Isle of Arrows – Tower Defense 9+

At first glance this game looks like any other tower defence game, with the added gimmick that you have to build the path as you go. As you progress, you have to completely rethink your approach as the game gets much harder. The only comparison I can really make to this particular combination of strategy and luck is Polytopia.

The game is repetitive in an enjoyable way. You have to play later levels many many times to beat them as all 5 guilds. Gauntlet mode offers an even greater challenge, with each win adding another challenging rule. When you get bored of losing, you can switch things up by completing achievements.

The only thing I’d like to see added besides further expansions is a sandbox mode so you can test out different strategies without having to wait for the cards to fall in your favour. An endless or continue playing mode would also be great so you aren’t cut off short when you beat wave 40 (just disable achievements at wave 40). A lot of information is also missing or hard to find, like how much damage fire and poison traps do.

I have been a gamer most my life. Consoles and PC. I don’t like iPad games. Casual, simple, Childish and cartoonish. In my opinion, crap. In app purchase rip offs. Don’t like them. Disappointed.

This is the exception. Wow. Love it. Spent hour after hour on it. Really enjoyed it. It is so clever. Very hard, but I did finish it after many hours over a few months and I could easily replay it. For the price, the value to playability ration is great.

The problem I have now is, I want more. I would like a game of this quality on my iPad for the convenience when you want to grab a quick hour here and there. Sofar searching the store, I’m just disappointed because everything I look at, looks rubbish and many of the reviews confirm it.

I know we can’t have PC quality games on iPad. The latest hi res 3d graphic AAA titles, but there is no reason why we could not have some decent games and strategy games that the iPad with its fairly good specs can manage. Most the games in look like they are for 5 year olds with cartoons and stick men. Give us some decent games like this FFS and not moronic dumbed down casual crap.
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Campaign mode is enjoyable. Offering a good mix of fun, strategy and frustration. It’s reasonably straightforward getting through and satisfying completing the levels and gaining the achievements.

Gauntlet mode, however, is fiendishly difficult. I have literally just 100% completed the game and it’s taken months and months of failed attempts. The trouble is you need a lot of luck combined with ultimate strategic placement to stand any chance and even then the your chances are slim. I did get an enormous sense of gratification when I finally beat level 6 on all of the different sections.

Messages to the DEVs. Please add a sandbox game. I’d love it if I could create my ultimate tower defence, aaaaand please less water tiles!!!