Good Free Games 2: Kingdom Rush

Welcome to the second edition of good free games, an article highlighting the games that are free to play that this writer found interesting, if not good. Today, we have a look at Kingdom Rush, an online flash game, currently found in Armor Games.

[Screen Shot 1 of Title Screen]

What is it?

Kingdom Rush is a Tower Defense game found online with a fantasy setting. It only has 4 types of towers, but each type of towers can diverge into different branching specialized classes. It is a single player game, where you have to survive the onslaught of multiple waves of enemies, or just one big wave, depending on the mode and challenge of each level. Every level is a unique map, and you will need different strategies based on the enemies spawned in that level. If the enemies reach a certain point in the map, your total life points will deplete. You can summon waves early for reducing spell cooldown and extra cash, if you’re up to the challenge.

You select which towers to build using the cursor, and you can use your two spells using 1 and 2 as a shortcut and aim that spell using your cursor. This 2 dimensional game exists in 2 planes, the airborne and earthbound. Your two spells include to rain fire from the heavens, and to spawn melee reinforcements.

[Screen Shot 2 of In-Game Level]

What is unique about it?

This tower defense game features 2 unique elements; Its usage of melee, and its progression system. Melee is rarely dealt with in tower defense games, because most of the time, it’s just about the towers and their ranges. Melee in this game is spawned by spells and barrack towers. Melees act as path blockers, occupying enemies which are trying to pass through. They deal damage over time and have their own HP. Although they can only occupy 1 enemy at a time, having just one barrack tower is immensely helpful in stalling single target enemies, definitely something to consider, especially since this is no easy game.

[Screen Shot 2 of Game Over Screen]

This game also features a progression system based on your performance in a level. If you can finish the level with certain conditions, you are rewarded with stars. After defeating a level, you also unlock a more challenging version of that level, giving you more stars upon victory. This provides a motivation to perform well for the players instead of just surviving by the skin of the player’s teeth. Considering how difficult the game is, that’s a great balance to strike.

The progression that you have chosen on the menu screen can also be reset at any time, meaning that you can try out all kinds of builds, depending on your level, and how to approach them safely. This may range from a spell-focused gameplay, or a level that is made mostly of a tower type that you have upgraded.

[Screen Shot 3 of Progression System]

Conclusion

This game is highly recommended for people who are fans of the tower defense genre, and are looking forward to a challenge. I do not recommend this game for players who prefer casual games. You can find the game on http://armorgames.com/play/12141/kingdom-rush

Author:

1. Yogi Udjaja
2. Alexander Edwin