I’ve been keeping the ol’ Eye of Sauron on Terrorformer TD ever since I first covered the game earlier this year. In my interview with creator TJ Coiffe (aka onewinter games), I discovered more about the game and its development journey, and since then I’ve sealed the deal by going back for a few more rounds.
While Terrorformer TD isn’t the most visually appealing game, I’m entirely sure that fancy graphics are not the point here. Instead, we’re given a deeply tactical roguelite tower defense with loads of customisation options and a scaleable challenge that can be tweaked to suit your needs.
Terrorformer TD’s central mechanic is the tower in the middle of the map. You must defend this point at all costs from a variety of enemies, all of which are going to come at you by following the path of least resistance through a labyrinthine environment. The twist here is that you can alter this environment to suit your defenses, by raising hexagonal platforms that block and divert your enemy’s route.
There are loads of tower types to choose from. You begin with a couple of options, but using resources earned during your current attempt you can unlock more and then upgrade them via a roguelike-inspired system where you can choose from a limited range of options. There is a lot to think about as you balance your economical needs with those dictated by the action that unfolds in front of you.
When it comes to the real-time gameplay, it doesn’t take long for things to get frantic. You can slow down the clock if you want to adapt your build on the fly. Your other option is to do most of your work in between rounds and then cross your fingers while you wait for the next break, when you can unlock new units or convert resources into gold to spend on building new defences.
While this is a game about spinning plates, it didn’t take me long to get in the groove and understand the basics required to enjoy the game. While it’s fairly straightforward to learn, there’s a real challenge and plenty of depth here for those who want it. If you’re looking for an experience to really test the old grey matter then Terrorformer TD is worth a closer look.
Terrorformer TD is out now on PC Steam (Lin, Mac, Win) and I played the game via access provided by the publisher.
