PixelJunk Monsters
Encyclopedia
PixelJunk Monsters is a game developed by Q-Games
for the PlayStation 3
. It was released worldwide on the PlayStation Store
on January 24, 2008. The game has also been released for the PlayStation Portable
under the title PixelJunk Monsters Deluxe.
PixelJunk Monsters Encore, an expansion pack for the game, was released April 24, 2008 in Japan; May 8, 2008 in North America; and May 15, 2008 in Europe.
Gameplay in PixelJunk Monsters borrows similarities from 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.
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.
. 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.
. It is the first audio album to be released through PSN.
PixelJunk Monsters Deluxe received even more favorable reviews than the PS3 version. IGN rated the game a 9.0/10, while GameSpot rated the game an 8.0/10. The PSP version of the game currently holds an 86/100 rating on Metacritic.
Q-Games
Q-Games is a video game developer based in Nakagyō-ku, Kyoto, Japan. It has a mixture of foreigners and Japanese nationals on staff and works closely with both Nintendo and Sony.-Foundation:...
for the PlayStation 3
PlayStation 3
The is the third home video game console produced by Sony Computer Entertainment and the successor to the PlayStation 2 as part of the PlayStation series. The PlayStation 3 competes with Microsoft's Xbox 360 and Nintendo's Wii as part of the seventh generation of video game consoles...
. It was released worldwide on the PlayStation Store
PlayStation Store
The PlayStation Store is an online virtual market available to users of Sony's PlayStation 3 and PlayStation Portable game consoles via the PlayStation Network. The Store offers a range of downloadable content both for purchase and available free of charge. Available content includes full games,...
on January 24, 2008. The game has also been released for the PlayStation Portable
PlayStation Portable
The is a handheld game console manufactured and marketed by Sony Corporation Development of the console was announced during E3 2003, and it was unveiled on , 2004, at a Sony press conference before E3 2004...
under the title PixelJunk Monsters Deluxe.
PixelJunk Monsters Encore, an expansion pack for the game, was released April 24, 2008 in Japan; May 8, 2008 in North America; and May 15, 2008 in Europe.
Gameplay
Tower defense
Tower defense is a subgenre of real-time strategy computer games.The goal of tower defense games is to try to stop enemies from crossing a map by building towers which shoot at them as they pass. Enemies and towers usually have varied abilities, costs, and ability costs...
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
The PixelJunk Monsters Encore expansion pack includes an additional 15 levels, including layouts inspired by classic arcade games such as Pac-ManPac-Man
is an arcade game developed by Namco and licensed for distribution in the United States by Midway, first released in Japan on May 22, 1980. Immensely popular from its original release to the present day, Pac-Man is considered one of the classics of the medium, virtually synonymous with video games,...
and Space Invaders
Space Invaders
is an arcade video game designed by Tomohiro Nishikado, and released in 1978. It was originally manufactured and sold by Taito in Japan, and was later licensed for production in the United States by the Midway division of Bally. Space Invaders is one of the earliest shooting games and the aim is to...
. 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
A new version of PixelJunk Monsters is currently available for the PlayStation PortablePlayStation Portable
The is a handheld game console manufactured and marketed by Sony Corporation Development of the console was announced during E3 2003, and it was unveiled on , 2004, at a Sony press conference before E3 2004...
. 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.
Soundtrack
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 StorePlayStation Store
The PlayStation Store is an online virtual market available to users of Sony's PlayStation 3 and PlayStation Portable game consoles via the PlayStation Network. The Store offers a range of downloadable content both for purchase and available free of charge. Available content includes full games,...
. It is the first audio album to be released through PSN.
| Tracklisting | |
|---|---|
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Reception
PixelJunk Monsters received generally positive reviews. IGN awarded the PS3 version an 8.5, while GameSpot gave the game a 7.5/10. The soundtrack was generally well-received, though GameSpot claimed that it "may drive you batty".PixelJunk Monsters Deluxe received even more favorable reviews than the PS3 version. IGN rated the game a 9.0/10, while GameSpot rated the game an 8.0/10. The PSP version of the game currently holds an 86/100 rating on Metacritic.