Kingdom Rush Vengeance is an interesting twist on the standard Kingdom Rush experience – true, you’re still basically doing the same thing, defending chokepoints as enemies rush in from determined entrances and try to kill you, but this time it’s different: you’re the bad guy!
In Kingdom Rush Vengeance you play the villain of the previous game, come back for… reasons unknown, determined to reconquer your terrible empire and wreck havoc upon the world.
In place of the standard archer tower, mage tower, soldier barracks and cannon… thing, you have dark and evil twists on each of those buildings.
The stats are basically the same entirely but… it’s dark! And Evil!
This skin changing forms some of the problem behind Kingdom Rush Vengeance, because it is, functionally, the same thing as the previous games.
Your archer tower is… still an archer tower, even though they’re called “Shadow Blades” or what have you.
The only real functional combat differences is that their upgrades (which are the special powers they gain when they level up to the highest level through spending gold) are different, essentially making the towers at your disposal little more than thematic alternatives with different skins and abilities.
Functionally speaking, this is just Kingdom Rush with a mod pack.[sc name=”quote” text=”Functionally speaking, this is just Kingdom Rush with a mod pack.”]
However, this isn’t necessarily a bad thing; people like Kingdom Rush! The expression ‘don’t reinvent the wheel’ exists for a reason – some things are just good.
Kingdom Rush Vengeance brings the same enjoyable gameplay, the same frustration in suddenly having one of those damn enemies slip through your net and make it to the finish line with you unawares.
The primary difference in gameplay is the inclusion of sudden surprises. That’s not the name of the gameplay feature, but it’s the only way to explain it.
After a few levels, maps will feature a few unique terrain features that might look innocuous to begin with, but are actually horrible and game ending.
For example, a map with chokepoints and a logical defensive location might suddenly be ruined because dwarfs arrive on a broken mine cart track and invade you in the back, ruining your whole defensive formation, forcing you to reload.
These surprises are fun to an extent, allowing you to play reactively, but because of the gold system that relies upon defeating enemies to obtain more currency, you can’t really defend yourself.
In other words, these levels are essentially guaranteed failures the first time around, forcing you to repeat the level.[sc name=”quote” text=”In other words, these levels are essentially guaranteed failures the first time around, forcing you to repeat the level.”]
Kingdom Rush Vengeance is the same as the previous games, only with a few cosmetic and thematic twists; it’s the same fun, tower defence gameplay, modeled to perfection.
However, it has with it a few new frustrating features and a whole host of irritating changes.
Kingdom Rush Vengeance is good fun, but it can also be terribly annoying.
[review pros=”The same great King Rush gameplay brought back again. New skins and abilities for the evil version.” cons=”There are simply way too many irritating map features that ends your level.” score=6.5]
[appbox appstore id1248033433]
[appbox googleplay com.ironhidegames.android.kingdomrush4]
