Warlords: Call to Arms

Warlords is a strategy war game that just isn't all that strategic. Build your army one guy at a time and send him across the board. The bigger your guy is, the longer it takes for him to be sent. The number of men (or demons or elves or ...) you can build is very impressive.

Unfortunately, as I already said, this game isn't that hard to beat. Here's how to do it in 4 steps

1) Always choose the hardest level to beat. While it may make sense to beat the easier levels first, it actually makes it harder in the long run as the difficulty increases with each level. Buying upgrades is nice, but not key to winning.

2) Set your options to auto release. Either that or get used to holding the space bar down.

3) Send 95% of your guys along one row (as you can see from the picture).

4) Select charge when you can.

And that's it. You'll beat every level by overwhelming that one row of attackers. The only exception is when you face off against the troll giants, as they can stomp right along that one row. In that level, just send your speediest guys along every row (in other words, spread out your attack).

By beating the harder levels first, you'll have an easier time completing the game at the end.

I had fun playing this game, it's too bad I figured out such an easy way to beat it. Playing as the demons isn't all that different from playing with any other race, so I'm not sure how much of a
reward they are.

Play Warlords: Call to Arms at kongregate.

Flash Element TD 2

Normally, when I'm disappointed or bored after a few minutes, I don't post about a game I've been playing. But given that this is a tower defense game and I normally like these games, I'm willing to talk about Flash Element TD 2, even if it is disappointing.

Like most tower defense games, your job is to place towers along the pathway to fire down on the creeps as they pass by. Your objective is to protect the goal, whether it's a castle or a city or whatever. This time, you're protecting your elements, the objects you need to build the towers in the first place.

There are five elements (green, purple, yellow, red and blue) that you use to build your towers (arrow, splash, sniper, fire and ice, respectively). If you've played other tower defense games, you understand what each tower does. There are two levels of towers for each element. The second level is a whole lot better, but they are also a lot more expensive.

Once placed on the field, each tower can be upgraded to level 5 allowing it do more damage (or slow the creeps down more). Each tower also has the ability to build up experience (up to level 4), giving it a slight edge.

There are 50 levels on the easy map. The best part of this game is the quips the creeps give just before they come forward and just after they die (I like the 'meep meep' from the yellows). After each level, you get interest payments, so you should try not to spend all of your money.

You can also sell your towers at 100% buy back, but only in between levels. If you sell them during the fight, you can only sell them at 80%. Which means you can totally redesign your tower placement in between levels at almost no penalty (you lose the experience your towers build up).

But despite some changes in the game play (experience, being able to sell the guns at 100% buy back in between levels), I felt bored. The levels weren't that challenging. It seems the creators want you to play again and again in an effort to build your score up. After playing Flash Element TD, I expected more from the sequel than what we've been given.

Play Flash Element TD 2 at casualcollective.

Ballistic Wars

Ballistic Wars is pool balls meets war game. Play all 15 levels over at JIG's Design Competition site to get the full effect. While I missed it when it came out (apparently there were a lot of design issues and bugs), I'm glad I played it eventually.

Basic gameplay is easy to grasp. Send your soldiers (pool balls) flying into the bombs to damage them. You only have three types of soldiers, basic, tank and specialist. The specialist can fire at targets or run into them.

The only complaints I have are minor. Scrolling is slow and can be tough to manage. And the music is quite repetitive (I eventually turned it off, leaving the sfx on). But other than that, the graphics are fun (note how the soldiers move when the ball is rolling!) and the dialogue is also fun.

I only had to reattempt a couple of levels more than once. The puzzle aspect of this game is fun, but linear.

Play Ballistic Wars at fizzlebot.

Strategy Defense

While Strategy Defense looks like a tactics game, it really isn't. There's very little strategy involved in one 'hero' taking on anywhere from 4 to 8 (until the last battle) enemies whose only strategy is to charge forward, shoot at you and then run away.

But it's still a fun game. I found that by treating it as a puzzle game I could enjoy the challenge that came with each level. While getting stuck on certain levels was extremely frustrating when I couldn't solve it, I did get by eventually.

Ever hear of moving in a diagonal? Apparently the maker of this game hasn't.

