StickWars VS Defend Your Castle

Something about flinging attacking stick figures on the iPhone and watching them splat on the ground is just incredibly fun. So far there are two games available with this gameplay in mind. StickWars and Defend Your Castle. Defend Your Castle has been around for a while, as a browser version that both mobile versions seem to have taken parts from and incorporated in different ways. Both games are currently priced at $.99, although Defend Your Castle is on sale with a regular price of $1.99. Both games involve defending your base from on coming stick figures that come in greater and greater numbers as the levels go on, but there is no reason to buy both, so which one should you choose?

Visuals

These games have a very different art style that are not really like the other one at all, and depending on your style this could be a big factor in deciding which one is for you. StickWars is much like Defend Your Castle for the browser where everything is basic stick figures with some decent scenery and with a Great Wall of China type base. The New Defend Your Castle seems to have gone with a different approach with a playground, sandbox art style with cardboard, paper and chalk, along with schoolyard toys being weapons. This is very kiddish and I got rather sick of it after a while. I feel that for longer game sessions StickWars is the way to go.

Enemies

StickWars gives 2 different enemy types while Defend Your Castle has 5. In StickWars there are basic enemies as well as large smashing vehicles that knock out your castle. In Defend Your Castle, all five enemy types require a different method of destruction and provide a great variety, blow up the suicide cap gun rollers or knock over the soda-monster and let your archers deal with them. StickWars just doesn’t cut it with only 2 enemies so for a variety in play that will make the gameplay last Defend Your Castle is the winner here.

Gameplay

Both games have the basic flick of the finger to launch the enemy action down well, although StickWars felt to be easier and more responsive than Defend Your Castle. Both allow the capturing of the other sticks and then being able to use them in defense of your base. Each use these in slightly different ways and farther in the game create 2 different play styles. StickWars seems to focus more on flicking the sticks while archers attack and mages can be used to erase, capture and blow up enemies. You can also send out your own suicide cap gun runners when things get out of control. Defend Your Castle tends to focus on magic and bombs with the later levels as there is no way to destroy them all with just flicking them. Suicide bombers and magic missiles are your friends in this game. For variety in ways of destroying enemies Defend Your Castle is the way to go, but for all out insanity StickWars is great. Unfortunately it takes 60-70 levels before it really gets nuts.

Dominant Hand

It seems stupid that which hand you are more dominant with would matter, but it does. Defend Your Castle has enemies coming left to right and is easier for left handed play, while StickWars is just the opposite. I found that Defend Your Castle was much easier than StickWars in that sense, since I am left handed and have more control with that hand. Deeper into the levels this could come into real consideration as enemies begin to come nonstop. Everyone is different so take this into consideration before you pick which game your going to get.

In conclusion these are both really fun games, both games are currently the same price, although Defend Your Castle is set at $1.00 more regularly. StickWars requires a little more skill and management of slaves while the other only focuses on gameplay. Defend Your Castle has more variety while StickWars tends to get tedious and repetitive. Both games have their pluses, but for the price and management required, despite lack of variety, StickWars is my choice for this battle of the stick figure flinging iPhone games. What do you think is the winner? Let us know your experiences and thoughts on these games.

Buy StickWars on iTunes

Buy Defend Your Castle on iTunes

Still can’t decide which to choose, or if you should buy one at all? Play the browser version of Defend Your Castle to get a feel for what these games are like.

Play Defend Your Castle

Line Rider iRide

Line Rider started out as a simple browser game where the user is able to create a track of lines that a person on a sled is to follow. This game has exploded and many people are creating awesome tracks, making the rider do flips, loops and anything else you can think of. There is no surprise that now Line Rider has reached the iPhone and iPod Touch. The iPhone version is basically the same as the newest version of the browser version of Line Rider, with a few upgrades. You are able to free-hand or use a line tool with three different types of lines. Red for speed, blue for regular, and green for scenery. This is definitely a fun game to play when you are sitting around and need something to do. You can create cool tracks relatively easy, through the use of the magnet setting you are able to connect lines better, but if you don’t want to connect the lines, perhaps to make a smoother ramp, then you can take off the magnet feature for free style lines. The controls are fairly simple and easy to pick up, it takes a few tries to remember to switch to the hand before moving the playing field, but once you get this down it is very simple to create awesome tracks.

Line Rider for the iPhone/iPod Touch is currently available for $2.99, this price seems a little high, but if you are a big fan of Line Rider then then amount you use it could easily justify spending $2.99. However, if you are new to Line Rider I would recommend trying out the browser version first. Line Rider is a fun game, it’s simple yet addicting. You’ll want to spend hours and hours building awesome tracks, but for the cost of the game, make sure you really want it. Try it out right now, then go buy it on iTunes, then you will be creating sweet tracks while you’re sitting at the bus stop.

Try Line Rider out for free (Requires Silverlight 2)
Buy Line Rider for iPhone/iPod Touch for $2.99.

Check out this video to see just what Line Rider is capable of.

The Oregon Trail

Recently a new edition of the classic game, Oregon Trail, was released for the iphone/iPod Touch. This new edition comes with updated graphics and gameplay. Throughout your journey to the West, you will be able to make life altering decisions and play through several mini games. You will go hunting, collect berries and fix your wagon. You raft down rivers and face dysentery and giant eagles (R.I.P. Mary and Abe). Before you know it you’ve pumped a couple hours of your life into your journey and end up with a dead battery. Just like the classic version, you will want to play this game over and over, playing through all the different ways. Although a little more expensive than other iPhone games, it is definitely worth the $5.99. You can purchase it on the iTunes App Store. Buy it today and play like you were in elementary school again.

Zombieville USA

Zombieville USA is a great example of what fun and addicting games can be made for the iPhone and iPod Touch. This game is very simple, yet so addictive. You follow a linear path down the same street in each level, fighting progressively harder zombies. You can duck into a house for hiding or in search of ammo or money. At the end of each level you can purchase new weapons that can be further upgraded until you have super powerful weapons that will help you fight even the best of zombies. The full version costs $1.99 and has endless levels with three different difficulty settings. If you’re not sure that you want to fork over $1.99 for a simple iPhone game then lucky for you there is also a lite version. Play through one level with three different base level weapons to allow you to get a feel for what you’re in for. This game could use some more updates, including more purchases, maybe buying some ammo and being able to find other things within the houses. Every now and then there is some lag, but it goes away quickly and doesn’t affect gameplay all that much. Definitely a great buy to have an addictive game to play where ever you go. I don’t regret spending two dollars on this iPhone game.

Click Here for Full Version.
Click Here for Lite Version.

www.zombievilleusa.com