PixelJunk Monsters
| PixelJunk Monsters | |
|---|---|
 PlayStation Store icon | |
| Developer(s) | Q-Games[a] Double Eleven (Ultimate HD, Wii U) |
| Publisher(s) |
|
| Series | PixelJunk |
| Platform(s) | PlayStation 3 PlayStation Portable PlayStation Vita Microsoft Windows Mac OS X Linux Wii U |
| Release | December 6, 2007
|
| Genre(s) | Tower defense |
| Mode(s) | Single-player; Two player co-op (local) |
PixelJunk Monsters is a tower defense video game developed by Q-Games for the PlayStation 3. The second game in the PixelJunk series, it was originally released in Japan on December 6, 2007 and worldwide by Sony Computer Entertainment on the PlayStation Store on January 24, 2008.[1] The game was released for the PlayStation Portable under the title PixelJunk Monsters Deluxe.
PixelJunk Monsters Encore, an expansion pack for the game, was released on April 24, 2008 in Japan;[citation needed] May 8, 2008 in North America; and May 15, 2008 in Europe.[2]
In 2013, an enhanced version developed by Double Eleven titled PixelJunk Monsters Ultimate HD was released in 2013 for the PlayStation Vita, Windows, Mac OS X and Linux. In May 2016, a port of the original game also developed by Double Eleven was released for the Wii U.[3]
In 2018, PixelJunk Monsters 2 was released, incorporating 3D graphics and new features.
Gameplay
[edit]
Gameplay in PixelJunk Monsters has similarities to various tower defense titles. The objective is to build defense towers along the enemies' path to keep them from reaching a hut, or base. Several small creatures dwell at the base. For each enemy that survives the defense towers and reaches the hut, one creature is killed. If all creatures are wiped out, the level is failed.
Towers have distinct attributes, such as rapid fire, long range, air-focused, etc. Destroyed enemies usually drop coins and occasionally give gems, which then can be used to upgrade and research new towers.
There are a total of 21 different levels (36 with the expansion pack) at 3 stages of difficulty. There are also 3 special stages that unlock unique abilities for the player character. Several "Trophy Challenges" were also added to the game after a patch.
Unlike more traditional tower defense games, the player controls a character around the screen, collecting coins and building towers. This replaces the standard cursor controls. A second player can also join in and assist in building towers.
Encore
[edit]The PixelJunk Monsters Encore expansion pack includes an additional 15 levels, including layouts inspired by classic arcade games such as Pac-Man and Space Invaders. There are also small tweaks to gameplay; for instance, the ice tower is unlocked at the beginning of every level and the Tesla tower is less expensive to purchase.
Deluxe
[edit]A new version of PixelJunk Monsters was available for the PlayStation Portable. Titled PixelJunk Monsters Deluxe, it has been described by Dylan Cuthbert as the "ultimate version" of the game. It contains all of the level content from the original game and its Encore expansion pack, as well as new levels, enemies, and towers. Additional music, videos, concept art, and other special features are also included.[4]
Soundtrack
[edit]| Dive into PixelJunk Monsters | |
|---|---|
| Studio album by | |
| Released | May 22, 2008 |
| Length | 40:53 |
The music for the game was developed by Otograph. On May 22, 2008, a soundtrack album for the game titled Dive into PixelJunk Monsters was released via the PlayStation Store. It is the first audio album to be released through PSN.
| Track listing | |
|---|---|
| |
Reception
[edit]The PlayStation 3 version of PixelJunk Monsters, Encore, Deluxe, and the Vita version of Ultimate received "favorable" reviews, while the PC version of Ultimate and the Wii U version of PixelJunk Monsters received "average" reviews, according to the review aggregation website Metacritic.[5][6][7][8][9][10]
| Aggregator | Score | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PC | PS Vita | PS3 | PSP | Wii U | |
| Metacritic | 72/100[5] | 84/100[6] | 83/100[7] (E.) 82/100[8] | 86/100[9] | 73/100[10] |
| Publication | Score | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PC | PS Vita | PS3 | PSP | Wii U | |
| 1Up.com | N/A | N/A | A[11] | A[12] | N/A |
| Destructoid | N/A | N/A | N/A | 9/10[13] | N/A |
| Edge | N/A | N/A | 7/10[14] | N/A | N/A |
| Eurogamer | N/A | N/A | 8/10[15] | N/A | N/A |
| GamePro | N/A | N/A |   [16] | N/A | N/A |
| GameSpot | N/A | N/A | 7.5/10[17] (E.) 7/10[18] | 8/10[19] | N/A |
| GameZone | N/A | N/A | 8/10[20] | 9/10[21] | N/A |
| IGN | N/A | 9/10[22] | 8.5/10[23] (E.) 7.9/10[24] | 9/10[25] | N/A |
| Nintendo Life | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | 8/10[26] |
| PlayStation Official Magazine – UK | N/A | 8/10[27] | 7/10[28] | 8/10[29] | N/A |
| The A.V. Club | N/A | N/A | B[30] | N/A | N/A |
Notes
[edit]- ^ Additional work by Santa Monica Studio
References
[edit]- ^ Cuthbert, Dylan (January 16, 2008). "PixelJunk Monsters Set to Launch Next Week". PlayStation Blog. Sony Interactive Entertainment. Archived from the original on April 14, 2019. Retrieved April 14, 2019.
- ^ Mars, Deborah (April 29, 2008). "PixelJunk Monsters Encore details + interview". PlayStation Blog. Sony Interactive Entertainment. Archived from the original on March 8, 2019. Retrieved April 15, 2019.
