CastleStorm Review

The latest release from Zen Studios mixes and matches different styles of gameplay like there is no tomorrow, from Angry Birds frenetic gameplay to tower defense strategic thinking you got it all in CastleStorm. The question the whole world is asking right now is, will it blend?

Story

A long, long time ago, Vikings and Knights waged a perpetual war, to prevent any more bloodshed a goddess gave each of the factions a crystal, with it they would be protected and war would no longer serve a purpose. Huumm, if everything is just dandy why are we throwing sheep at enemies in CastleStorm then? Oh, right! Because the very evil Vikings stole our crystal and now seek to conquer the whole world! Or so it seems.

Even if it is taken very lightly, the story can still provide us with some entertaining cut-scenes, you will find yourself smiling time and time again from all the silliness.

Gameplay

Here is where Zen Studios work really shines, even if the game may seem a bit daunting at first glance with so many gameplay elements tucked into it, every one of those elements is introduced nicely and periodically, meaning you will learn the "tricks of the trade" slowly but steadily, by the end of the campaign you will feel like a professional "multitasker".

The main element of CastleStorm is the ballista, it's here that the already mentioned resemblance to angry birds and tower defense lies. With various types of projectiles you will stop approaching enemies, bring down castles and even kill some of your own units with friendly fire. Oh, the joys of warfare!

Problem is aiming the ballista using the left stick, it just feels a bit too touchy and awkward, thankfully it's not enough to ruin the experience, usually a quick correction will suffice to bring your target down. Still, you have to wonder how much better a mouse would fare when compared to the Xbox controller.

Shooting arrows and sheep is one thing, but CastleStorm also gives us unit and resource management, your multitasking skills will be put to the test as you try to create the right unit types and keep them alive while shooting the ballista at the same time.

If you're feeling a bit more creative try the castle editor, there you can design and create your own fortress, it requires a bit of patience, but stick with it and you will find that it can be quite strategic and rewarding to arrange the rooms in a way that the most important ones are well protected from enemy fire.
When you're done with the campaigns you can turn your attention to the various survivor modes, here you will be able to team up with a friend via xbox live or splitscreen and take on wave after wave of enemies - having the patience to create your own fortress in the castle editor will pay up here. Teamwork is key to success in survivor mode, managing to bring your enemy movement to a halt after a great display of team coordination never felt so good.

Competitive multiplayer also makes an appearence, dueling another human player is a totally different experience from the solo campaign, be warned that the gameplay can get even more demanding and fast paced here.

Graphics & Sound

Visually the developers opted for a cartoony art style, everything looks good, with interesting character models, funny animations and different enough landscapes, just don't expect the graphics of a triple A title.

In the sound department nothing really stands out, the music is composed by Christian M. Krogsvold who has also done the musical score for Castle Crashers, this time around though the music didn't feel quite as addictive.

Final Thoughts

For such a cheap game (800 MSP), CastleStorm easily delivers plenty of gripping gameplay, it's quite easy to get addicted and lose track of time while playing it. I actually found myself experiencing the "only one more level" syndrome several times, only to later realize it was 4 in the morning and that I should really hit the sack.
You can never go wrong with a game that leaves you wanting more and more each time you play it.

Year of Release: 2013

Platform: Xbox 360

Developer: Zen Studios

8 out of 10

Thanks to Zen Studios for providing me with a review copy of the game.