Developed by Megaglope Studios and published by Freedom Games (Dark Deity, Nine Years Of Shadows), Guardians of Hyelore looks to provide a fresh take on the classic tower defense formula mixed with survival elements, even if the end result is a bit uneven.
Guardians of Hyelore’s premise is a simple one: players command an ever-advancing army as it marches across the battlefield to take out an opposing tower base. Players can choose from up to 18 different combat units, each with unique stats and special abilities that grow stronger as the game goes on. Units are divided into four categories: warriors, healing support units, archers, and spellcasters. There are also Guardians, stronger command units that can be recruited after a cooldown finishes.
When they’re ready for battle, players can begin a stage by clicking on a floating skull icon on the overworld map. Battles play out like a real-time strategy title, with units automatically advancing across the screen and attacking enemies. To add more units or a Guardian to the battle, as well as consume items and use support weapons, players select them from an inventory bar on the bottom of the screen. There is no targeting or giving specific commands to units, so battles are more about building a steady stream of soldiers to push through an enemy’s forces rather than controlling the exact events of the fight.
On each side of the field is a tower, which serves as the main objective for the player and the opposing forces. Each tower has a health nar on the top of the screen, which decreases as the tower is attacked directly. When one of these health bars runs out, the battle is finished. Once a player’s forces reach the midpoint of the battlefield, they will gradually begin to gain Favor, as represented on the curved meter below the health bars. As this meter fills, players will begin unlocking perks that they can use to strengthen certain attacks or weaken the enemy’s resolve. Due to the auto-pilot nature of combat, battles will often shift between sides, especially when the enemy starts spawning bosses.
After completing a new stage for the first time, players can choose between one of three talents to unlock to help in future battles. As players vanquish enemies, they gain experience to level up and strengthen their units. In the shop menu, players can purchase items and weapons to aid in battle, as well as upgrade their towers. Once they reach a certain point of the game, players can enter The Arena, which grants them bonus items if they can survive endless waves of enemies. Finally, there is a leaderboard screen, where players can track their performance with others all over the world.
Guardians of Hyelore’s graphical style is simple and colorful, with smoothly animated 2D sprites and varied environments ranging from grassy forests to volcanic badlands - with up to seven different campaign areas in total. Likewise, the music has a fitting medieval feel to it thanks to some swelling orchestral tracks, and the game’s sound effects are appropriately cartoonish.
Guardians Of Hyelore’s auto-pilot combat isn’t for everyone, and the game might grow dull in prolonged sessions. However, there’s an oddly hypnotic feeling to summoning new units as old ones fall in the heat of battle, and building Guardians' stats by equipping and combing items carries some element of strategy. As such, Guardians Of Hyelore is a reasonable time-waster in short bursts, but those expecting a deep tactical experience should look elsewhere.
Guardians of Hyelore releases on September 29 for PC/Steam. A digital PC code was provided to Screen Rant for the purpose of this review.