PixelJunk Monsters

PixelJunk Monsters

Some of the best and most popular videogames have had humble beginnings. PixelJunk Monsters takes its inspiration from an absurdly popular Internet Flash game, Desktop Tower Defence.

This work-destroying webgame charges players with stopping tiny enemy monsters from crossing their ‘desktop’ by deploying various auto-firing cannons and turrets to halt their progress. PixelJunk Monsters keeps many of the same rules and mechanics as the internet game but re-skins it all with cutesy mediaeval knights and castles before throwing in a few innovations of its own.

The aim of the game is to protect your base - which is stuffed full of little soldiers - from advancing lines of monsters. It’s your job to stop them from getting there by deploying various turrets and offensive towers which will automatically shoot at the attackers. Placement of the towers is of paramount importance as each unit you deploy can only fire at enemies who drift within their catchment area. Get the placement wrong and the little enemy creatures will sail on unhindered before gobbling up your entire platoon.

Each unit you deploy costs cash. At first you’ll only be able to put down a couple of arrow-firing towers. Downed enemies drop more money, which can then be used to buy more towers. Enemies also let the occasional gem go. A single gem can either be spent on upgrading one of your towers (to make them more effective at taking down enemies) or can be collected to purchase new kinds of tower. Some are effective against ground-based enemies while others only work against flying attackers. Getting the right mix of defenses is the key to success.

In this way the game introduces a complex management mechanic – success and failure see-sawing on the decisions you make as to how and where you spend your money and gems. Enemies approach in set waves until a final, bouncing boss makes his way towards your base. Manage to survive the whole run of attacks with some men left in your base and you’ll unlock the next in the game’s twenty levels.

PixelJunk Monsters is, like the game upon which it’s based, extremely addicitive. It gets challenging early on but, because the game has that all-important, just-one-more-go element to it, it’s near impossible to put down. An excellent two player co-op mode evens the difficulty out a little (you both share gems but have your own cash reserves) but, even without this outstanding addition, the game would remain our favourite PSN title to date.

4 out of 5