Kingdom Rush 5: Alliance review – “The best of both worlds!”

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Kingdom Rush 5: Alliance review - "The best of both worlds!"

  • The newest game in the Kingdom Rush saga!
  • Control both the forces of good and evil against a bigger evil
  • Tower, heroes, items, and upgrades make for a good challenge and replayability

As a long-time fan of the Kingdom Rush series, I can’t help but be excited about the release of Kingdom Rush 5: Alliance. Having grown up with these cartoon warriors defending their kingdoms against all sorts of threats, it’s fascinating to see how they’ve evolved and now find themselves in a situation where they must form an alliance with their enemies.

In the early Flash game era, one notable series began with the release of Kingdom Rush. This was among the first tower defense games, and since then, Ironhide Game Studio has developed up to Kingdom Rush 5: Alliance. Our adorable cartoon soldiers have advanced significantly from just defending their realm against Vez’nan’s Dark Army. Now, they face new challenges.

In the familiar 2D tower defense style of the game series, you’ll be constructing fresh towers, utilizing newfound abilities, and managing a team of heroes. However, it’s worth examplifying what this so-called “alliance” offers us.

What is Kingdom Rush 5: Alliance?

Kingdom Rush 5: Alliance review - "The best of both worlds!"

In the Kingdom Rush series, including Kingdom Rush 5: Alliance, you have consistently assumed the defensive role for one side against an attacking force. The gameplay remains similar, but with a new element: During the final epic clash, Vez’nan unexpectedly discovered King Denas in a mysterious portal, transporting him to an undisclosed location.

Faithful to their monarch, the brave warriors and guards of the kingdom Linirea embarked on a mission to save their beloved king. In the course of their journey, they encountered a fresh danger and came across Vez’nan himself, who suggested an alliance with his Dark Army. He was convinced that a far more formidable enemy was emerging and that only by joining forces could they stand a chance against this imminent threat. This new situation places both good and evil within your grasp, offering intriguing possibilities for strategic planning.

Leading the Kingdom Rush 5: Alliance

Kingdom Rush 5: Alliance review - "The best of both worlds!"

Maintaining originality can become increasingly difficult as a series progresses. However, Kingdom Rush 5: Alliance has found ways to keep things new while preserving the beloved aspects of the game. The distinctive graphics and humorous tone are still present but have been elevated. Vibrant and dynamic environments now showcase towers with enhanced detail and clarity. Heroes, who have taken the place of previous playable characters, boast improved animations and designs for a more engaging experience during frequent battles.

As someone who has spent countless hours immersed in strategy games, I find the alliance concept in this series to be a refreshing and logical advancement. The ability to control both the good guys and bad guys offers a unique perspective that keeps gameplay engaging and exciting. Moreover, the distinct appearances of heroes and towers instantly give clues about their origins and strengths. It’s like having two sides of a coin – each with its own set of advantages and challenges. This level of complexity adds depth to the game and keeps me coming back for more.

For example, the Linirean forces have a preference for defensive and positive support abilities while the Dark Army is all about offensive and negative support abilities. It also comes down to how their heroes perform with Linireans trying to affect the field and other units while Dark Army champions focus on boosting their stats so that they can last longer and deal more damage. The game is designed so that mix up your towers and forces with both sides to figure out the best and most useful parts of each.
You start to see that no one tower is ever the solution and you need to be prepared to make sacrifices on a dime to confront enemy groups. You’re always examining the roads and trying to make the most of the limited tower positions so that you can build up a healthy pool of resources. You must decide which towers are more permanent than others and whether it’s worth building new ones, upgrading what you have, or deciding on what abilities to buy them.
You’ll earn upgrade points, gems, and hero experience simply by playing, but a large number of interesting towers and heroes will be locked behind a paywall. Since the game is relatively short compared to the other entries, you’ll have unlocked most of the base game sooner than you expect.

As a devoted fan of this game, I’ve come to appreciate the replay value it offers, but I also recognize how it can impact the player experience in an unexpected way. While the ability to replay levels is undeniably a plus, it feels at odds with the desire for a perfect score on the initial attempt. This game isn’t like a traditional puzzle or battle scenario where you can get everything right the first time around. Instead, it challenges us to return when we have more towers, heroes, and upgrades under our belt to face the threats that proved too formidable during our first go-around.

Aiding the Kingdom Rush 5: Alliance

Kingdom Rush 5: Alliance review - "The best of both worlds!"

In the newest installment of Kingdom Rush, titled Kingdom Rush 5: Alliance, you’re once again called upon to defend your realm against an otherworldly menace. This time around, good and evil forces have joined forces. The game boasts enhanced graphics and humor, with subtle upgrades throughout. The challenge levels are well-balanced, ensuring a satisfying experience, and there are numerous motivations to replay each level multiple times.

Some parts of it are only accessible after paying fees, which can limit its value and the excitement of achieving high scores in levels. However, these restrictions might be worth it for the enjoyment this experience offers. In case of an imminent threat from another realm, hurrying to the kingdom to unite with the alliance is crucial.

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2024-07-25 16:18