[Sinzer]

Bought this title as I am fan of tower defense games.

If anyone else is thinking of buying it, then I would recommend it, if you like the genre. If you are new to these type of games then definately check out Pixel Junk Monsters first.

The game itself is very sci-fi, with serviceable graphics (a dark starship troopers lookalikey), although it gets pretty hectic on screen and is hard to see what is going on. There seems to be no easy to recognise visual indicators for tower upgrade level, nor is it easy to see what damage the towers are actually really doing.

There are quite a few bugs in the game, especially with the camera, and I actually managed to get stuck in tutorial screens and had to quit the game. It kind of feels like a polished beta, rather than a full game, however for 6 quid I can let it off for that.

Overall, the game is pretty good, I would give it an 8, with a bit of bias due to the price. Seems to be a little too over complex, and rough round the edges. Not quite PJ Monsters, but a decent budget nonetheless!

[Widge]

Originally Posted by Sinzer

There are quite a few bugs in the game, especially with the camera

Let me see, is this where you can't highlight certain area's at the bottom unless you adjust the angle of the camera? An annoyance certainly, luckily you learn to remember that once you discover it for the first time.

I also think the game is good, a few wee trophies in there for the hunters and for some reason this game (for me) has the spirit of the good old A500 in it! Could be the font used, the gameplay, the setting... really does feel like I've got an Amiga Playstation for a short while.

I prefer it to PJ Monsters because I like the setting and not having to run around collecting coins and dancing all the time. Plus the weapons feel like they have more meat to them. Being able to set a wave off and view the attack via CCTV link in one of your turrets is ace.

Building a wave of defence really has a Command and Conquer sense of satisfaction to it. Now I'm past the initial stages, I'm encountering bad guys that can defeat my towers, so its got challenge to it too. Not tried Vengeance mode.

8/10 from me too. Good cheapie purchase.

Originally Posted by Trophy List

Bronze:

Xipe Imoon Trophy
Award for exemplary completion of an Imoon nebula. All levels of the nebula must be completed with a minimum score achieved on each to win this award.

Ymir Imoon Trophy
Award for exemplary completion of an Imoon nebula. All levels of the nebula must be completed with a minimum score achieved on each to win this award.

Zeus Imoon Trophy
Award for exemplary completion of an Imoon nebula. All levels of the nebula must be completed with a minimum score achieved on each to win this award.

Imoon Agamemnon Trophy
This is the award for the successful completion of the first level of the Xipe nebula.

Imoon Technician Trophy
This award is for the first successful building of a tower upgraded to level 5.

Imoon-Bane Trophy
Awarded for killing a huge number of Insectocytes.

Imoon Survivor
Awarded for surviving for an impressive amount of time in any Vengeance Mode level.

Command Degree Trophy
Awarded for completing all of the tutorial sections of the game.

Command Credit Trophy
Awarded for earning a significant amount of credits during your levels.

Command Skill Credit Trophy
Awarded for earning a significant amount of credits during your game using Command Skills.

Silver:

Imoon Conqueror
This is the award for completion of all levels of the three Imoon nebulae.

Imoon Artisan
Award for mastery of technology. This is achieved by researching and building all tower types in the game.

Gold:

Imoon Admiral
This is the award for completion of all levels of the three Imoon nebulae without any damage to mining operations.

Would really like it if "significant amount" was defined.....

[theblacksheep]

Is it only 1 player?

[Tigerblade]

Yup

It is essentially Pixel Junk Monsters with a Starship Troopers skin on, pretty cool.

[theblacksheep]

cheers...

although PJM has 2-player

[Sinzer]

Let me see, is this where you can't highlight certain area's at the bottom unless you adjust the angle of the camera?

There is a bit annoying The two bugs I have noticed are :

* Upgrading towers doesn't reset the camera to the original zoom, instead it gets increasingly closer, this makes multiple upgrades annoying and by the time you have upgraded 5 in a row, the camera is on closest zoom.
* When in the tutorial mode, if you have the tower research mode up and instructions come up on the screen then it stops you being able to navigate, so you can't turn off the menus.

