TailQuest Defense

TailQuest Defense is an endearing Tower Defence game with a unique 3D-platformer element adding an engaging challenge and some mild exploration to its gameplay. While it seems largely aimed at younger audiences, there is fun to be had in this by adults as well, and local two-player co-op makes it ideal to play with a younger relative too. [h3]Positives:[/h3] • Child friendly • Pretty graphics • Customisable difficulty • Good music • Clever hybrid of Tower Defence and 3D platformer • Achievements (fairly easy to 100%) • Local two-player co-op [h3]Negatives:[/h3] • Mildly unintuitive and unresponsive controls • Floaty camera • Money doesn’t carry across levels [h3]Performance:[/h3] • [b]GPU:[/b] 4095MB NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 • [b]RAM:[/b] 32GB Dual-Channel DDR4 @ 1600MHz • [b]CPU:[/b] Intel Core i9 9900KF @ 3.60GHz • [b]Storage:[/b] (OS) Samsung SSD 970 EVO Plus 500GB + 1TB Seagate BarraCuda HDD @ 7200RPM Installed on the HDD, I don’t recall any lagging or stuttering. About 1/3 into the game I had a crash, but I was repeatedly alt-tabbing to take notes which may have caused it. Other than this, TailQuest ran well. [h1]Gameplay:[/h1] This is the first Tower Defence game I’ve played where there is a controllable character, and at first I couldn’t see the point. The early game comprised only of walking over to spots to build turrets, or walking to a vendor to buy more. Being a playable character felt redundant. But as I played on, the game introduced new features, and the well-thought out implementation of having a character surprised me, allowing for a depth beyond any other Tower Defence game I’ve played. The gist of TailQuest is familiar enough to anyone experienced in the Tower Defence genre, but it shines in the unique things it adds to that gameplay loop. You’re tasked with saving a village of cute creatures called Nimbers from waves of evil Nands that want to take them, and the Tower Defence aspect is themed very much around nature; the towers being plants of different kinds that attack the waves. There are varying types of enemies – some fast, some large, but they are either red, or blue. A mild strategic difficulty is present by that fact, particularly early game, as turrets attack only red or blue too, so you have to try and make sure you have enough of each on the route in order to pass the wave. However, as the game goes on you unlock turrets that can destroy both colours, which negates this particular challenge as it’s pretty much always more sensible just to build those. The more Nands you destroy, the more money you get, allowing turret upgrades, but money doesn't transfer between levels, so accruing as much as possible seems somewhat pointless long-term. There are other gameplay features though, that keep the game interesting. You can stomp on enemies from a height, and later levels allow you also to make use of some areas for growing plants, of which one yields money, and two others (one red, and one blue) yield mines – both of which can be a useful last-resort to prevent the Nimbers being abducted by the few Nands that make it beyond your turrets. The exploration in TailQuest is in pursuit of Secrets. You’ll find hidden rooms, levers, trapdoors, etc., scattered around the maps, within which are some power-ups, or money, etc. Unlocking these often requires collecting something (such as a key) off the attacking waves, but the boosts they give to gameplay are helpful. Sometimes they even alter the layout of the level, too. And lastly there is the Bubble Gun which allows you to move Nands and objects (even yourself) across some levels by floating in a bubble, which can be a really creative way to access otherwise inaccessible areas. You can even use it to slow down the advance of enemy waves, giving your turrets more time to wear down the attack. [h3]Controls:[/h3] The controls, though, while functional, are strangely less than intuitive, causing a few annoying mistakes in my time playing, such as how interact and ‘use’ buttons are often the same, or how sometimes controls don’t register. I found using a mouse in menus to be unreliable too, and often had to use arrow keys and enter instead. I also didn’t like the camera movement which feels feeling rather floaty and imprecise. This led to some feeling at times of the game not running smoothly, but it was just the imprecision of the controls that made it seem this way. None of these issues severely hindered my enjoyment of the game, but they do make it feel like it could have used a bit more quality control all the same. [h3]Achievements:[/h3] For the completionists, TailQuest Defense is thankfully not hard to 100%, though it may be a little grindy. No achievements are locked behind difficulty settings, but there is an achievement for unlocking 30 map secrets and the level map only shows how many stars you got for the level – I couldn’t see how many secrets I’d unlocked, meaning if you don’t remember or take note, you won’t know which levels you need to replay and which you don’t. [h1]Visuals:[/h1] TailQuest is rich and vibrant, and level settings are pleasingly varied, moving from cosy countryside-style backdrops to floating airships; each a gauntlet for the Nands to try and pass. Most levels are played twice (morning and evening), with brighter styles in the day and warmer, golden tones colouring in the evening. The charm in the environments is more than just visual, though. They are dynamic, too. The layout of the maps change, keeping things engaging, as you find nooks and crannies, or oftentimes keys that the Nands are carrying which can unlock secret rooms with power-ups, money, or perhaps a way to a previously un-reachable part of the map where you can activate levers that change its layout. My only visual complaint is that by default, depth of field was turned on, making view distance abysmal. On larger maps, this was a hinderance, as most of the scene was blurred. Thankfully this can be disabled in graphical options, but it was an absurd choice to have it on in a game like this to begin with. [h1]Audio:[/h1] I was surprised by how much I liked the music too. The soundtrack was surprisingly varied - much of it relaxing, but when the waves of Nands attack it becomes more energetic – almost orchestral - to meet the moment. It smoothly transitions between cute and child-like to suspenseful and intense and manages – more than most games of this budget and in this genre – to actually elevate the atmosphere. The remaining game audio is decent, mostly comprising popping sounds to indicate you’ve interacted with something, or sounds like coins dropping to let you know there’s money to collect, etc. Music was the more remarkable effort as far as game sounds go, but its atmospheric audio served its purpose well enough too. [h1]Conclusion:[/h1] Overall, I have a surprisingly positive impression of TailQuest. Less than perfect controls are a shame, but didn’t detract overall from my enjoyment. The novel inclusion of 3D platforming is something I really enjoyed, and was integrated well both into the overall challenge of the game, but also the perks, by offering extra money or resources to help fight the Nands. While it isn’t a game I could enjoy playing for especially long bursts, it is a good balance between relaxing and challenging for an occasional hour or two. Indeed, I think the integration of a 3D platformer is one of this title’s most unique selling points and would suggest that if you’re a fan of Tower Defence games, but have wished they’d be a little more dynamic, you might be pleasantly surprised by TailQuest Defense. [quote]Product received for free for reviewing purposes via [url= https://store.steampowered.com/curator/44300924/]The Gaming Telescope[/url]. Follow for more! I also have my own personal curator at [url= https://store.steampowered.com/curator/42611293-Elysian-Reviews/]Elysian Reviews[/url].[/quote]

