My Opera
GemCraft Labyrinth
Saturday, February 19, 2011 9:25:24 PM
GemCraft, probably the best tower defense game ever created, finally got new sequel: GemCraft Labyrinth.
I've just started playing previous part: GemCraft Chapter 0 again after couple years and I still think Chapter 0 is the best of GemCraft games.
Labyrinth introduces us with new field map where, instead of traveling, a puzzle map is opening with paths connecting.
Game modes as known from before are gone; in Labyrinth you select difficulties with each giving part to a score multiplier. So you can choose swarm waves only with extra armory. This way you only have one high score per field.
Fields have changed as well. There is usually more than one path available or is very opened. But you get to control the way monsters will go by building walls, as much as field allows you to.
There are couple new things you can build beside walls: amplifier (doesn't shoot but gives gems on nearby towers extra power) and you can build your own lightning and bolt shrine.
Shrines need to recharge before dropping in another gem and don't have limited charges.
Gem's shapes changed, but powers remain the same. You can now change gem's target priority (hold Shift and click on gem).
The part I like a lot is that you get to shoot at monsters buildings and beacons to destroy them, or can still throw gems at them. And the blue Mana Shard that gives you extra mana while you shoot at it.
Instead of Epic boss levels, there are Crafting Pylon levels. You need to set gems to shoot at pylon to charge it up, while still defending your Magic Orb from invading monsters.
The game remains the eye and ear candy; with (what sounds like) raining and occasional reminding that monsters are still out there (screen shaking, lightnings). Apparition flies over the field now and then (demolishing gives you 3 skill points) and I even had a case when something summoned the monsters and caused waves of angry monsters.
Unfortunately there is premium edition of this game (payable) which gives lots of extra. Free edition is playable, but can't do challenges that some fields have as you can't play some "mode" (eg: "Last at least 100 waves" while you can't play unlimited waves (Endurance mode)). Also can't develop some skills.
After playing GemCraft Chapter 0, GemCraft Labyrinth's gameplay didn't feel quite right. Spent more hours playing it to get used to it and I still think that Chapter 0 is better than Labyrinth. I guess mostly because of limits to non-premium edition. I would like to get higher score on fields, level up, develop different skills, but can't if I can't choose higher score multiplier.
Apparition flying over the field, walls blocking paths, gem shooting extra mana from shards, Magic Orb (blue ball) being protected.
More screenshots available by clicking on picture.
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I've just started playing previous part: GemCraft Chapter 0 again after couple years and I still think Chapter 0 is the best of GemCraft games.
Labyrinth introduces us with new field map where, instead of traveling, a puzzle map is opening with paths connecting.
Game modes as known from before are gone; in Labyrinth you select difficulties with each giving part to a score multiplier. So you can choose swarm waves only with extra armory. This way you only have one high score per field.
Fields have changed as well. There is usually more than one path available or is very opened. But you get to control the way monsters will go by building walls, as much as field allows you to.
There are couple new things you can build beside walls: amplifier (doesn't shoot but gives gems on nearby towers extra power) and you can build your own lightning and bolt shrine.
Shrines need to recharge before dropping in another gem and don't have limited charges.
Gem's shapes changed, but powers remain the same. You can now change gem's target priority (hold Shift and click on gem).
The part I like a lot is that you get to shoot at monsters buildings and beacons to destroy them, or can still throw gems at them. And the blue Mana Shard that gives you extra mana while you shoot at it.
Instead of Epic boss levels, there are Crafting Pylon levels. You need to set gems to shoot at pylon to charge it up, while still defending your Magic Orb from invading monsters.
The game remains the eye and ear candy; with (what sounds like) raining and occasional reminding that monsters are still out there (screen shaking, lightnings). Apparition flies over the field now and then (demolishing gives you 3 skill points) and I even had a case when something summoned the monsters and caused waves of angry monsters.
Unfortunately there is premium edition of this game (payable) which gives lots of extra. Free edition is playable, but can't do challenges that some fields have as you can't play some "mode" (eg: "Last at least 100 waves" while you can't play unlimited waves (Endurance mode)). Also can't develop some skills.
After playing GemCraft Chapter 0, GemCraft Labyrinth's gameplay didn't feel quite right. Spent more hours playing it to get used to it and I still think that Chapter 0 is better than Labyrinth. I guess mostly because of limits to non-premium edition. I would like to get higher score on fields, level up, develop different skills, but can't if I can't choose higher score multiplier.
Apparition flying over the field, walls blocking paths, gem shooting extra mana from shards, Magic Orb (blue ball) being protected.
More screenshots available by clicking on picture.
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