Until recently , the top Star Wars secret plan useable on the App Store was the cute and undeniably charmingTiny Death Star , an official spinoff of the immensely popularTiny Towerthat made a building direction simulation feel light and breezy . ButDisney of a sudden pulled the gamein October , forget a potential void for Star Wars fans seeking a worthwhile free - to - play iPhone or iPad experience .
But a span of contenders have go forth of previous , and both tackle different kinds of intimate mobile scheme music genre . Disney ’s ownStar Wars : Commanderuses Clash of Clans as a templet to research bit - by - bit base construction and asynchronous on-line combat , while the newly releasedStar Wars : Galactic Defensefrom DeNA is a pretty square column defense experience set in the sci - fi universe .
Both bid light and dark side options that alter the gameplay to some extent , and both are loaded with depicted object . And unsurprisingly , both pop the question ample opportunity to spend money to either rush along thing along or still the challenge . But do these attractive thing really warrant playing over a longsighted duo of clock time , have alone pumping real cash into ? I moil into both to find out .
You’re the boss
We spend some clip with Star Wars : Commander when it first launched in previous August and came away impressed . It ’s easy to see why : this is a well - produced take on the Clash of Clans - style combat formula that ’s sweep the App Store , and while not abysmally original , it does n’t come off as a flier freebee . It ’s a round-eyed , straightforward experience , but the permit palpate well mix and everything look and sounds like you ’d require — nay , requirement — as a Star Wars rooter .
One full Clarence Day to await for this base upgrade , or a couplet sawbuck deserving of crystals instead ? Not an easy choice if you ’re hooked byCommander .
After a few warm introductory segment to teach you fundamental , Commander pay you one big choice that touch on the rest of your experience : will you align with the scrappy Rebels , or cover the vicious power of the Empire ? While both sides rely on the same core biz mechanics , that decision changes the narration , scene , and units you ’ll use in struggle , so it ’s not one to be made hurriedly . take wisely . Or just beak the one that seems more fun , really .
One committed , the game settles into the familiar routine . You ’ll slowly build out your base of operations with refinery and credit market — to engender metal and money , respectively — and then barracks and unit transports for manpower , as well as gun turret and wall for defense reaction , among other structures . From there , it ’s a process of expanding and enhancing as you pass resources to improve the stableness of your fortress and amp up your attacking ability , all while completing simple missionary post ( destroy this al-Qaeda ! build this thing ! ) and even assail online player ’ theme .
The on-line battle set you loose on another random participant ’s home , letting you draw rewards by destroying buildings . But do n’t forget : other histrion can do the same to yours .
I ’m not typically too swing by this particular freemium convention , but I found myself checking Commander regularly throughout my days , tapping buildings to accumulate imagination , generate soldiers , and fortify my defensive measure . It really is dead unproblematic , and to a fault in spots : irritatingly , your automate troop bonk nothing of self - conservation . But it ’s strangely fulfil in three - hour spurts throughout the day .
Anyone eager to play in a more consecrated fashion will feel the brunt of the roadblock more than others . Everything takes clock time to discharge , but everything also takes resources to establish . And you ’ll suddenly be seriously underpowered for a sure mission , or you ’ll take a specific story edifice to push out front . At those point in time , you ’ll wait for hours and perhaps day to slowly compile enough currency to complete a simple task — and then probably wait longer for something to make .
It seems like there ’s always something to do inCommander , whether it ’s story charge ( with more being add regularly ) , on-line battles , or go into in tournament .
Or you’re able to spend money on premium crystals and use those to velocity processes up , or convert them to other currentness and buy what you need . Those roadblocks are frustrative , but they come with the territory . And I do n’t mean Commander is interesting or involved enough to want to play in large chunks — or spend much money on . But for a few bit at a fourth dimension , here or there , it ’s a very solid diversion , and a adequate use of the Star Wars brand .
Diminished defense
DeNA ’s Star state of war : Galactic Defense launched a couple week back , and on the surface , there ’s plenitude to like — emphasis onplenty . You ’ll discover three current worlds , each with several different stages , plus they all have multiple scenarios so you’re able to replay them for fun or additional cite . Add to that the ability to wager missionary station as either the Light Side or Dark Side , and 37 total iconic champions ( like Han Solo and Boba Fett ) to unlock and handle in struggle , and Galactic Defense has the quantity side of the equation lock up down .
Enemies occur hard and fast inGalactic Defense , but it does n’t finger like you ’re supply the tools to deal with the mayhem without the business leader - up card .
Quality , on the other hand , is less of a certainty . Galactic Defense has the fundamental constituent of a great pillar defense game fairly well intact , largely because they ’re lifted from genre leader Kingdom Rush . leg layouts and tower upgrade patterned advance paths here feel fabulously familiar as a fan of that serial publication , but credit to DeNA for at least pluck bang-up reservoir cloth to found its secret plan upon .
The objective in Galactic Defense , as expected , is to ward off invaders approaching your bag by building an regalia of offensive tugboat in specific plots around the paths . How you come in and upgrade the tugboat is often key to your success , as you need to reckon how each affects different enemies , how their attempt can blend to best step down the invaders , and most significantly , how best to use your special resourcefulness to deal with the challenge at hand .
If costless admittance to ample content is your main vexation , Galactic Defensedelivers in that compliments . It presently has dozens of stages , each with multiple scenario , and much more is promise .
But tower defence force games are uniquely devastated by freemium chicane , which is why all the in force iOS entries are paid , agiotage experience . It ’s a genre that bank on pitching - perfect equaliser to experience rewarding despite the oft - immense challenge , and that ’s where Galactic Defense loses its foothold . Namely , the game feels project to require the various power - ups that you’re able to buy with in - secret plan currency — accrued very slowly , no doubtfulness to push you towards buying more with real money .
I spend $ 5 to buy enough quartz glass to convert into credits to then commute for a random genius pod , which gave me Lando to utilize in struggle . Without money , I ’d probably have to play a hundred game to realise enough credits . No , thanks .
You ’re given very limited construction place and minimal money , and Galactic Defense likes to suddenly scare away your near intentions by underprice a loading of enemies onto the concealment — sometimes in the very first undulation . What are you to do besides frantically tap one of those world power - ups ? It ’s sort of a lost tactual sensation , but acceptance comes quickly : this is how freemium pillar defense game operate , complete with convoluted up-to-dateness swaps and a grinding progression , and that ’s exactly why they rarely warrant more than casual , sporadic caper .
Which is the most I ’d commend here . It does n’t avail that Galactic Defense feels like it ’s simply a Star Wars pelt — attractive as it may be — applied to a common column defense genre molding rather of something that feels unique to the franchise . Also , the unlockable champions are wildly expensive , meaning many players will never access their preferent franchise paladin without spending a solid scrap of cash to stop number along the process . Like many accredited freemium games , Galactic Defense is free and adequate entertainment that ’s totally outclass by the genre ’s near .
