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Category: Strategy games
Developer: TapJoy
File Size 7.0MB
Version Reviewed: 1.1.1
Requirements: iPhone 2.0 software
Compatibility: iPhone and iPod touch
Price: Free
Age Rating: 9+ (infrequent/mild cartoon or fantasy violence)

When it comes to gaming on the iPhone, there are plenty of great games out there. For example, Sega’s Super Monkey Ball was among one of the most popular apps for the iPhone at its release. However, that app is around $10 in the App Store. What do you do if you want an awesome, free iPhone game? You download TapDefense, and “defend the Gates of Heaven from the enemies of hell.”

TapDefense is a game created by TapJoy that is 100% free and comes as a 7.0MB download through Apple’s App Store. With 42 levels and tons of other great features, it is definitely one of the most entertaining iPhone games I have played thus far. If you have ever played World of Warcraft, Starcraft, or any other strategy game like that, TapDefense will be the perfect iPhone app for you. As in most games, it has three difficulty levels and keeps track of your high scores both locally and globally. Read on to find out how to play and what’s so great about it.

The game starts off with a map that contains a zig-zag brick path. Starting with 75 pieces of gold and 20 lives, you are to construct either arrow towers, bomb towers, or water towers. Once you are out of gold or just ready to go, you signal for the first wave of gordes, fire cats, bats, or any other type of demon to come through the starting gates and try to make their way past your towers (see image above). For each demon you kill with your towers, you spare yourself one of your 20 lives and receive gold. If any of the creatures make it through your defense and into the gate at the end, you lose a life. However, it gets better…

Each wave is a little tougher than the previous and contains demons with different qualities. Some are faster than others, while some have more strength. The same goes for your towers; some are more suited to slow the demons, while some are built to do major damage while not firing off as many rounds (see image above). However, as you kill demons and collect gold, more types of towers—such as storm, ice, and magic—become available to “research” and purchase/build. If you play the game right and build the right type of towers in the right places, you’ll be one your way to victory. But this game is no pansy, that you can beat on the first try; it really takes some thinking. And that’s one of my favorite parts about it.

Not only does this TapDefense get you to think out a perfect strategy, it was very well designed with an awesome interface. The designers over at TapJoy did a really great job with it. With so much potential, this game could easily sell for upwards of $5 in the App Store, but it’s free. I strongly suggest donating to these developers, they have already provided me with countless hours of fun.

• Also see Gadgetell’s review.