The tower protection idea is a troublesome one to get proper, with solely the cream of the crop – like Crops vs Zombies – in a position to deliver longevity to a typically repetitive sport loop. Builders HugePixel, whom it’s possible you’ll recognise from the Lord of the Click on collection, need to present a tower protection with a slight twist. May Highway Stones ship one thing new for a path well-trodden, or is it missing route and the flexibility to hook you in?
Let’s get the story out of the best way first, which tells the story of a magical kingdom in peril as forces of the undead are marching in the direction of it. Solely the mage can defend it by way of the usage of crystals, and that’s your lot by way of narrative for Highway Stones. A mere 5 uninspiring storyboard panels, that includes bland art work, which may as nicely not be current in fact. However, the gameplay itself may very well be the saviour.
There are twelve ranges in whole, all of which see you assume the function of the mighty mage from an isometric perspective. The mage has the flexibility to roam every static woodland space, inserting highly effective crystals wherever on the battlefield. Beginning with a single blue crystal, it should ideally be ready the place it could goal incoming enemies. Enemy routes are clearly mapped out, nevertheless it’s wonderful even when that you must make strategic changes as soon as extra crystals are in play because it provides full freedom to select up and transfer them at will.
The primary mission differs between ranges: both driving the storm as a lot of undead waves come your means or defeating a boss-like enemy, whereas countless waves again it up. It’s nothing revolutionary, nevertheless a number of threats are positive to maintain you in your toes and guarantee a problem is available. At occasions it does really feel nearly unattainable to cope with them although, particularly when the hardest foes all the time emerge within the earlier waves. It additionally leaves little likelihood to organize for them as incomes upgrades and extra crystals is a chore.
As a way to purchase such issues, you will need to gather power orbs which spawn on the map; as you gather one, one other pops up some place else. Now, it’s not a foul concept in precept, however the variety of orbs wanted can hit the dizzy heights of twenty and the mage isn’t the quickest of characters. This limits the quantity of upgrades you may earn through the intervals through which they’re wanted probably the most. I’d name it an pointless distraction, made worse by rogue enemies thrown into the combo with the only objective of damaging the mage. Surprisingly, the mage can’t struggle again.
Certain, you may herald knight and witch characters to sort out the wandering enemies, nevertheless it’s a waste of the orb acquisitions. Bringing in additional crystals that do higher harm, gradual monsters down, and hearth sooner, are far more necessary. The choices are restricted within the early ranges, providing a mere fifteen selections in comparison with the end-game the place a whopping seventy are available. By that time it’s cool to have bombs, mines, and crystals that assault a number of enemies with every projectile launched.
In the event you can luck out with orb spawns close by one another, or draft within the orb helper which ultimately unlocks, and resist the excruciating issue at the start of every stage, then later waves are a breeze. It’s a weird issue spike that might put folks off, adopted by extra thumb twiddling as your contraptions take out the remaining waves of enemies.
With reference to enemies, the designs are wonderful with out being overly thrilling. When you’ve seen one rat, troll or skeleton, you’ve seen all of them. There definitely may very well be additional selection all through, which extends to the maps themselves too. It’s all very comparable with an abundance of cartoon woodlands, every having barely totally different path routes as a differential issue.
Finally, Highway Stones is just not an excellent tower protection sport, however an inexpensive and barely cheerful one. The liberty proposed by the gameplay is first rate, with a lot of upgrades ultimately at your disposal to extend the enjoyment of defeating monsters. The issue is totally skewed although, inflicting frustration when your assets are restricted. In the meantime, orb gathering turns into a chore, leaving you to attempt to regulate the enemies as you collect sufficient orbs to get some assist.
For beneath a fiver, Highway Stones may offer you one thing to do for a couple of hours, otherwise you may need to quit on the first hurdle. It’s a danger.
Highway Stones is that can be purchased on the Xbox Retailer
The tower protection idea is a troublesome one to get proper, with solely the cream of the crop – like Crops vs Zombies – in a position to deliver longevity to a typically repetitive sport loop. Builders HugePixel, whom it’s possible you’ll recognise from the Lord of the Click on collection, need to present a tower protection with a slight twist. May Highway Stones ship one thing new for a path well-trodden, or is it missing route and the flexibility to hook you in? Let’s get the story out of the best way first, which tells the story of a magical kingdom in peril as…
Highway Stones Overview
Highway Stones Overview
2023-03-06
James Birks
Professionals:
- Low cost tower protection motion
- Crystal placement freedom
- Neat upgrades
Cons:
- Orb gathering
- Skewed issue
- Not sufficient enemy or map selection
Information:
- Huge thanks for the free copy of the sport go to – ChiliDog Interactive
- Codecs – Xbox Collection X|S, Xbox One, PS5, PS4, Swap, PC
- Model Reviewed – Xbox One on Xbox Collection X
- Launch date – seventeenth February 2023
- Launch value from – £4.19
TXH Rating
3/5
Professionals:
- Low cost tower protection motion
- Crystal placement freedom
- Neat upgrades
Cons:
- Orb gathering
- Skewed issue
- Not sufficient enemy or map selection
Information:
- Huge thanks for the free copy of the sport go to – ChiliDog Interactive
- Codecs – Xbox Collection X|S, Xbox One, PS5, PS4, Swap, PC
- Model Reviewed – Xbox One on Xbox Collection X
- Launch date – seventeenth February 2023
- Launch value from – £4.19