- ^ McMinn, Kevin (May 18, 2016). "Double Eleven Talks Tiki in PixelJunk Monsters on Wii U". Nintendo News. Archived from the original on May 26, 2016. Retrieved April 15, 2019.
- ^ Cuthbert, Dylan (April 29, 2009). "PixelJunk Monsters Deluxe - The Biggest Version Yet is Portable". PlayStation Blog. Sony Interactive Entertainment. Archived from the original on May 1, 2009. Retrieved April 30, 2009.
- ^ a b "PixelJunk Monsters: Ultimate for PC Reviews". Metacritic. CBS Interactive. Archived from the original on May 16, 2019. Retrieved April 15, 2019.
- ^ a b "PixelJunk Monsters: Ultimate HD for PlayStation Vita Reviews". Metacritic. CBS Interactive. Archived from the original on March 10, 2019. Retrieved April 15, 2019.
- ^ a b "PixelJunk Monsters for PlayStation 3 Reviews". Metacritic. CBS Interactive. Archived from the original on March 4, 2019. Retrieved April 15, 2019.
- ^ a b "PixelJunk Monsters Encore for PlayStation 3 Reviews". Metacritic. CBS Interactive. Archived from the original on March 4, 2019. Retrieved April 15, 2019.
- ^ a b "PixelJunk Monsters Deluxe for PSP Reviews". Metacritic. CBS Interactive. Archived from the original on March 14, 2019. Retrieved April 15, 2019.
- ^ a b "PixelJunk Monsters for Wii U Reviews". Metacritic. CBS Interactive. Archived from the original on January 13, 2019. Retrieved April 15, 2019.
- ^ Suttner, Nick (February 1, 2008). "PixelJunk Monsters". 1UP.com. Ziff Davis. Archived from the original on March 7, 2016. Retrieved April 16, 2019.
- ^ Liang, Alice (October 6, 2009). "PixelJunk Monsters Deluxe Review". 1UP.com. Ziff Davis. Archived from the original on May 26, 2016. Retrieved April 16, 2019.
- ^ North, Dale (October 6, 2009). "Review: PixelJunk Monsters Deluxe". Destructoid. Enthusiast Gaming. Archived from the original on April 16, 2019. Retrieved April 16, 2019.
- ^ Edge staff (March 2008). "PixelJunk Monsters (PS3)". Edge. No. 186. Future plc. p. 101.
- ^ Reed, Kristan (January 25, 2008). "PixelJunk Monsters (PlayStation 3)". Eurogamer. Gamer Network. Archived from the original on April 16, 2019. Retrieved April 16, 2019.
- ^ Herring, Will (May 28, 2008). "Review: PixelJunk Monsters (PS3)". GamePro Arcade. IDG Entertainment. Archived from the original on January 6, 2009. Retrieved April 16, 2019.
- ^ VanOrd, Kevin (January 30, 2008). "PixelJunk Monsters Review (PS3)". GameSpot. CBS Interactive. Archived from the original on April 15, 2019. Retrieved April 15, 2019.
- ^ VanOrd, Kevin (June 20, 2008). "PixelJunk Monsters Encore Review". GameSpot. CBS Interactive. Archived from the original on April 15, 2019. Retrieved April 15, 2019.
- ^ Walton, Mark (October 13, 2009). "PixelJunk Monsters Deluxe Review". GameSpot. CBS Interactive. Archived from the original on April 16, 2019. Retrieved April 15, 2019.
- ^ David, Mike (February 7, 2008). "PixelJunk Monsters - PS3 - Review". GameZone. Archived from the original on February 10, 2008. Retrieved April 16, 2019.
- ^ Platt, Dylan (October 21, 2009). "PixelJunk Monsters Deluxe - PSP - Review". GameZone. Archived from the original on October 27, 2009. Retrieved April 16, 2019.
- ^ Miller, Greg (July 30, 2013). "PixelJunk Monsters: Ultimate HD Review (Vita)". IGN. Ziff Davis. Archived from the original on April 15, 2019. Retrieved April 15, 2019.
- ^ Clements, Ryan (January 29, 2008). "PixelJunk Monsters Review (PS3)". IGN. Ziff Davis. Archived from the original on April 15, 2019. Retrieved April 15, 2019.
- ^ Clements, Ryan (May 12, 2008). "PixelJunk Monsters Encore Review". IGN. Ziff Davis. Archived from the original on April 15, 2019. Retrieved April 15, 2019.
- ^ Miller, Greg (October 1, 2009). "PixelJunk Monsters Deluxe Review". IGN. Ziff Davis. Archived from the original on April 15, 2019. Retrieved April 15, 2019.
- ^ Chambers, Evan (June 14, 2016). "PixelJunk Monsters Review". Nintendo Life. Gamer Network. Archived from the original on April 16, 2019. Retrieved April 16, 2019.
- ^ Iwaniuk, Phil (September 6, 2013). "Pixeljunk Monsters Ultimate HD PS Vita review – Vita guardian adds to the cannon". PlayStation Official Magazine – UK. Future plc. Archived from the original on September 8, 2013. Retrieved April 16, 2019.
- ^ "PixelJunk Monsters". PlayStation Official Magazine – UK. Future plc. March 2008. p. 108.
- ^ "PixelJunk Monsters Deluxe". PlayStation Official Magazine – UK. Future plc. February 2010. p. 111.
- ^ Mastrapa, Gus (February 18, 2008). "PixelJunk Monsters (PS3)". The A.V. Club. The Onion. Archived from the original on January 13, 2009. Retrieved April 15, 2019.