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This is such a pretty and cute game, it's fun to explore for all the secrets like Captain Toad :) The gameplay is kinda hard for me so I have to play on easy-baby-mode (tower defense is too much for my tiny brain) I asked the developer why the Nands want to steal the Nimbers (will they eat them?) and she said that they just want to be friends!! this is the cutest game in the universe! the developers are very nice people and I can't wait to see what they do next <3 I will complete the game later :)

This tower defense game with its stunning and pleasant graphics is an absolute delight to play. Its attention to detail, addictive gameplay, and positive atmosphere make it a standout title in the genre. Whether you're a fan of tower defense games or simply looking for an engaging and visually appealing experience, I highly recommend giving this game a try. It's an absolute gem that will keep you entertained for hours on end.

A cute, comfy Tower Defense game that's deceptive in its looks - much harder than it appears! It's not too often that you need to actually move and explore in a Tower Defense game, is it? You can't just plop down / upgrade a few towers, start the wave and then wait, you need to put in some legwork yourself! During waves you need to run around and collect the loot that drops from incoming mobs, while inbetween waves you need to farm any flowers that have fully grown... not to mention keep an eye out for secrets, explore every nook and cranny of your level, and use the environment to your advantage. Definitely get this if you're looking for a more unique approach on Tower Defense games!

For seasoned player beginning can be bit slow, but for co-op with a kid this tempo, and non-violent chill setting its's way to go. Quite impressive game for team of two!

Finally game i was waiting for! Great cozy tower defence, can't wait to play it more with my gf!

Cute tower defense game with hidden secrets on each level for you to discover. It has a native Linux version, is made using Godot engine and works without any problems. I was mostly playing it solo so i can't say much about co-op.

Wholesome game with cozzy feeling. I really have fun playing with it!

I had a blast playing this game. While being a classic tower defense, it has a nice twist in that there are some pretty serious platforming and exploration elements. And don't let the charming visuals fool you – It's challenging not only strategically, but also in terms of actual raw mechanics, which keeps it fresh all the way until the end. My only gripe is with the camera work - sometimes it makes the platforming tougher than it needs to be, but that aside, it's an excellent game.