by Cat Sentz

Created on: May 21, 2008   Last Updated: May 22, 2008

If your mind is already numb and tower building thumb raw from the first iteration of this too-cute-to-be-harmless downloadable, then brace yourself: PixelJunk Monsters Encore is now available from the Playstation Store. Easily one of the best things available for under $10, Encore adds to the strategic tower building game with twice the levels and even a little price restructuring for those tower unlockables.

In case you missed the fun the first time around, think Desktop Tower Defense with trees you turn into forts, and then dance in; PixelJunk Monsters is real time strategy with its fair share of whimsy. You'll feel like a kid again as you convert the local flora into surface to air defense towers all to protect the little creatures of the forest residing in your home base. No word yet on how all those creatures of the forest feel about you destroying their natural cover in favor of an arsenal, but I have to figure they prefer it to death by local monster. Each baddie that slips through your defenses takes down one hopping innocent, and if that isn't enough to get your defensive juices flowing there's always the money. It's a simple, straightforward formula that doesn't require much tinkering.

A generous expansion pack, Encore doesn't change much from your first forays on Tiki Island. The new music, consistent with the original soundtrack, is a pleasant addition and unobtrusive enough that you won't be humming it at work the next day. Toki Island is now available (and frankly, in desperate need of your help) offering a whole new array of maps. Okay, at least one of them is more than a teensy bit familiar. The Ice Tower has been added to your unlocked arsenal, though its still a bit costly for a tower that often barely manages to control the enemy onslaught. The cost of the Tesla Tower has been reduced, which is a welcome change given the strength of the tower. Each of these changes open up the possibility of new strategy early on and you'll need to rethink the approach you perfected last time around because...

Downside? All those lovely perks you collected on Tiki (running, mines, running, oh and running!) are...gone. Completely gone. This makes the easy levels some of the hardest in the game as you readjust to your let's-watch-paint-dry pace. Even the so-called easy levels will have you crying in a corner, begging for strategic advice and something to numb the pain of defeat. If you struggled with the first game, prepare to be beaten into a useless lump of bitterness. Just passing some of the levels is painstaking, forget about snagging the elusive rainbow delivered for a perfect round. If, however, you completely trounced the original or you're really into self-loathing and harbor a fervent taste for suffering, have at it.

All that doom and gloom out of the way, I couldn't get enough of the first game and the same holds true for Encore. Beastly difficult or not, Q-Games' gets so much right, and packs it all neatly into an affordable package.

Ups: New maps and music

Downs: Beastly difficult

Graphics: 8.0
Trompe l'oeil graphics aren't really the point, and the simple style delivers.

Sound: 8.0
New music is a welcome addition, and fits well with the game.

Gameplay: 8.5
Totally addictive but at times unnecessarily difficult.

Fun Factor: 8.5
High on fun, and on potential frustration.

Overall: 8.3/10

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