Okay, before I review the game, let's clarify something:
Base Defense (sometimes also referred to as
Castle Defense) is a genre wherein you control a single base that you protect and upgrade. It is a genre which predates Warcraft 3's popularization of the Tower Defense concept by a fair bit. Between its earlier foundations and its lack of anything but general similarity to the Tower Defense genre, there's little reason to confuse the two genres for one another.
Similar genres are
Tower Defense (where you build towers alongside paths or to form paths) and
Lane Defense (where you build towers or place units within lanes [think Plants v Zombies] ). Much like Point n' Click Adventure games and Hidden Object Games, those two have distinctive traits which separate them from one another (though hybridized games do exist within both pairings), but they also have enough similar, overlapping traits that they actually do have 'cause for being confused for one another (just like how PnC Adventure games and HOGs are often bundled together under "Point 'n Clicks").
The Defender, as a very traditional Base Defense game, has absolutely
none of the key distinguishing traits of the Tower Defense genre. Unfortunately, it's always a bad sign when one has to start a review by pointing out that the developer of the game in question isn't even aware of what genre their game is. Unfortunately, that misgiving proves to be well-founded, as the game itself..
Well, it could be worse. Especially compared to some of the games I've written reviews for, here on Steam. But it's a rudimentary Base Defense that never goes beyond the basics, which has lousy balancing, weak progression, various bugs, some utterly abysmal quality-of-life shortcomings, some dubious design elements, and a lack of any distinguishing appeal.
If the game polished up its interface (not only is it prone to misclicks, but it is designed to punish you for them), added even very basic QoL elements such as [Send Next Wave] and speed toggles, rebalanced itself, and added a bit more depth.. it'd still be an extremely average Base Defense game.
Admittedly, the genre doesn't see too many games, but I feel you'd have to be pretty tolerant for this to be worth scratching your itch. Finally, the game is quite short and quite easy, and its achievements come as a natural part of game progression. As such, the game's achievements are extremely easy to get (though the final one is a post-victory grindfest which'll triple your total playtime).
So this is an easy recommendation for achievement completionists, at least, along with being suitable for anyone who'd be okay with a mind-numbing example of the Base Defense genre and who isn't especially bothered by a lack of polish. Anyone else, uhm.. go load Kongregate. Not only are there countless flash games out there of similar quality, just off-hand I can think of
several farsuperior Base Defense games available on the site.
That said, the game's foundation is decent. It'd probably take more effort than the developer has already invested in total up to this point, but if they're willing to put in the effort, there's room to make a decent game out of this. As it currently is, it wouldn't get a pass even as an EA title.
❀ Final Score ❀
Is This An Idle Game / No, I Guess It Would Be More Stimulating If It Were An Idle Game
(2.25/5)
- - -
(Also, noting the game's other tags, this game shouldn't really be considered a Clicker, either.
Yes, it has clicking elements, but so do
most games. You can hold down your mouse button to fire arrows in this game (the sole action you can take other than purchasing upgrades and collecting resources), but that's rather different from a Clicker game, where you directly click on enemies, powers, buildings, etc, to achieve progression or support idle functions.
Though, admittedly, the resource gathering in this game is done a bit similar to that, but I found you can mostly just idle that part of the game anyway. And thank goodness for that, because it's rather annoyingly done.
I'm also hesitant about the Strategy, Action, and Shooter tags the game currently has, as the game has no strategic elements whatsoever (aside from its having upgrades, but that's a component familiar to many genres, notably RPGs).
Even in tactical considerations, you're limited to swapping between dps and movement-slowing arrows and mindlessly repeat-activating your two spells. This game is
not complex. Off that fact, along with the lack of any control over wave timing and the game's inherent ease, the "Action" is rather narrow and easily ignored.
Finally, Shooter implies mobility and responsiveness, rather than just taping down a fire button and walking out of the room.
Honestly, if this game actually lived up to even a few of its tags, it probably would've managed a much better review.)