[Tigerblade]

Originally Posted by theblacksheep

cheers...

although PJM has 2-player

Never knew that

[Stinja]

My finger hovered over the buy button today, but i thought i'd see how people are getting on - is there still the love, or have more serious issues been noticed?

Personally i'd like a game with a bit more planning and a bit less frantic running about / clicking like some RTS's seem to do to upp the difficulty.

[Sinzer]

Been a bit side tracked playing it really what with Valkyria Chronicles, Left 4 Dead, Warhammer Online taking up my time.

It is definately a planning after trial and error attempts game. After level 3, the missions get a bit brutal, and a mistake on a wave will just see you pretty much die. There is loads of time between waves to sort things out (part of the bonus you get is advancing a wave, so you are rewarded if you have pre-planned and are good to go).

[Widge]

Plus it keeps things flying along if you're really prepared.
Tower defence does all seem to be able trial, error and memory. Almost as if a wave shooter like RType goes tactical.

After the first bit of Pixel Junk Monster, I found it NAILS. This has been alright so far. Restarting is nice and quick, the rounds are quite quick... means restarting doesn't feel like you've lost a massive labour of love.

[Dancook]

After reading what this is about, i'm getting tempted. I used to love custom maps,tower defence games, on Warcraft III.

Is it as fun as that? I suppose that was particuarly good due to variety (poker game, gems, and variety of towers from different designers), plus the competitive multiplayer ability.

[Stinja]

Well i've got it, played it, got my 100% trophies. Fun, but the campaign is easier than PJM i think.

Sadly it just crashed on me, i was level 93 with just under 2 million points in a vengeance game but this mode is fun as you can play about and try different methods for the same map, something PJM wasnt good at as a few maps had a specific way of completing.

Fun game, follows the tower defence method much more closely, but still manages to make it accesible for a consoles gamepad.

[Stinja]

Doubly-posty goodness!

Third!

Really Vengeance isnt that bad once you learn what to do, and it's just a matter of time, and tweaking your base every 10 waves or so. Check out my score High Scores -> Vengeance Kitsune

The towers which seem over-priced in the main game can be worth it in Vengeance, and really only the Orbital is total rubbish, and the Chaos one ok, but generally not worth the bother.

[Sinzer]

Is that in hours!!!

Wow, 5 hours in one sitting, you are a dedicated tower defender!!

I been having a quick blast on this now and again still. However, haven't even tried vengeance mode. Would be sweet to have online multiplayer on it.

[Stinja]

Originally Posted by Sinzer

Is that in hours!!!

Wow, 5 hours in one sitting, you are a dedicated tower defender!!

Yep hours. But really i only played for 30mins, then went off and did other stuff while checking in whenever i walked past. The only monsters that give your base problems, if properly built, are the super-tough flying things that one-shot kill even a block-tower. I had almost 20 anti-air towers, each ampped up to do 1000+ per shot and 900 range, yet they still get close enough to knock off a tower or two. The ground monsters that can one-shot-kill arent such a problem, as your mortars can kill them before they get close enough to fire (ampped up to 450ish range and 2-3000 damage).

I been having a quick blast on this now and again still. However, haven't even tried vengeance mode. Would be sweet to have online multiplayer on it.

Maybe. I enjoy the more planned approach, as fast clicking in RTS games annoys me now, but any game which is online and turnbased can be abused (re: slow turns to make the other quit etc). In many ways i wish Savage Moon paused the action when you went into the tower menus, as the only difficultly in getting perfect health is those frantic few minutes till your base is up and running.

[MarVell]

It's a good little game and quite addictive. My only gripe is that it doesn't support custom soundtracks which shouldn't have been that difficult to implement

Anyhoo, I'm stuck on the 10th planet (I think), I've tried many times but nothing seems to work so I've given up trying for the time being and mostly play Vengeance. I even managed to beat Stinja's (aka Savage Moon GOD's) record on the second planet last night Although I'm sure he'll have overtaken me again by the time I get home tonight, he's more addicted to this stuff than I am to LAARKin' noobs on Resistance

[Sinzer]

Yeah I played a bit over the weekend, I am still only on the 2nd Planet, level 7 now I think. Still getting used to the towers, they all seem pretty handy. I guess a lot of the map strategy is knowing what to upgrade when.

