Defenders of Ardania PC
Metascore
58 out of 100

Mixed or average reviews - based on 17 Critics

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 1 out of 17
  2. Mixed: 11 out of 17
  3. Negative: 5 out of 17
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  1. Everyeye.it
    Mar 21, 2012
    75
    Defenders of Ardania is a good tower defense game set in the Majesty world. Some good ideas on the gameplay side mix a classic formula with some RTS elements. Too bad for the poor technical realization.
  2. GameStar
    Mar 14, 2012
    74
    The fusion of real-time strategy with tower defense rules works surprisingly well.
  3. Eurogamer Italy
    Apr 2, 2012
    70
    Defenders of Ardania is a mix between a tower defense and an RTS, but it lacks the right pace and boredom is around the corner in the single-player campaign. Multiplayer on the other hand gives more fun and more adrenaline.
  4. Gamers' Temple
    Apr 20, 2012
    66
    Defenders of Ardania is a good try at combining a couple of genres but it's a bit slow and confusing.
  5. NZGamer
    Apr 24, 2012
    65
    A solid tower wars title with little competition in the genre at the moment. Unfortunately, it's let down by a large difficulty jump and, although it's a visually pleasing title, the grid displaying locations isn't on by default - a strange omission for any tower defence title.
  6. Game Over Online
    Apr 5, 2012
    65
    So I'm (perhaps disappointed isn't the word because I come into tower defense games expecting so little) confused as to how the designers saw these elements coming together and didn't comprehend the problems they would cause in actual game play. I also have to confess a long-held desire to see a game that is like tower defense only reversed, where you get to be the invader. DoA has that, and I'm left contemplating that old axiom about getting what you wish for.
  7. Absolute Games
    Jan 23, 2012
    65
    Here is hoping that Paradox will fix the bugs, iron out the glitchy AI, and add more multiplayer modes. And if not… well, Defenders of Ardania will not be the first game with a great concept to get crushed under an avalanche of flaws.
  8. PC Master (Greece)
    May 16, 2012
    62
    It tries to set itself apart from the cornucopia of tower defense games, but fails. Despite the efforts for character and new features, the overall execution is messed up. If you are a true fan of the genre or you want all fantasy games in your collection, wait for it to enter bargain bin status and go for it. [May 2012]
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  9. LEVEL (Czech Republic)
    May 9, 2012
    60
    Defenders of Ardania are nice improvements to the tower defense strategies. Pity there are many flaws which decrease its final score... [May 2012]
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  10. PC PowerPlay
    Apr 27, 2012
    60
    A clever take on traditional tower defence, but little real longevity. [May 2012, p.64]
  11. PC Gamer UK
    May 11, 2012
    59
    A different take on tower defence, but one that needed more thought before being released on an unsuspecting public. [June 2012, p.110]
  12. SpazioGames
    Mar 20, 2012
    55
    Defenders of Ardania is an overall bad game. It's unable to deliver new features in the tower defense genre and has too many technical problems.
  13. 4Players.de
    Mar 23, 2012
    46
    Despite nice visuals Defenders of Ardania has no chance of competing with games like Defense Grid, Sol Survivor or Anomaly. The balancing is below par, you hardly need any tactics and the interface is just poor.
  14. Worth Playing
    Aug 20, 2012
    45
    In the end, only certain elements of Defenders of Ardania work well.
  15. IGN
    Mar 19, 2012
    45
    There's something to be said for slow-burn strategy games that require precise tweaks and purchases to gain the edge in battle. Unfortunately, Defenders of Ardania lacks these nuances and insists on wasting the player's time with needless limitations and wave after wave of opposing forces that result in an ongoing stalemate.
  16. Armchair Empire
    Apr 27, 2012
    40
    With plenty of other tower defense titles and strategy games out there, Defenders of Ardania is a poor choice on which to spend your money.
  17. Games.cz
    Apr 2, 2012
    40
    A badly designed game with flaws that br(e)akes its multiplayer dramatically. You know, being unconventional and not able to write a proper game code doesn't pay off sometimes.

User Reviews

All reviews »
User Score
5.0 out of 10

Mixed or average reviews- based on 21 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 1 out of 8
  2. Mixed: 1 out of 8
  3. Negative: 6 out of 8
  1. AndreaGriffin
    5
    This game comes to you from the land of Ardania, the setting of the game Majesty and its sequel Majesty II. You'll recognize the voice acting.

    Gameplay-wise, the game plays very much like other Tower Defense games: You build towers along a grid, trying to stop the bad guys from reaching your fortress. Unlike most other TD games, however, you also go on the offensive: You build your own waves of critters and send them back through the map toward the other guy.

    While this is nice in theory and could make for a fantastic game, it just wasn't executed particularly well. You're susceptible to "zerg rush" tactics in multiplayer, the unit selection feels tactically unimportant (you'll use the same few units constantly), and the standard campaign doesn't have enough interesting challenges for an experienced TD player (although there are some challenge modes). An experienced Tower Defense gamer can expect 6-8 hours from the campaign. It's quite easy.

    One disappointment in particular is that you don't seem to be able to play the other 2 races/factions in campaign mode, which would go a long way to adding replayability to the very short campaign.

    Even after a patch applied the day after the release, the controls feel sluggish and unresponsive (although the patch fixed the most glaring errors). Graphically the game is nice and the sound is appropriate.

    Even the multiplayer experience has some issues. You cannot type messages to other players, everyone is booted back to the main menu once a game is over instead of returning to a lobby, and the AI always gangs up on Player 1 from the very beginning, never changing tactics or trying to surprise other players. Still, there IS an AI to play against, and in a game where tactical decisions need to be made it's interesting and welcome to have an AI at all.

    Game modes include free-for-all, 2v2, and 2v2 survival. The AI can be used in any of the modes. So, for your friends that can't handle playing against another player lest they (gasp) lose, there's options for their tender feelings.

    I don't know if there is a technical issue, but I was unable to find any open multiplayer games online. I was only able to get people into my game by inviting them directly via Steam.


    If you're a fan of TD games then Defenders of Ardania should be in your library; if you only have a passing interest in the genre, you may want to consider alternatives.    … Full Review »
  2. Wrathak
    3
    Sadly, while this game has great graphics and some nice ideas to spruce up the tower defense genre, the controls are too broken to play on the pc.

    I couldn't even get past the tutorial because of it

    Wait and see if they fix the controls before purchasing    … Full Review »
  3. Dethstar
    2
    A below average game. Someone has cynically created a game to jump on the tower defence bandwagon knowing that this alone may sell it. However, it is just plane boring, dull and limited with limited control and precious little to recommend it. I want to balance this out with some positive to say about it and all I can think of is that its quite pretty.… Full Review »
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