REVIEW : CastleStorm (PC)
CastleStorm is here to remedy the tower defence genre’s flaws.
Tower defence means something different to everyone, but the gist is that you use artillery towers that you don’t directly control to defend yourself from an attack of opposing troops. There are many variations on this concept, but the basic aspect is the offence vs defence battle. While there is certainly much to like in this genre, the lack of genuine originality has resulted in a flood of mediocre “me too” efforts. CastleStorm by Zen Studios turns the classic formula on its head by providing you access to the same weapons and tools as your opponents. With the ultimate objective of destroying your opponent’s castle or taking their flag before they use their armament against you, you’ll fire powerful ballistae, command troops, perform spells, and take control of heroes.
However, the aggressive style isn’t the only element that distinguishes the game. While many games would settle for a single fighting strategy, CastleStorm provides various options for achieving your objectives. Although each match has only two win conditions, how do you mount an offence? Micromanaging ground soldiers and hero units is just as valid as focusing on frontal strikes on the opposing castle. Most players will most likely use a more well-rounded strategy, which means you’ll be switching back and forth between various battlefield strategies all the time. This creates fascinating, fast-paced strategic games in which there is rarely any downtime.
Despite a large number of options available in each mission, switching between functions is quick and simple. That’s also a good thing because you’ll frequently find yourself in a precarious scenario where you’ll have to defend against an opposing onslaught at any minute.
The game supports the keyboard and controller on the PC version, but it was developed with the Xbox 360 controller in mind. That was the greatest approach for me to play the game. Using this method to aim your ballista can be problematic at first, but the mouse and keyboard controls provide precise precision (if that’s what you’re after).
In addition to the various tactical options available during missions, there are numerous opportunities to upgrade your castle, troops, and equipment between assaults. You’ll start with a few simple tools, but before long, you’ll be faced with a few dozen options to choose from before each combat.
You may even create a completely custom castle from scratch if you’re very picky, though I found the basic selections to be more than acceptable for the campaign. You may use the cash you gain from each mission to upgrade everything from your ballista ammo to chambers in your castle, although it’s frequently difficult to discern how effective your upgrades are. Instead of what amounts to numbers on a spreadsheet, it would have been lovely to see more entertaining and unique enhancements.
All of this variety is appealing, but it can be overwhelming at times. The game occasionally offers side objectives that aren’t as exciting as castle versus castle fighting, but the monetary prizes are too good to pass up.
Furthermore, the many types of missions throw the difficulty curve all over the place. In some cases, you’ll effortlessly defeat the opponent, while in others, you’ll find yourself retrying over and over to uncover their one weak place. Two tasks, in particular, contain precise paths to victory that aren’t readily apparent. This kind of trial-and-error feels out of place in a game that rewards meticulous strategy and time management.
Fortunately, none of these flaws is present in CastleStorm’s multiplayer. The game’s main modes include pure castle vs castle devastation, which pits two players against each other in split-screen or online play. Against a friend, the confluence of action and strategy is ideal, and the tide of battle can shift at any time. If head-to-head fighting isn’t your thing, there’s a co-op mode in which one player controls the ballista while the other direct ground forces against infinite waves of foes.