[Sinzer]

the Chaos one ok, but generally not worth the bother

I am no where near your experience, but can you explain why, I used one quite a bit, seemed pretty useful to just have one at a ground chokehold as it means that the ground forces get creamed. This meant I could stack loads of air defence on the ground without worrying about it being destroyed (this was only on level 6, mind!).

Are the amp towers worthwhile?

[Stinja]

Originally Posted by MarVell

It's a good little game and quite addictive. My only gripe is that it doesn't support custom soundtracks which shouldn't have been that difficult to implement

Agreed. I also lose all sound sometimes; normally its a good while in Vengeance (level 100+) and you start building particle cannons, so custom music support would have been good.

I even managed to beat Stinja's (aka Savage Moon GOD's) record on the second planet last night

cheeky. Of course some planets i just played once, and havent really gone for a super score. But i might have to crush that that one out of principle

Chaos (towers) one ok, but generally not worth the bother

Originally Posted by Sinzer

I am no where near your experience, but can you explain why

Dont get me wrong i use them a lot in Vengeance, but in the main story part i dont think you ever need them, and the 280 credits are often spent better elsewhere.

Are the amp towers worthwhile?

YES!

My run down on towers for story mode (NOT Vengeance which is quite different):

MG - very good at level 5, some maps can be beaten completely with just MG towers. As they're cheaper its often good to have them as a front line between the enemy and your mortars.

Mortars - good to extend your range, and will probably be your main damage dealers vs ground troops. When amped up you can get 2000 damage per mortar very easily.

Anti-Air - essential later on to take out flying things. Generally you want a good block of them with a health and amp tower for the 900 range, and properly sited they can take out fliers before they get to your main ground block. So i often end up having two seperate clusters of towers, and just as long as no ground enemy go near this block they might be in a different part of the map. Also note sometimes you can save a lot of cash upgrading to level 3 but no further; less range but at level 3 they have an area effect, whereas levels 4/5 they are single target only.

health tower - essential! They have a huge range when amped, so i often build one close early on, then when the base is established build a new one else where and destory the old.

amp towers - ESSENTIAL! They can boost damage of a tower to more than twice without amping. Also amp towers stack, so a mortar unampped might be 210 damage, with one amp is 210+500, and within range of two amp towers is 210+765 (numbers made up, but you get the idea). The only towers that dont get a bonus from amp are orbital towers, chaos and mines. Given you have limits on how many towers you can place, getting more damage is only possible by ampping up your existing towers. I'll end this section by shouting ESSENTIAL again!

laser towers - ok, often MGs are better as they're more versatile (air and ground), and the extra damage isnt worth it.

particle cannons - not worth it in the story mode (good in wave 100+ Vengeance) save you cash and dont even research them.

chaos towers - slow enemy down. cant be ampped but careful placement can make for quite good death zones. I dont bother until i hit wave 50+ to start with chaos towers in vengeance.

mine towers - can crash your game. they seem ok, but cant be ampped and just seem to slow the game down with extra clutter. i dont use them.

orbital towers - rubbish. cant be ampped and so mortars can do better long range damage. save you cash and dont even research them.

I think thats all? due to the way ampping works i find ideal placement goes something like this (G = MG, M = mortar, H = health, P = amp, A = antiair), with the enemy coming from the top of the screen.

GGGG
MMMM
MMMM
PPPP
AAAA
H

A game typically goes: build MGs, then depending on the next few enemy types, with AA or mortars, then health, then the other of AA/mortars, then amps then research level 3/4, build up everything, then research level 5, then refine your base.

I'll take a look at level 10 tonight and see if i can give any specific pointers if you want Marvell>

[MarVell]

Yes please, any tips much appreciated

And please don't break my Vengeance record on the second planet, it makes me feel important

[Stinja]

I cant see any friends records on the High Scores? So you're safe. I've got a few top 20s now, and am second on one! But interest is waning, it just tales too long, so probably finish off Valkyria Chronicles and Fable 2.

Sorry about the typing in the above post, i was off work sick, and focusing for a long post wasnt going well...

