XBLA Review: "Dungeon Defenders"

Publisher: Reverb Communications

Developer: Trendy Entertainment

Release Date: October 19, 2011 (USA)

Premise:

Dungeon Defenders is an RPG/Tower Defense game where you play as many different child characters who are defending their homeland from the invading monsters while their parents are out in the world fighting monsters themselves.

Gameplay: 

Dungeon Defenders blends the RPG elements with a heavy emphasis on Tower Defense. You choose from a bunch of different characters, such as a Mage, a Knight, an Archer, etc. that each have their own unique attacks and defenses they can build. You can choose to attack the incoming monsters with your character using their primary attack, or you can use Mana points to build Defenses, which is the core of the game.

There are several different defenses that each character can make and in-between each wave you have unlimited time to build defenses. To build defenses you must collect Mana Crystals that are dropped from every enemy that you kill, as well as inside chests that reappear at the end of every round. You can also hot-swap between characters during the building phase to put out traps from every character, but there is a limit to the number of Towers you can build so you have to plan your strategy.

There is also a leveling up aspect of the game that gives you the ability to level up your character by gaining XP and earning Skill Points when you reach the next level. These skill points can be put into making your attacks stronger, your defenses better, giving you more health and much more. There is also a loot system in place; sometimes enemies will drop weapons and armor that you can equip or buy and sell at the store that you visit between missions.

Graphics:

The graphics in Dungeon Defenders are mostly on the cartoony-side, though that isn't a bad thing. The environments make you feel like you're in a toy chest playing with different toys. The models of the characters are nicely done and what they lack in detail they make-up for in execution. The visual effects of the defenses attacking and the magic around you bring a certain sense of vibrancy to the game. 

Sound:

There's all sorts of different sounds in the game, though there's very little music. Each defense has its own unique sounds and the characters make varying sounds of accomplishment as you progress in the game.

Length:

Dungeon Defenders has several different levels you play in, as well as additional game modes to increase the replay value. After completing a level in the Story Mode, you can replay the level in a new Challenge mode. These challenge modes vary in their modeling; some of them involve beating the level without building a single defense and others have it where you can only use defenses and cannot attack with your character.

You can customize the challenges a little bit by adding or removing certain features which can further extend the gameplay. There are several hours of gameplay to be had here, easily over 10 hours, just from playing the levels and going back to try and beat the challenges put forth.

Value:

Dungeon Defenders is a very fun game, and it only becomes more fun when you play Co-Op with other people. The fact that the game does not tend to get repetitive-feeling enables you to replay the game over and over and still feel satisfied. Because of this I would say this game is worth the full price on the Xbox Live Arcade.

Purchase: Microsoft Xbox LIVE 1600 Marketplace Points