Road Stones Review | TheXboxHub

The tower protection idea is a tough one to get proper, with solely the cream of the crop – like Vegetation vs Zombies – capable of deliver longevity to a typically repetitive sport loop. Builders HugePixel, whom you could recognise from the Lord of the Click on sequence, wish to present a tower protection with a slight twist. May Highway Stones ship one thing new for a path well-trodden, or is it missing path and the power to hook you in?

Let’s get the story out of the way in which first, which tells the story of a magical kingdom in peril as forces of the undead are marching in the direction of it. Solely the mage can shield it by the usage of crystals, and that’s your lot when it comes to narrative for Highway Stones. A mere 5 uninspiring storyboard panels, that includes bland art work, which may as effectively not be current in reality. Nonetheless, the gameplay itself might be the saviour.

There are twelve ranges in complete, all of which see you assume the function of the mighty mage from an isometric perspective. The mage has the power to roam every static woodland space, putting highly effective crystals wherever on the battlefield. Beginning with a single blue crystal, it should ideally be able the place it could goal incoming enemies. Enemy routes are clearly mapped out, nevertheless it’s fantastic even when you want to make strategic changes as soon as extra crystals are in play because it provides full freedom to select up and transfer them at will. 

The principle mission differs between ranges: both driving the storm as numerous undead waves come your means or defeating a boss-like enemy, whereas limitless waves again it up. It’s nothing revolutionary, nonetheless a number of threats are positive to maintain you in your toes and guarantee a problem is available. At instances it does really feel virtually unimaginable to cope with them although, particularly when the hardest foes at all times emerge within the earlier waves. It additionally leaves little probability to organize for them as incomes upgrades and extra crystals is a chore.

So as to purchase such issues, you could accumulate vitality orbs which spawn on the map; as you accumulate one, one other pops up elsewhere. Now, it’s not a foul thought in precept, however the variety of orbs wanted can hit the dizzy heights of twenty and the mage isn’t the quickest of characters. This limits the quantity of upgrades you’ll be able to earn through the intervals during which they’re wanted probably the most. I’d name it an pointless distraction, made worse by rogue enemies thrown into the combo with the only objective of damaging the mage. Surprisingly, the mage can not battle again.

Certain, you’ll be able to herald knight and witch characters to sort out the wandering enemies, nevertheless it’s a waste of the orb acquisitions. Bringing in further crystals that do larger injury, sluggish monsters down, and fireplace quicker, are rather more essential. The choices are restricted within the early ranges, providing a mere fifteen selections in comparison with the end-game the place a whopping seventy are available. By that time it’s cool to have bombs, mines, and crystals that assault a number of enemies with every projectile launched. 

In case you can luck out with orb spawns close by one another, or draft within the orb helper which finally unlocks, and resist the excruciating issue firstly of every degree, then later waves are a breeze. It’s a weird issue spike that might put individuals off, adopted by extra thumb twiddling as your contraptions take out the remaining waves of enemies. 

With regard to enemies, the designs are fantastic with out being overly thrilling. When you’ve seen one rat, troll or skeleton, you’ve seen all of them. There definitely might be additional selection all through, which extends to the maps themselves too. It’s all very related with an abundance of cartoon woodlands, every having barely totally different path routes as a differential issue.

Finally, Highway Stones just isn’t a fantastic tower protection sport, however an inexpensive and barely cheerful one. The liberty proposed by the gameplay is respectable, with numerous upgrades finally at your disposal to extend the enjoyment of defeating monsters. The problem is totally skewed although, inflicting frustration when your assets are restricted. In the meantime, orb amassing turns into a chore, leaving you to try to control the enemies as you collect sufficient orbs to get some assist.

For beneath a fiver, Highway Stones would possibly offer you one thing to do for just a few hours, otherwise you would possibly wish to quit on the first hurdle. It’s a danger.

Highway Stones is that can be purchased on the Xbox Retailer