Defense Grid 1 and 2

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quadnad

Supreme [H]ardness
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Oct 24, 2005
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I really enjoy tower defense games but somehow missed Defense Grid. What I'd like to know from those who have played it is whether I should skip the first and start on the second (particularly since many of the sequels in this genre repeat old levels), or if the first is still worthwhile playing?
 
The first is excellent and has very good graphics ... it is also cheap enough usually that it is worth the buy ... haven't played 2 yet (it is still buried in my Steam backlog)
 
From the reviews that I've read, skip 2 and play 1. I finished the first one, never played the 2nd.
 
I have both with many hours in. I enjoy TD and think Defense Grid is one of the best. I'd go with DG1 if I were you. I enjoyed it more although DG2 has more customization. Eventually you may end up getting both but I would get 1 before 2.
I have 390 hours into the first one. Initially it was a challenge to beat all the maps. Then it was a challenge to get gold on all the maps. Then my friend got the game and it was a challenge to top his score on all the maps. Then I started playing with all the ways you can change the game. Lots of fun. I only have 68 hours into the second one but I'm certain I will be playing it for a long while too.
 
One of my all time favorite time wasters, DG1 and all expos. Haven't tried 2 yet
 
DG1 is much better than DG2. I replayed the maps of DG1 dozens of times and it's still fun. While I only ever finished the campaign of DG2 once. It's a bit of a bore, and the level/tower designs are not very good imo. Also the introduction of "powers" made it too complicated, and impossible to properly compare scores, since the awarding of powers is completely random. Added to that the stupid new scoring system which everyone criticised. Finally after much pushback from the fans they finally added DG1 style scoring as an option to DG2 in a later patch. Which is a good thing, but still doesn't make DG2 nearly as good as DG1.
 
42 hours in DG1 and 9 hours in DG2. Like many others here, I played through DG1 many many many times per map. And even then, I only have 56/87 achievements unlocked. After completing the campaign in DG2, I had no desire to go back and play on harder difficulties.
 
I've found both titles to be amongst the best tower defense titles around. They are particularly notable for having a real narrative to the game as well as a British-sounding AI with an enjoyable script. The gameplay itself is solid and refines the TD style in DG1; be sure to get all the DLC - it is inexpensive and adds to the campaign a bit too. DG2 expands on the entire system quite a bit in a way that many people felt added to the complexity of the title (ie the "powers" and moving certain special stage features into place etc) and while a bit different from its predecessor, I didn't think it bad in this regard.

Both DG1 and DG2 are worthwhile to play and different enough that both are worth playing; I suggest playing them in order. DG1 is more traditional while 2 takes more liberties, so its worth playing in order just for the comparison

While we're here, let me suggest a few other worthwhile Tower Defense titles..

Defender's Quest - An excellent story-based campaign, upgradable towers with character etc... they are working on the sequel! Really one of the best traditional Tower Defenses around, with some RPG elements.
Defense Technica - If you liked Defense Grid, Defense Technica is another "higher production value, sci-fi" style TD with some nice ideas!
Orcs Must Die 2 - This is a fantasy 3rd person action/shooter mixed with tower defense - a budding genre. Co-op too, built towers and shoot your way to defending your portal! Grab the "Complete Pack" for all content. It isn't necessary to play the first; the second is more and better, plus co-op supported!
Sanctum 2 - Another FPS/TD hybrid, co-op, and sci-fi themed. Requires a lot of technical play and forethought, well made
Dungeon Defenders Eternity - A fantasy inspired "Action RPG meets TD" title, Dungeon Defenders has a ton of content, lots of playable characters, and the ability for 1-4 player play! Get the "Eternity" version which is sort of a "remastered, rebalanced" version of the original Dungeon Defenders and it contains tons of DLC you'd have to buy separately otherwise
Dungeon Defenders 2 - Currently in Early Access, this is an even more comprehensive Dungeon Defenders title. Still early in development, it looks immensely promising. Single or multiplayer, fantasy, RPG based Strategy-and-Tower Defense. Probably planning to be the most comprehensive title of its kind, as of yet.
Plants vs Zombies: A great first Tower Defense for anyone who hasn't played one before. Use your plants to protect lanes of a garden against the zombie menace! Well made and enjoyable
Kingdom Rush - One of the best of the "mobile style", less graphically intensive TDs. Pure top down tower defense, but well made. Also, buying on Steam automatically unlocks everything that was full of annoying microtransactions on mobile.
BloonsTD5 - Another "mobile style" TD, with new HD visuals and a considerable amount of content.
Creeper World 3 : Arc Eternal - A really unique TD where your enemy isn't a bunch of spawning monsters, but an entity that flows through fluid dynamics. Build your towers and bases to keep back the assaulting "goo". Story modes included, plus a ton of user created missions.
Freaking Meatbags - Tower defense, base building, psychotic robots and the stupid humanoids they protect..and use as weapons :D
PixelJunk Monsters Ultimate: A traditional TD, with inspired organic designs of the PixelJunk series! Great for newcomers to TD, but still with plenty of fun and depth for veterans.
Cannon Brawl - A unique take on TD, from a 2D side-scrolling perspective. Build your offensive and defensive towers with your airship, repair them, use special weapons and destroy your enemy's bases. Multiplayer, story based campaign too!

