Kingdom Rush

Kingdom Rush
Developer(s) Ironhide Game Studio
Publisher(s) Armor Games
Distributor(s) Armor Games
Platform(s) Flash browser game
iPad
Android
Microsoft Windows
Linux
Release date(s) July 28, 2011
Genre(s) Tower defense game
Mode(s) Single-player

Kingdom Rush is a tower defense game developed by Ironhide Game Studio and published by Armor Games, released as a free flash browser game on July 28, 2011,[1] on the iPad on December 19, 2011, on Android in May 2013, and a Unity port in January 2014 via Steam. A sequel, Kingdom Rush: Frontiers, was released on June 6, 2013. The third installment of the franchise, Kingdom Rush: Origins, was launched on November 20, 2014. The third installment is not available on PC.[2]

Description

Kingdom Rush is a tower defense game set in a medieval fantasy setting. There are empty lots set along the pre-determined path, called 'Strategy Points', where the player can build towers. There are four towers to choose from: Mages, Archers, Barracks, and Artillery, each of them costing a certain amount of money. At the beginning of each level, the player starts off with a certain amount of money in order to buy towers. As the enemies begin to emerge from one end of the path, the goal is to kill them using these towers before they reach the other end of the path (defence point). Killing enemies generates money, which can be used to upgrade towers as well. Certain towers are more effective in killing certain types of enemies. Another way to earn money is to call waves early, which also reduces cool down time of spells. Money is also earned by selling built towers or having an enemy reach the defence point. There are 18 levels in total and 48 different types of enemies that one will encounter throughout the levels. After completing a level and earning 3 stars, Heroic Mode and Iron Challenge are unlocked. These are more challenging modes than the traditional campaign. In Heroic Mode and Iron Challenge, the player will only be given one life. In Campaign Mode, the player is given 20 lives, and if all waves are completed and all enemies are killed with eighteen or more lives remaining, the player is awarded 3 stars. Some enemies cost more lives, and lives are deducted when an enemy reaches the defence point before it is killed. Heroic Mode and Iron Challenge reward one star each. With these stars, the player can upgrade his or her equipment and strengthen their towers and spells (Reinforcements and Rain of Fire). Note as of this time the Supreme Defender award on version 1.1.3 is not working and a such all Iron and Heroic Challenges do not correctly register when completed.

On April 25, 2012, Ironhide Game Studio released a new updated version of Kingdom Rush for Android and iOS devices that included new features and a new level.[3] Among these new features were a shop and a hero’s room. The shop provides items such as extra coins and dynamite that can be purchased through the winnings of gems in battle. The hero’s room provides a selection of heroes that aid in battle and can be obtained by passing levels. These heroes vary from defenders to archers and can be placed anywhere on the path.

Kingdom Rush has full voice acting, most of which was done by voice talent Sean Crisden.

The game was featured in a problem in the 2012 Google Code Jam programming contest.[4]

Reception

The iOS version received an average score of 89 on review aggregator site Metacritic.[5] Kingdom Rush and Kingdom Rush: Frontiers are the best community-rated game on the publisher company Armor Games with an average score of 97 out of 100. As of February 2015 Kingdom Rush is the most played game in the site with 58.9 million, while Kingdom Rush: Frontiers with 25.6 million plays is situated in the 10th place.[6]

Company Score
Metacritic 89
IGN 90
Armor Games 97

Awards

The game was awarded the first prize at the 2011 Uruguayan Videogame Contest.[7]

Comic book

On July 4, 2012, Ironhide Game Studio announced a comic version of Kingdom Rush that would be available for mobile and tablet devices.[8] It became available on October 1, 2012, as a free download from iTunes.[9]

Prequel and sequels

On August 25, 2011, Ironhide Studios announced a sequel to Kingdom Rush entitled Kingdom Rush Frontiers. The game was slated for a Spring 2013 release. On December 12, 2012, the studio revealed its first screen capture of the game.[10] On March 20, 2013, Ironhide Released a teaser trailer of Kingdom Rush Frontiers.[11] On June 6, 2013, the sequel was released for iOS. On September 26, 2013, it was released for Android, and, on November 22, 2013, for Flash.[12][13][14] The game has a Metacritic score of 85% based on 18 critic reviews.[15]

The third installment of the franchise, Kingdom Rush Origins, was launched on November 20, 2014 on iOS and Android platforms. It is the prequel to the original game.

Ironhide Studios have announced their intention to make a fourth Kingdom Rush game,[16] with an expected release in mid 2017.[17]

References

  1. "Ironhide Game Studio". Ironhidegames.com. Retrieved 2012-11-22.
  2. http://www.ironhidegames.com/post.php?id=103
  3. "Ironhide Game Studio". Ironhidegames.com. Retrieved 2012-11-22.
  4. "Dashboard - Round 1A 2012 - Google Code Jam". Code.google.com. Retrieved 2012-11-22.
  5. "Kingdom Rush for iPhone/iPad Reviews, Ratings, Credits, and More". Metacritic. Retrieved 2012-11-22.
  6. "Games". Armorgames.com. Retrieved 2015-03-27.
  7. https://web.archive.org/web/20130402181151/http://latu21.latu.org.uy/ingenio/videojuegos/vj1.html. Archived from the original on April 2, 2013. Retrieved July 19, 2013. Missing or empty |title= (help)
  8. "Ironhide Game Studio". Ironhidegames.com. Retrieved 2012-11-22.
  9. "Kingdom Rush: The Comic for iPhone 3GS, iPhone 4, iPhone 4S, iPhone 5, iPod touch (3rd generation), iPod touch (4th generation), iPod touch (5th generation) and iPad on the iTunes App Store". Itunes.apple.com. 2012-11-18. Retrieved 2012-11-22.
  10. "Take a Walk on the Wildside!". Ironhide Game Studio. 2012-12-12. Retrieved 2013-03-21.
  11. "Announcement: Kingdom Rush Sequel In The Making!". ArmorBlog. 2011-08-25. Retrieved 2012-11-22.
  12. "Kingdom Rush Frontiers Release Day". Ironhide Game Studio. 2013-06-07. Retrieved 2013-06-09.
  13. "[New Game] Kingdom Rush Frontiers Finally Hits Android With Challenging Gameplay And A Huge Arsenal Of Towers". Android Police. 2013-09-26. Retrieved 2013-09-26.
  14. "[New Game] Grab the World's Best TDS Game Kingdom Rush Frontiers Now on Android". Android Shock. 2013-09-26. Retrieved 2013-09-26.
  15. "Kingdom Rush Frontiers for iPhone/iPad Reviews". Metacritic.com. Retrieved 2015-03-27.
  16. Ironhide Studios (2016-02-25). "We will make a new KR. Stay tuned. ;)". Twitter.
  17. Ironhide Studios (2016-04-01). "This summer we will release #IRONMARINES. A fourth KR should be ready by the end of 2016 or early 2017.". Twitter.
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