The most recent in the Bloons TD saga, Bloons Tower Defense 4, claims to be the best, with new features and updated game play. As far as the others found on Kongregate, it really does hold true and does improve on the originals... but enough to warrant playing it, we will soon find out...

Low and behold it does! Yes the fourth installment of this title does actually have a reason to exist, and it isn't just a ploy by the author to make money... although you can be sure that he is sure trying to make a lot of money off of it. This site has a feature where you can purchase upgrades in game using cash, something I would never encourage... but if you want to I suppose feel free. However, even without any upgrades this game sure does take some metaphorical cake. It offers new towers, new levels, and all new pathing. The more options included in this version do make it better than the original. Some features that I noted specifically were the individual towers behavior such as which balloon to target, as well as a ranking system.

For those new to Tower Defense games, baddies travel along a predetermined path trying to escape and claim your lives, it's your job to stop them. To do so, a variety of towers must be employed... I do mean variety, this game is impossible to beat using only 1 or 2 types of towers. Personally I found that without the use of at least 6 or 7 different combinations it was extremely difficult to beat the medium and hard settings.

In any event, Bloons TD 4 has implemented two main features I want to comment on. Firstly is the ability to unlock new rankings. As you gain levels and rankings through killing massive numbers of Bloons you will gain new upgrades for your towers. These upgrades are what will allow you to supersede some of the more difficult stages. Upgrades range from missiles that deal extra damage to Bloons blimps to Super Monkey storms that clear all baddies from the screen. This I suppose could be labeled as an RPG style element, but I would call it more just a slightly more complex upgrade system that encourages users to continue playing. Essentially, you gain rankings and get new bonuses for existing towers, and in the first stage you actually have to unlock the towers.

More new features include the ability to save current games, so if you are currently working on a level and have something important come up you can save your design. Music and sounds can be disabled during the game without going to a menu, and the layout of the screen is fairly clean without alot of distractions.

There is also now a variety of tracks to chose from, also there is an upgrade pack you can buy, and even user designed tracks can be made. Another addition is sandbox mode, in which you have unlimited cash to do with what you please, and Armageddon mode, where once the Bloons start they never stop.

As far as difficulty, this version does step it up ever so slightly. No longer can you simply rush a super monkey and win the game. Now levels required more planning and a lot more creativity in defense. I found an excellent array of multi-directional towers combined with freeze towers, bomb towers, single dart monkey and upgrade towers works well. Finally Super monkeys do add that last bit of defense that just obliterates most things... but don't be fooled, those blimps will still stop even some of the most stalwart defense.

Overall I was quite pleased with this version of a TD game. It updates the older version, adds some new features, ramps up difficulty and doesn't ruin what it was doing well. I would encourage everyone to play this game, be it for 30 minutes or 3 hours you won't be disappointed.

Rating:

Longevity: 4.0/5
Interface: 3.5/5
Addictiveness: 3.5/5
Sound: 3.0/5
Simplicity: 3.0/5

Overall: 3.4/5

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It's Bloons!!! This game is absurdly great, you will find yourself addicted to the complex nature that is popping balloons with darts. It is highly challenging to get through all 50 levels without just flipping on Unlimited Darts Mode and spamming...

This game combines A LOT of skill with a bit of luck, and some chaos. Bloons by: Ninja Kiwi Games really is the pinnacle of this type of game.

I am not sure what to classify it under, but we will call it puzzle just because, well, each level it its own little puzzle in itself. The game introduces A LOT of elements to it. Including a wide variety of special balloons that each serve unique functions. With 50 levels of game play this puzzler will keep you served for a long time.

The game is pretty user friendly, the 'How to Play' section is kept to 1 page, and the game really takes off quite fast. It starts relatively simply, shoot some balloons with a limited number of darts and move on the next level. But as the number of darts gets closer and closer to the smallest number possible, and as the game introduces more and more elements it gets fairly challenging. The hardest part is not just trying to shoot random darts to win. You can't, it doesn't work like that.

Careful planning, and taking note of all special elements in the level is the critical focus. These unique balloons can range from Ice balloons that will freeze balloons around it, making them unpoppable. Or even a Pac-man balloon that temporarily turns your dart into the memorable character from our arcade loving past. Control Pac-man with the arrow keys when the time comes.

The sounds take a bit of a back seat considering there is no way to disable or even turn them down, which started to get annoying once you reach later levels.

Especially level 50. With 250 balloons and the entire thing being set off with a giant chain reaction, you will really want to mute the sound for that one... In fact it is so bloated with effects your browser might crash... Mine did.

However, hands down the best features of this game are two important elements.

1. The fact that you don't need to pop every balloon on most levels. Moreover, this is a useful feature because it means some levels can have multiple approaches, or ones that look promising only to fail and make you search else where.

2. The aptly named 'Unlimited Dart Mode'. This mode will let you continue with your game having a limitless supply of darts. Now while this is cheating, the real help is being able to learn how to beat each level while not having to restart each level.

I have to say, besides the sound, and the lack of a 'Score', this game really does seem to be the crowning victor for its category... Puzzle shooty thingies.

Rating:

Longevity: 3.5/5
Interface: 3.5/5
Addictiveness: 4.0/5
Sound: 3.0/5
Simplicity: 4.0/5

Overall: 3.6/5

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