TOKYO – There's not much new content in PixelJunk Monsters Deluxe, the upcoming PSP follow-up to the 2008 PlayStation Network tower defense game.
This is both good and bad news. The good news is that this game offers all the fun of the original game (and its expansion) with a few new towers, enemy types and one new island, all on the go. There's also online play, meaning you and a friend can finally enjoy the game's exciting co-op mode without needing to be in the same room together.
The bad news is that if you're a fan of PixelJunk Monsters, you have already paid for and played two-thirds of the game, and the new features aren't exactly game-changing. I played the first level of the new island and was immediately confronted with two crab-like monsters crawling down the path to my village. They were quickly dispatched with standard cannon towers, so any unique properties they may have were not apparent. The rest of the waves were made up of ordinary foes, but I experimented and activated the two new towers to see how they worked. One of them acts as an supplemental upgrader, enhancing all nearby towers automatically. Eventually it self-destructs and cannot be torn down, meaning that you have sacrificed a tree in exchange for stronger armaments.
The other tower type must be used in pairs to create three trip wires across the path (one in the air, two on the ground). The wires break when crossed but they rearm when the next wave hits. I cannot picture any situations where these towers would be essential for victory, but they are certainly more fun to use than the Ice Tower. The controls are nearly identical to the original game, save for the "Tiki Speak" option that allows you to toggle through small icons with the Triangle button. This is a quick way to communicate your defense needs to your partner in-game during online play. The game also automatically zooms in to compensate for the small screen of the PSP, so you can press a button to zoom out and see the whole field.
The game will be released in Japan on November 1st for 2000 yen (about $22). If you've never played the PSN original, PixelJunk Monsters Deluxe might be a good way to get hooked. However, if you're already a PJM addict, this latest fix might feel a bit pricey. Image courtesy Q-Games
