Nitropia Review

Nitropia isn't the kind of tower defense game to truly beguile or leave you ensorcelled, but it is fairly dependable and satisfying to play through. What it lacks in storyline and graphical prowess it makes up for with some fun tweaks to the familiar format.

The most significant of these is the ability to control a mech, as well as place some towers down. Essentially, that means you've got a walking tower at your disposal. You can move it around as and when needed, cutting off your enemies before they get too far or organizing a choke point. Mechs have their own special moves too, such as regeneration abilities or extra attack powers. It all sounds potentially overpowered but Nitropia is a pretty challenging tower defense game so you need all the help you can get.

Each level starts out with you needing to build a command center in which resources are produced and used to buy more towers. While the towers themselves are the usual rock-paper-scissors style of strategy, extra abilities emerge such as being able to heal them or slow enemies down for a brief time. Ground units are also possible, again working well in conjunction with the mech unit.

Being able to upgrade your mech, as well as the characters you control, adds to the potential of what you can do as you progress. It ties into an in-game currency system but it’s one that's reasonably generous, with $1.99 unlocking extra currency as well as the full game.

It might not look like much but what Nitropia does offer is variety. Multi-tasking becomes so much more important than in other tower defense games and you'll soon find yourself tested yet equally rewarded. It's a pleasant diamond in the rough.