Eurogamer have a review up for Savage Moon now: Savage Moon Review - Page 1 // PS3 /// Eurogamer - Games Reviews, News and More

Still, on the whole Savage Moon is a well-executed and polished example of what tower defence has to offer, and for GBP 6.29 offers a great play-for-pound ratio. If you're not a fan of the genre, it's unlikely to convert you - especially considering the tough love you'll be shown early on - but PS3 owners looking for a gritty alternative to PixelJunk Monsters might well be in their element.

But this made me laugh:

Replay value is increased at least by the punishing Vengeance mode, ... It's unlikely to rekindle the flame of your interest if you get bored before you finish the worlds available, however, and only the most obsessive will find long-term pleasure in racking up high scores, despite the online leaderboards.

[Stinja]

Originally Posted by MarVell

I'm stuck on the 10th planet

Fortunately you're asking at the right place - i am (or was unless some sad obsessive has beaten my) second place in the world at Jikinki aka level 10

First thing there are no fliers in this level, so dont bother researching anti-air. I start by blocking the small gap to the right of the doors to your base, then build some towers to funnel them as long a route as possible, you should have enough funds to do as image A, select your max money command and then research the health tower and build two, as per image B. You need them for the wave after the burrowers as they shoot. Then expand out your base over the plain and hill near your second health tower, and close the gap so they have to travel all the war around. See image C, and progress from there. I can post a final image if you like, but really you should be able to work it out after the start up.

[Sinzer]

From your pictures then I assume you don't often use the raised terrain on the levels, you just keep most of your towers near the base?

I suppose that is much more efficient use of health towers.

[MarVell]

Thanks Stinja, much appreciated I will try again tonight and report on my progress (or lack of!!!)

[Stinja]

Originally Posted by Sinzer

From your pictures then I assume you don't often use the raised terrain on the levels, you just keep most of your towers near the base?

Depends on the level. This particular one you need (well, seems better) to be on the flat to force the path-finding of the bugs to go elsewhere, if you build on the hills they go thru that little gap (with two MGs) and from the two other directions. The line of towers forces them around that hill, and bigger block of towers on the flat is again to get max firepower as they head for your base. Later on i build on that hill at the bottom middle and even the one to the middle left of the last picture if needed.

Generally its better to build on hills as then only the shooting bugs can take your towers down, but the odd block or MG tower to close off a path is often needed to buy more time, or force all bugs down a route so all your towers fire at the bug-stream and not just half of it.

Also remember this is just one possible solution; which is why this game is somewhat superior to PJM, as you can try different methods for the same level. PJM often had fairly optimal solutions (especially to rainbow) which meant every level played out the same.

[Sinzer]

Also remember this is just one possible solution; which is why this game is somewhat superior to PJM, as you can try different methods for the same level.

Yeah I am beginning to think that too.

I would like it if you could get experience for your towers by shooting bugs as well, that is the only feature I miss.

Hehe on a side note, was reading gamefaqs and realised this game wasn't out in the US yet..... our only exclusive EU game and no one plays apart from a few obssessives! lol

[MarVell]

Finally managed to beat all planets in story mode, I never thought I would get so many enjoyable hours gameplay out of this little game

[elliothand]

After today's release I remembered I owned this game so tried to play it. It said it needed an update which I told it to download and now it won't work.

It's coming up with the following error:

"The copyright protection information is invalid. (80029513)"

Does anyone else have this problem? If I delete the game and then download it again will I have to pay again? Any other ideas of how I could fix the problem?

[Stinja]

Are you logged in with the PSN id that bought it?

If I delete the game and then download it again will I have to pay again?

Not unless you've done this 4 other times. All (most?) PSN games allow you to re-download a game you've bought five times (total) so you can use it on different machines etc.

All part of the terms & conditions small print when you go to pay IIRC.

[Sinzer]

I downloaded the update, it then changed the game to demo mode...... handy..... had a nice preview of the new upgrade pack!!!!

I deleted mine and redownloaded, works fine now.

I like the new music, those new exploding insectoids are pretty annoying. Bit disappointed with the sensor tower, it is just like a burrowing tower, you are just forced to have one.

The new trophies look pretty hard to get, Neophile....... ><