Control an army of slugs...? You can do that!

Slug Wars from Republic of Fun is a goofy strategy/tower defense game that is addictive and fun. [Click here if you got here from newsletter, and looking for Cat in the Hat]. The premise is pretty simple: Spawn slug forces to take the opposing side of the battlefield, while stopping the enemy from doing the same. There are 3 slug battle lanes, and various slug fighter types (infantry slug, tank slug, kamikaze, etc.). Each has it’s own special fighting ability, and an utterly mindless need to advance and tear opposing slugs to ribbons. Slug Wars, recently named a “Hot New Game” in the iTunes store, is available for only 99 cents (iTunes link above). The game has it’s moments…mostly the sometimes laughable battle cry of the different slug types as you send them into the fray.

 

As soon as the fight begins, you have your hands full keeping new slugs marching into battle, as the enemy will quickly mobilize and overwelm you. The first slug teams you fight with are typical armor and infantry units, but as you advance to new levels, newer slug weapons types will be added. Tank slugs cost more and are slower, but shoot down other slugs at a distance, whereas infantry are faster. The infantry slugs are more vulnerable though, as they have to get to close quarters in order to rip into the enemy. I found staggering an armor unit behind an infantry unit seemed a good strategy. Flowers appear on the battlefield, and getting to them gives your team extra points (to put more slugs in the field).

 

The game starts up with a tutorial featuring a commander slug yelling at you like in basic training, which is pretty funny. The graphics are decently rendered, but nothing fancy and sound effects are pretty good as well. The game is refreshingly simple overall and not badly done. Only a mere 15.7MB in size, it’s both a fast download and install. I added it to my 2nd Gen iPod touch running 3.1.3 firmware and had no issues. Remember to always reset your unit after adding new software.

  

Slug Wars features 3 play modes: Campaign (advance through levels against computer-controlled enemies); Skirmish (single battle against computer); and “Slug-It-Out”, which offers head-to-head action against another player. I can’t tell from the game options if this includes any Bluetooth integration, but if not, that should be on a list of feature updates for future versions. The only option I could find was to turn on/off sounds. A few other suggestions came to mind while playing. The spy slug, being the only character which can attack across adjacent battle lanes, would be even cooler if he had an option to switch lanes as well. I wish more units had this ability, and would make strategy aspects a bit more interesting--or maybe just add an expanded ability to attack/shoot across lanes for more unit types (i.e. game logic that stated a slug should attack straight ahead first, and then right/left when waiting in line, etc.). I would also like to have more slug unit integration or grouping capability. In higher levels, the field could be expanded in size, and instead of deploying single slugs, you could create and deploy slug fire teams instead. Anyway, enough armchair quarterbacking. I recommend Slug Wars for anyone who wants a quirky addition to their tower defense collection, and especially to anyone with kids who enjoy cartoons and a good virtual slugfest (never met a kid who didn’t)! Get it in the App store at the link below.

 

http://www.iphonelife.com/blog/97/control-army-slugs-you-can-do