The Castle Conqueror series has almost always had players conquering enemies castles, but the new installment now puts tacticians on the defense and have to protect their own castle. Castle Conqueror Defender also hosts a change in genre, instead of playing a real time strategy game, you are now playing a tower defense game. How does this series handle the transition for the installment? Sadly, most of the enjoyment is lost.

Instead of having multiple levels spread out over several worlds, there are ten levels with five waves apiece. Once you complete the main campaign, two additional modes are unlocked, but there isn't much left to do after that if replaying levels in tower defense games aren't your thing. For those unfamiliar with how a tower defense game is played, you are given a brief time to prep your defenses, and then the enemy throws themselves at your walls until they win or are all slaughtered.


At the start of every wave, in which you are always stationed on the right and your enemy on the left, with the option to add more defenses to your castle. Every piece of defense you add costs in game currency, providing ample challenge in balancing your defenses with your budget. However, this becomes easier as you progress through the levels and perfect your strategy, as the same good strategy will work most of the time. This is especially true when it is taken into account that all you have to do is protect one knight and throw everyone else at the invaders.

Control wise, things work, but the controls feel unnatural and clunky. Defender looks similar to previous games in graphic style while distinguishing itself from previous entries by using a more medieval music score.  The story is sloppily told via dialogue and text boxes, not adding anything significant to the overall experience.

Castle Conqueror Defender attempted to try something new to the series, but fell short of expectations. Circle did everything right fundamentally, they just didn't add anything new to the experience a tower defense game provides. If you have an itch that only a tower defense game can scratch, then this a great buy. If not, then this is probably not for you.

Here's to hoping that the inevitable sequel to Defender will add something more than the original.


Review Copy provided by Circle Entertainment