All of the above can be found on Steam; most offer Linux (or Mac) support alongside Windows. If you have any questions, feel free to ask. Likewise, if you want to set up multiplayer games. Good luck!
 
I rather enjoyed both. Play both, in order (story makes more sense that way). If you don't like 2 then just stop playing it, IMO.
 
Xaeos said:
I've found both titles to be amongst the best tower defense titles around. They are particularly notable for having a real narrative to the game as well as a British-sounding AI with an enjoyable script. The gameplay itself is solid and refines the TD style in DG1; be sure to get all the DLC - it is inexpensive and adds to the campaign a bit too. DG2 expands on the entire system quite a bit in a way that many people felt added to the complexity of the title (ie the "powers" and moving certain special stage features into place etc) and while a bit different from its predecessor, I didn't think it bad in this regard.

Both DG1 and DG2 are worthwhile to play and different enough that both are worth playing; I suggest playing them in order. DG1 is more traditional while 2 takes more liberties, so its worth playing in order just for the comparison

While we're here, let me suggest a few other worthwhile Tower Defense titles..

Defender's Quest - An excellent story-based campaign, upgradable towers with character etc... they are working on the sequel! Really one of the best traditional Tower Defenses around, with some RPG elements.
Defense Technica - If you liked Defense Grid, Defense Technica is another "higher production value, sci-fi" style TD with some nice ideas!
Orcs Must Die 2 - This is a fantasy 3rd person action/shooter mixed with tower defense - a budding genre. Co-op too, built towers and shoot your way to defending your portal! Grab the "Complete Pack" for all content. It isn't necessary to play the first; the second is more and better, plus co-op supported!
Sanctum 2 - Another FPS/TD hybrid, co-op, and sci-fi themed. Requires a lot of technical play and forethought, well made
Dungeon Defenders Eternity - A fantasy inspired "Action RPG meets TD" title, Dungeon Defenders has a ton of content, lots of playable characters, and the ability for 1-4 player play! Get the "Eternity" version which is sort of a "remastered, rebalanced" version of the original Dungeon Defenders and it contains tons of DLC you'd have to buy separately otherwise
Dungeon Defenders 2 - Currently in Early Access, this is an even more comprehensive Dungeon Defenders title. Still early in development, it looks immensely promising. Single or multiplayer, fantasy, RPG based Strategy-and-Tower Defense. Probably planning to be the most comprehensive title of its kind, as of yet.
Plants vs Zombies: A great first Tower Defense for anyone who hasn't played one before. Use your plants to protect lanes of a garden against the zombie menace! Well made and enjoyable
Kingdom Rush - One of the best of the "mobile style", less graphically intensive TDs. Pure top down tower defense, but well made. Also, buying on Steam automatically unlocks everything that was full of annoying microtransactions on mobile.
BloonsTD5 - Another "mobile style" TD, with new HD visuals and a considerable amount of content.
Creeper World 3 : Arc Eternal - A really unique TD where your enemy isn't a bunch of spawning monsters, but an entity that flows through fluid dynamics. Build your towers and bases to keep back the assaulting "goo". Story modes included, plus a ton of user created missions.
Freaking Meatbags - Tower defense, base building, psychotic robots and the stupid humanoids they protect..and use as weapons :D
PixelJunk Monsters Ultimate: A traditional TD, with inspired organic designs of the PixelJunk series! Great for newcomers to TD, but still with plenty of fun and depth for veterans.
Cannon Brawl - A unique take on TD, from a 2D side-scrolling perspective. Build your offensive and defensive towers with your airship, repair them, use special weapons and destroy your enemy's bases. Multiplayer, story based campaign too!

All of the above can be found on Steam; most offer Linux (or Mac) support alongside Windows. If you have any questions, feel free to ask. Likewise, if you want to set up multiplayer games. Good luck!
Click to expand...

What a post! I'll be sure to try some of your suggestions. I've played about 5 of your suggestions, own 5 more that I haven't tried, and the rest I will keep any eye out for.
 
Another "traditional" TD that is a lot of fun (and very cheap) is Super Sanctum TD.
 
I have both. I played DG1 first and had fun, DG2 is not much different from DG1, so I would suggest starting with DG1 and if you exhaust everything it has to offer then move on to DG2.
 
I really enjoyed both as well but had much more time playing 1.

Since the list above missed it, you might want to check out Deathtrap for a hybrid type of tower defense game. I have 100+ hours into it and it became one of my all time favorite games.
 
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