![]() Unfortunately, tower defense veterans will find the game unable to provide the challenge they’re looking for. ![]() LONGEVITY: Beware Planet Earth contains an impressive 46 levels, a challenge mode and an additional 25 achievements to obtain throughout the single player campaign. This ability comes in particularly handy once the campaign introduces Incognito Martians, who are otherwise immune to the more traditional traps. The game introduces a laser gun item that allows you to directly interact with the horde. In order to build these defenses the player must first harvest cogs (think sunshine) through the building of cog factories (think sunflowers.) You’re even required to click each individual cog in order to add it to your resources.īPE! isn’t completely without innovation, though. The defenses are standard fare for the genre, containing items that will slow, damage or blow-up on enemies. Even if they do manage to reach your cows, the Martian then has to return to the crop circle so the player is given plenty of time to manage the threat. In order to complete the stage, the player has to set up enough defenses along the paths in order to prevent the Martians from grabbing up their cows. GAMEPLAY: The levels are designed on a 10×9 grid and contain multiple crop circles which serve as entry points for the Martian horde. This certain logic to the music is established through the implementation of popular sci-fi instrument, the theremin, recurring military drum rolls and threatening gongs. Where Beware Planet Earth! stands out is with their persistent signature sound that binds all the game’s levels and menus together Of course, anyone can compose a bunch of separate pieces and call it a soundtrack. The variation keeps the soundtrack interesting. Conversely, winter has a cold and unloving electric melody. Spring for example, has a very lighthearted composition, comprised of soft flute tones and a xylophone, all played in an upbeat major key. The different seasons in the game are represented by different, suitable arrangements of instruments and key. SOUND: The music stands out as a shining example of what smaller, indie games like this should strive for. The Martians especially, look like they would fit comfortably alongside a group of cereal box mascots. The characters and equipment are all drawn in a fashion that is sure to be inviting to Facebook gaming mothers or young children. The game is riddled with vibrant colors and in the spring season especially, looks a lot like something PopCap or Zynga would have designed. GRAPHICS: Upon firing up your first game of Beware Planet Earth, you’re immediately overcome with a sense of familiarity. In fact, it even manages to be humorous at times. It’s not a wholly original idea but it’s a noble and welcome attempt at entertainment and it keeps from being obnoxious. In order to save the farm – and by extension the world – you must stave off the Martians as they march on Barney’s cows. Fortunately, he still somehow manages to engineer weapons and other essential items in there. To add to the chaos, Barney seems to be stuck in an outhouse. The premise is simple: You’re a visitor to Barney’s farm which is currently under siege by Martians. That being said, the context Lightmare does provide is appreciated. STORY: Story isn’t vital in a game like this and if it was absent entirely, it wouldn’t really be reason to dock the game any points. As a result, developer Lightmare Studio has concocted a game that has the same solid gameplay albeit with an all-important layer of charm stripped off. With a slew of identical power-ups, a similar art direction and a comparable sense of humor, BPE! straddles the fine line separating “inspired by” and “derivative of”. It’s not hard to draw comparisons between Beware Planet Earth! and Plants vs Zombies. Available on: PC Only (Demo available here)
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |