Aegis Defenders

Enjoyable game. You start off with 2 playable characters, which you can switch based off the need, and eventually build up to 4. When not in use the other characters follow you around or you can make them stationary where they will hold buttons down, attack nearby enemies or operate certain objects. Each level is divided into 2 parts, for most levels. The first part is platforming where you go around solving puzzles, collecting hidden relics and killing enemies on the way to your end goal. The second part is the tower defense part. Before starting you get a chance to explore around your area that you have to defend, most times, and possibly get some collectibles. You trigger the start of the waves. The waves are split into 2 phases, the build phase where you collect resources and build your defenses where it is timed, and the combat phase where you hold off against the enemy waves trying to get to the center. You will know where the enemies will come from and have an idea of enemy composition based off the color of the "smoke" from the enemy spawn point. You can also take an active role with your characters by actively attacking the enemies and placing your other characters to protect a zone and have the AI take over (creating a "free" turret at times). In between levels there is a hub area where you buy upgrades for your weapons and towers along with saving the game and sometimes getting some plot (there are also some special guests later on). Overall I enjoyed the game and also the story. I played it twice, mainly to get the achievements, and liked going through the story both times. You find out more of the backstory of the world between levels, and even though it didn't go to far into the world building, it was enough to get a good idea about the world and the events that are going on as you make your way through the levels. The music is also catchy and enjoyable, the upbeat music when finding out about Clu's background put a smile on my face and on the flip side the somber music during some of the more darker moments emphasized the severity of the situation. The one caveat, that others also have, is that the game seems to be mainly designed for the co-op part of it. You can play the game solo, which is what I did, but it gets harder to manage all the defenses against the enemies since the AI characters can't move once you place them somewhere and will only trigger attacks or repairs if the need arises. Collecting the resources and building the defenses can get a bit overwhelming to get it all done, especially since you are timed in the build phase. With two people it is obviously more manageable, especially on the few levels where the thing you are supposed to protect is moving. Even with that, I would still recommend the game. Cute and enjoyable game, with an original story, good music, and likeable characters. It is a good game to spend a few hours on, with breaks in between levels so you can play in small segments instead of a marathon to the save point.