packet.Breach()

A unique strategical tower defense about hacking.

You awaken in a haze, with hardly a memory of what happened the day before. In a stupor, you arise and log in to a forgotten server, an unrecognizable sense of urgency permeates your actions.

But of course, this is only the beginning of the rabbit hole. Just how deep will it go?

packet.Breach() is a 180 degree spin on the classic tower defense formula. As a game designer, and as an avid tower defense enjoyer, I have two design problems with the typical tower defense formula:

• Towers, when placed, remain on the field nearly indefinitely.
• Towers are also entirely independent, granting no synergy to other towers.

packet.Breach() is my take on what tower defenses could truly be, distilled to the core. packet.Breach() exudes comprehensive simplicity, yet breaths intelligent elegance. Easy to learn, difficult to master.

Tips

This game is difficult! In order to beat the game, you must demonstrate a solid understanding of the mechanics and strategy.

• You can hold up to three towers (stock) at a time. If you have three towers in your stock, you aren't generating additional towers!
• Each packet (bullet) can only be modified by each individual Modifier tower once. (If a packet crosses through 2 different Sting.breach towers, it will still gain +2 damage. However, if a packet crosses the same Sting.breach twice, it will only gain +1 damage.)
• When a wave is completed, the screen will move over by 3 tiles. Towers that are outside of the screen bounds cease to function. Plan accordingly!
• When an enemy touches the left edge of the screen, you lose a heart, and the wave restarts.
• Gemicorn.breach (duplicate and split) towers are naturally better than snake.breach (rotate clockwise) and counter_snake.breach (rotate counterclockwise) towers, since Gemicorns rotate in both directions anyways. Plus, you can potentially utilize an extra packet!
• Place your Modifier towers in an order that grants the greatest bonus! For example, Sting.breach (+1 damage) should always be placed before Fatale.breach (x2 damage) towers.
• Likewise, try to stack as much damage on packets as you can before they get placed in a duplicator!
• If your tower setup is strong enough that it shreds enemies, don't keep improving it! Instead, try to set up another chain of towers farther ahead, with the intention that you will continue to have a strong setup even when the screen shifts past your previous setup.
• Defeating enemies as quickly as possible can be a detrimental strategy, due to the fact that you gain more stock (towers) if a wave lasts a while.
• Pause the game to think through things! You can still read descriptions and place towers while the game is paused.

Credits

Celtican: Programmer, composer, game designer

Gardenovena: Artist

View the Ludum Dare page for more info!

Known Bugs

• If the game is paused while enemies are spawning tightly grouped, the enemies can "clump together" and appear like one enemy. Sometimes, this "super enemy" is invincible to damage. I recommend pausing the game while enemies are not spawning.