Review: PixelJunk Monsters

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May. 28 1:48 PM by Will Herring

In PixelJunk Monsters, you play as a chieftain who protects the tiny members of his village from beasts, baddies and certain doom. An odd assortment of monsters, from giant spiders to lumbering rock men, who advance in waves through a path of trees on the 2D map, are ready to go Terminator on your village. Gamers construct towers with different capabilities and defense mechanisms to ward off opponents, but the number and toughness of opponents increase as the levels progress. This requires some serious strategy and quick thinking. Towers have to be put up fast and sometimes changed to another type, depending on what kind of monster is coming next. All the while it's important to collect coins and gems dropped by defeated enemies to fortify your defenses. Even at its easiest settings, a level on PixelJunk Monsters is impossible to beat on one play through, yet it always leaves you feeling just on the edge of figuring things out. This process makes for some highly addictive game play.

While the 2D format is simple, the presentation is solid. The characters have a cutesy, retro appearance and the audio is first-rate, with catchy music and some humorous sound effects. PixelJunk Monsters's only drawback is the throw-your-controller-against-the-wall frustration found on some of its more difficult levels. Still, considering everything it does right AND the fact that it supports PSP remote play, it's certainly worthy of a download.
- Terry Terrones

Graphics: 4.00
Sound: 4.00
Controls: 4.75
Fun Factor: 4.50
(Editor's Choice)