Defense Grid: The Awakening Review

Defense Grid: The Awakening takes tower defense (TD) games to a whole new level. With stellar graphics, an excellent plot line and plenty of levels it will keep you coming back for more. You are the defense grid in charge of defending your power cores against scores of aliens trying to capture and steal them, but first they have to make it past your line of defense.

Basic Concept

You are an advanced computer in charge of defending the power cores. The power cores are what keep you and your assistant, who is also a computer program, powered up so defending the cores is of the utmost importance. Various paths will lead to the location where your power cores are stored and along those paths there will be locations that turrets can be constructed. Later levels include open grids where your turret placement defines the path that the aliens must follow. There is also a storyline that adds depth to the gameplay.

Simple Gameplay

This game is easy to play and includes a tutorial disguised as the first level. The mouse and arrow keys are all you need to play this game. The cursor is fixed in the center of the screen and the camera moves as you move the mouse. Turrets are placed by clicking on an empty turret location.

Variety of Defensive Structures

There are 10 different types of turrets to choose from by the end of the game. The turrets include machine guns, lasers, flamethrowers, anti-air missiles, concussion grenades, magnetic fields that slow the enemy, cannons and more. As you progress through the game more turrets are unlocked as well as upgrades for each turret. Each turret can be upgraded twice for a total of three levels.

A Decent Amount of Levels and Unlockables

There are 20 main levels to play each with their own unique map and path. Also, after each level is beat there are challenges to complete on the maps. There are many achievements that can be unlocked during game play. These are earned by doing things like holding down the fast forward key or upgrading a turret for the first time. Achievements don't give you any advantage, but it is entertaining to try and unlock them all. The levels will have a set number of waves of aliens that will come through trying to capture power cores and return them to their ship. If you lose all your power cores the game is over.

Graphics and Sound

The graphics in Defense Grid are amazing. All the levels are excellently done and well detailed. You have the option of zooming in so close that you can see the detail of each alien. The excellent detail adds to the game since you feel like you are there when you zoom in. When an alien captures a power core, cheering on your turrets won't be unusual. The sound is another bonus to this game. An excellent selection of music and sound effects add to the realism.

No Difficulty Settings

The one minor drawback that stands out, is the lack of difficulty settings. It would increase the playability if it were possible to make the game harder. Starting out easier and increasing difficulty is an okay way of making a game, but if you could make it even harder there would be more incentive to replay the game. The challenges add some amount of difficulty to each level when you go back to complete them.

Conclusion - The Best Tower Defense Game Available

Defense Grid: The Awakening is by far one of the best tower defense games available. With 20 levels and challenges to complete you will be entertained for hours. A tutorial and simple controls let almost anyone play this game. A lack of difficulty settings is more than offset by the number of challenges you will face. If you start playing this game you can be assured that you will soon be hooked.