Written by Anthony L. Cuaycong
Title: Evil Defenders
Developer: Crazy Panda
Publisher: Crazy Panda
Genre: Strategy
Price: $9.99
Also Available On: Android, iOS, Steam
As the title of developer Crazy Panda’s entry to the tower-defense genre suggests, Evil Defenders tries to distinguish itself from its teeming competition by placing gamers on the side of the industry’s usual enemies. The aim to be different manifests itself in the narrative, which — as told through cutscenes featuring still images — begins with a bar fight among humans and sets up their quest for riches by invading a neighboring kingdom inhabited by forces of darkness. The mobile roots are obvious, as there is little by way of exposition. On the flipside, the Nintendo Switch port requires no microtransactions typical of small-screen offerings; all the content is available from the get-go.
In this regard, Evil Defenders succeeds in delivering the goods. There are 90 levels all told spread across 15 mission maps, and gamers will be spending not inconsiderable time going for and implementing countless upgrades on up to 60 towers on tap. For the purpose, currencies in the form of souls are collected from vanquished humans and upon completion of stages. And, make no mistake, upping stats and acquiring special attacks are a requisite to keep the hordes of attackers at bay. The skill trees are complex, if rewarding, and imbue a sense of accomplishment that engender continued playing.
The action can be frenetic, with the pace of proceedings underscored further by commanding music. Thankfully, Evil Defenders implements touchscreen controls well. As a matter of preference, gamers can instead opt for Joy-Cons or the Pro Controller, and with equal efficiency; there is a learning curve, through, as the analog sticks can prove too sensitive for comfort. In any case, the bottom line is the same: hours upon hours of intense, edge-of-seat gaming, where the historically wrong side is portrayed as the right side — and, with the right moves, the winning side.
THE GOOD
- Gorgeous graphics belying its mobile roots
- Smooth gameplay
- Complex skill trees that engender high replay value
- No microtransactions
THE BAD
- Story an afterthought
- Rapid difficulty spikes
- Ambient sounds could be better
RATING: 8/10
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