four different maps for easy, medium, hard and madness, Limbic has already released a free extreme sandbox add-on so it appears TowerMadness could be well supported as this is Limbic‘s debut title. You don’t download add-ons through the app store but in-game through the TM website. There are tons of weapon sound effects along with funny alien death grunts in spatialized sound but no in-game music which would seem to be a natural for this title and add a lot to the festivities. Strangely, the game only plays in portrait mode.
  
Rather than follow the well-worn path of other tower defense games, TowerMadness offers a new angle to a genre that could use a shot in the arm by giving it a 3rd dimension. Although short on maps, it comes in at a nice price point which has just been lowered and I’m expecting add-on maps to bring this unique title up to a solid 4 stars.
reviewed by goyami - Iphone |