iPhone game of the day: GeoDefense: Swarm

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There are about 4000 tower defense games on the iPhone. This one is the best.

Game: GeoDefense: Swarm
Price: $1.99 / £1.19
Size: 7.4 MB
Buy it now on the iTunes storeUS/UK

Fact:The App Store issaturated with sucky tower defense games. However, just because every developer craps out some sort of "build things to stop the advancing horde" for Apple'shandheld funbox doesn't mean there aren't some great ones available. With a neon-lit, Geometry Wars-inspired look and a well-crafted arsenal of units,GeoDefense: Swarm is stylish and deep enough to captivate us on any platform.


Above: Feast your eyes on the controlled chaos of a perfectly crafted death trap. Die, purple stars! Die!

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The gameplay in GeoDefense: Swarm isn't revolutionary, but it is compelling and challenging. The enemy "creeps" marchrelentlessly towardthe doorway you need to protect,and you'll have toerect towers, turrets, and thumpers - often withnigh-perfect placement and efficiency - to wipe out each and every wave. However, although it's challenging, we have yet to reach a "wall" - one of those levels in which the enemy wins so consistently and completely thatyou simply can't imagine how to win. Victoryalways seems close enough that you want to try one more time.

There is also variety here. Some levels feature complex paths complete with natural choke points, so victory hinges upon placing a few select structures in a few select locations. Other levels are almost completely wide open,leaving youto construct your owngauntlet of lasers, cannons, and missile towers from scratch, forcing the enemy to twist and turn throughyour custom-craftedmaze of doom for as long as possible before reaching your tender base. Sure, GeoDefense: Swarm is still a tower defense game, but it's one with enough fashion sense and polish that youstill feel like a real gamer whileplaying it.


Above:Green Blaster towersand enemy-slowing purple Thump towers are a cheap way toerect artificial walls,channeling thecreeps down longer, more damagingroutes.

June 01, 2010

Eric Bratcher
Eric Bratcher
I was the founding Executive Editor/Editor in Chief here at GR, charged with making sure we published great stories every day without burning down the building or getting sued. Which isn't nearly as easy as you might imagine. I don't work for GR any longer, but I still come here - why wouldn't I? It's awesome. I'm a fairly average person who has nursed an above average love of video games since I first played Pong just over 30 years ago. I entered the games journalism world as a freelancer and have since been on staff at the magazines Next Generation and PSM before coming over to GamesRadar. Outside of gaming, I also love music (especially classic metal and hard rock), my lovely wife, my pet pig Bacon, Japanese monster movies, and my dented, now dearly departed '89 Ranger pickup truck. I pray sincerely. I cheer for the Bears, Bulls, and White Sox. And behind Tyler Nagata, I am probably the GR staffer least likely to get arrested... again.