Video games, especially indie games, have long been combining genres to create unique experiences that truly stand out in a packed gaming landscape. One of the best examples is Overwatch, a competitive hero shooter that successfully took ideas from the MOBA genre and brought them into the first-person shooter world. Now, one upcoming game aims to follow Overwatch's example and create another unique mashup.
Wardens Rising takes the hero shooter aspect of Overwatch and combines it with the tower defense genre to create a game that is part action, part strategy and all around a thrilling experience. However, this time the focus is not on a competitive angle, but on a cooperative experience. In Warden Rising, players can team up with up to four allies online or go it alone, and developer Big Moxi Games seems to be creating a unique mashup that action-shooter and tower defense fans alike can enjoy.
Wardens Rising's gameplay aims to deliver a dynamic experience full of customization options to make each battle feel different. Matches begin on a ship hub world, where players are able to choose a hero and pick a loadout of items and towers to suit different playstyles. Points earned after matches, dubbed Victory Points, can be used on the ship at the Forge to create new items, upgrade existing items and unlock new towers for subsequent games. Players can also choose a robotic drone companion called a SPEC that provides unique buffs. Some examples of different SPEC load-outs are the Rebel variant, which increases damage, or the Ekko variant, which turns the SPEC into a healing-focused drone.
So far, only two heroes (or Wardens) have been shown off through gameplay videos. The first is John Cole, a musclebound soldier sporting an assault rifle as his main weapon and a Warhammer 40,000 Space Marine-style suit of combat armor who takes on the tank-like "damager" role. Aerie, the other hero showcased, is another human combatant who occupies a "crowd control" role and wields an elemental-powered rifle as well as area-of-effect type abilities.
Six individual classes are planned for the full release, including Soldier, Elemental Master, Shinobi, Engineer and Hunter. Each Warden class has its own ranged attack, unique abilities, towers, items and SPEC drone that can all be upgraded and customized.
After selecting the perfect loadout, players then choose a map on the ship. Each level has its own unique challenges, and completing them unlocks additional levels. Once the action begins, players have one main objective no matter the environment: protect the core, a giant energy orb floating above a metal platform. Players have to navigate each map, taking out enemies in a twin-stick top-down shooter-style while managing ability cooldowns.
Players are also tasked with finding the opportune places to deploy towers that are needed to take out the massive hordes of enemies assaulting the core. Along with the individual load-outs players take into the map, each character has unique abilities that can be deployed to swing the tide back in players' favor. Much like Overwatch's Ultimates, a well-timed ability can save a match from certain doom.
Tower types vary from energy-firing variants to physical damage dealers. Players can combine preferred tower types with a plethora of helpful items as well. These can be deployed at the right moment to aid allies or deliver extra damage. Players can also utilize the SPEC drone to buff or repair towers if needed, adding another layer of strategy and complexity to the gameplay. Item types range from a static energy shield to an airstrike, or even a hologram that can distract and bunch up enemies for a quick escape. Each item, like each tower, can be upgraded over time to add damage or duration of use as well.
Towers themselves can be placed on any natural ground surface, like dirt or grass, and just like traditional tower defense games, optimal placement is key for victory. Enemies attack via lanes, and players have to think quickly to get the towers in the right position for each map. Luckily, Wardens Rising players are not only able to aid each tower with real-time combat, but also have access to a bevy of mobility options to zip around the map at ease. Players can dodge enemies with a combat roll, sprint, jump and also deploy a short burst of a jetpack to leap large distances and quickly reach areas that might be in peril.
By combining a twin-stick hero shooter horde-mode with traditional tower defense elements and cooperative action, Wardens Rising succeeds in delivering a fun genre mashup that both feels refreshing and familiar to fans of each genre. Wardens Rising is still in development, but it looks like it will be an excellent action title when it releases for Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 5 and Steam.
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