Out comes PixelJunk Monsters Ultimate HD which promises to be a complete package with new content, challenges and HD visuals. Does this tower-defense game still holds up to this day?

PixelJunk Monsters Ultimate HD still holds up to its presentation. However, this time around it’s prettier which results into making the game more charming. The music never gets old, it’s nice to hear, and the art-style is memorable as ever.  The high resolution textures and visuals also kick up the production values a notch. If you haven’t experienced the charming personality of PixelJunk Monsters with additional graphical upgrades, then this would be the perfect time to do it.

PixelJunk Monsters Ultimate not only shines with its high production values, but also excels in the gameplay department. The gameplay in PixelJunk Monsters is the reason why tower defense games became so popular over the recent years.

"What’s fascinating about the gameplay in PixelJunk Monsters is that overtime you have to learn the enemy's weakness and towers' strengths in order to overcome the harder challenges and complete all levels with perfection"

The mechanics are very simple, but they’re hard to master. You come up to trees, select what type of towers you want and then place them. After that, you have a choice whether you want to stand next to the tower to upgrade it or use a gem that you collect from defeated monsters. Once the monsters are dead, the player can collect left-over coins to build additional towers. The player may also sell their towers if he or she is in a need of a different tower in case of emergency.

What’s fascinating about the gameplay in PixelJunk Monsters is that overtime you have to learn the enemy’s weakness and towers’ strengths in order to overcome the harder challenges and complete all levels with perfection without losing any of your little guys in the main base. You have to be able to estimate and be prepared for each and every wave as you play throughout the level.

As you progress through the game, you will come across different level layouts, waves and seasons. There are levels which are based in a ton of different environments like volcanoes, spring and even winter. It gives the player a variety of different level set ups and makes the fun last longer.

"Overall, there is a ton of stuff to do in PixelJunk Monsters Ultimate. This is truly the complete package of this game and is a must buy if you’re looking to comeback or looking into trying out tower defense games."

The game provides three different islands with 47 unique levels that you have to conquer. There is also a fourth secret island that generates infinite amount of random levels for players to enjoy which provides hours and hours of gameplay.

If you’ve played the original version of the game, then you know what to expect as far as the gameplay goes. However, PixelJunk Monsters Ultimate now also features more achievements, Encore add-on, new content and even challenges that ask you to beat levels under certain conditions to receive medals.

PixelJunk Monsters Ultimate HD also fully supports LAN multiplayer and online play on the PC. You can play with your friends cooperatively as different colored Tiki Man and even compete for leader board scores. If you have friends that enjoy tower defense games, then I highly recommend playing this game with them.

PixelJunk Monsters Ultimate HD is amazing. It brings many nostalgic memories of the PlayStation 3 days back when unique and fun indie games were hard to come by. Overall, there is a ton of stuff to do in PixelJunk Monsters Ultimate. This is truly the complete package of this game and is a must buy if you’re looking to comeback or looking into trying out tower defense games.

If you’re looking for a reason to jump back into the charming and addicting universe of PixelJunk Monsters by yourself or with your friends, then this would be the perfect time to do it.

This game was reviewed on the PC.

The “HD” version not only features crisp upgraded visuals tailored to the Vita, but also comes with some extra content, making this version highly attractive.

It’s a tower defense game at its core, and if you have never been exposed to the genre, it basically requires you to construct defensive structures and stop the incoming enemy hordes or waves and protect yourself from being plundered.

In this game you play as the Tikiman aka the Forest Defender, and you have to defend your offspring from waves of monsters. Here’s where the game gets real. Ultimately it depends on how much you like the tower defense genre. Personally, I found it to be really fun playing on the Vita, and lazily constructing weapon towers and watching them take down the monsters never became dull.

"Different enemies require different strategy, and enemies come in all shapes and sizes. Placing the appropriate tower and supplementing certain towers will make sure you can take out a monster horde effectively."

I would say the experience is much better on the Vita than it was on the PS3, simply because it suits the handheld somewhat and there have been plenty of improvements here to feel like an entirely different game. Of course, the core gameplay and visuals are the same, but it’s much more polished, something you expect from a game released in 2013.

The Vita version contains 21 original Tiki island levels and 24 challenge levels, and it also adds additional stages of GatiGati Island, along with 15 additional levels of Toki Island.

There’s a lot of content here if you are willing to check them all out, and as a bonus you can also unlock music, videos and concept art.

Tower defense based games usually requires tactical decisions, and it also results in circumstances that may obliterate your complete strategy, requiring you to rethink the placement of the weapon towers. This is where the game can become highly addictive. Setting up towers and mowing down enemies can be hugely satisfying.

Different enemies require different strategy, and enemies come in all shapes and sizes. Placing the appropriate tower and supplementing certain towers will make sure you can take out a monster horde effectively. Sometimes it can be frustrating if some monsters break past your defenses but that is the allure of this genre.

You can collect coin from fallen monsters and from trees. This can be used to upgrade your towers and buy new ones. The concept is pretty simple just like any other tower defense game out there, but with a slight twist. There’s a sensitive balance that needs to be maintained so that the game doesn’t become too overwhelming for the player and Pixeljunk Monsters handles that well. You probably knew this years ago, didn’t you?

"There are some Vita specific features as well which utilizes the touch screen controls. They are definitely implemented in a non-gimmicky way and allows you to zoom in and out of the map. "

There’s also online and adhoc co-op play further reiterating the amount of replayability this game has. On top of that the Vita version also features additional trophies.

There are some Vita specific features as well which utilizes the touch screen controls. They are definitely implemented in a non-gimmicky way and allows you to zoom in and out of the map. The game challenges you and makes you think out of the box only giving you little time between each wave. But that’s actually a good thing, as it keeps you in the “zone” without making you lose interest. You can also retry stages and do things differently, so the element of choice is definitely there.

Overall, PixelJunk Monsters Ultimate HD feels like a love letter to the PlayStation Vita platform. It may feel familiar to people who have already played the game but the game packs in with enough content to warrant a purchase.

This game was reviewed on the PlayStation Vita.

Sony has announced an HD edition of PixelJunk Monsters that will be coming out for the PlayStation Vita via Official PlayStation Blog. This announcement occurs right after Double Eleven and Q-Games revealed their partnership to develop new game projects.

PixelJunk Monsters Ultimate HD will have new/updated HD visuals specifically made for the PlayStation Vita’s OLED display, the game will also feature the Encore’ expansion that was released as downloadable content for the original game a few years back.

According to the developers the Ultimate HD edition promises to include over 30 hours of gameplay across story stages and optional challenge levels along with all of the extra towers and enemies from the PlayStation Portable’s Deluxe Edition

If you’re a huge fan of the PixelJunk Monsters games, then you’re for a treat. This is an exciting time to be a PlayStation Vita owner, Sony just keeps on piling up great classics on their powerful handheld system. This is not the only tower defense game that is coming to PlayStation Vita, Fieldrunners 2 will also be making a comeback on Sony’s handheld platform in the near future.

Let us know if you’re excited for this announcement in the comments section below.

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