Tips:

1. Kill everything to build up your experience. While you get more money for finishing levels in fewer rounds, the xp counts for more. Instead, make sure you are at full health (or close to it) in order to build up your money supply. Building up money supplies is important. Don't waste any chance to end with a higher hp.
2. Don't worry about buying things at the store. If you don't use it, you can sell it back later at the same price.
3. Sometimes its best just to get shot and use your retaliation to fire back. Take a health potion on your turn instead of firing back and getting shot in retaliation. The best time to shoot one of your attackers is only if they will die with that shot. Otherwise, they get to hit you twice (once on your round in retaliation, and once on their round when they shoot back).
4. If you can, stay out of range of your attackers and hit them with the magic arrow. Especially on the earlier levels and against the towers, this can save you a lot of time.
5. Magic (except for the arrows) becomes useless within four rounds of when you can start using it.
   
6. If you can't avoid your attackers the best strategy is to minimize the number of attackers who can hit you in a single round. Then heal yourself on your turn. Allow your retaliation to take care of them.
7. Enemy knights are easy to avoid, so kill everything else while avoiding them.
8. Keep in mind that you can run a lot farther as a knight, and you can switch right back to whatever else you want when you get there.

Update: Oops! As the anonymous commenter pointed out below, I never told you where it was.

Play Strategy Defense at crazymonkeygames.

The Battle

The Battle is in Beta, so anything I say here could be different in the final version, and really, that should be a good thing.

Similar to Bowmaster or Bowmaster Prelude, you have a big gun that you can fire at the opposing troops (but not their base) as they try to invade your base. You can also recruit troops to attack their base or defend your position.

On the field in between the two opposing bases are turrets which you can take over (or attack if they are already occupied) and oil fields. You want to defend the oil fields in order to build up your money supply.

The money you collect can be spent on troops, research on better troops, upgrading your weaponry, or shooting at the bad guys.

What I like about this game: the introduction of money into the strategy is certainly interesting. Also, different weapons, upgrades, the cost of firing your own weapon, the 'surprise' ending on level 15 all make this enjoyable. Figuring out where to place your troops to maximize their effectiveness adds a nice bit of strategy to the game.

What I don't like (and I hope they fix in future versions):
Overall, this game is way too easy. You can shoot your way to victory on every level without recruiting more than a couple of men (who go out and occupy the turrets and oil fields). It's also way too easy to take the turret (when available) that's next to the enemy base and let it destroy the enemy base.

The research is a nice idea, but it's too easy to research everything by level 5. Then you're left with a lot of money which means you don't have to worry about spending at all.

The point system leaves a lot to be desired. Perhaps a bonus for time to finish or something. If you want to maximize your score, just kill everything the other base creates and he runs out of troops. Destroying the other base gives you a nice bonus, but not enough to make it worth your while to do so.

Also, if you have two different methods to end the level, there should be some way of marking your progress with either method. You know what the enemy base hit points look like, why don't you know how many more troops he can recruit?

Why can you stop some of your troops from running off the far side of screen and not others? Also, once you run out of population, you need to commit suicide in order to build others. It would be nice if you could sell them off instead.

Anyways, I still had fun with it. Bowmaster is way better, but if you like that, you'll like The Battle (lousy name, btw).

Tactics 100 Live

Tactics 100 Live is a tactical strategy game similar to chess, but set in a fantasy world. Set up your army using 100 points spread across up to 10 pieces to take on your opponent with. Play the single player walkthrough or go head to head against a live opponent.

You play on a 7x7 board and start off facing your opponent. But things can quickly get out of hand if you choose to charge ahead with some of your pieces. Your starting army can consist of wizards, knights, archers and healers.

Play the single player version a few times and play around with your army. You can take the balanced default army straight through the 10 levels in the single player game, but it's only be experimenting with the various upgrades that you can really have fun with this game. Will you upgrade a few to their highest level? Do you want another archer, or do you want the healers abilities? Maybe you want to try out your luck with just wizards on your side?

I'm really enjoying this game. The strategic possibilities are just fascinating.

Some things you should keep in mind. Hitting from the side or back can pay off. But exposing your own backside to a knight can be deadly. Wizards chain reactions can be really useful, but without upgrading his damage potential, hitting the fourth opponent for only 2 points may not be worth it. Knights are great for both dealing and taking damage. Use them for buffers to protect your wizards and/or archers. Archers are cheap and don't do a lot of damage, but they are very mobile (and cheap).

It is possible to beat all ten levels in the single player without losing a life, but you may need to restart a level (without a penalty) to do it. Sometimes luck plays a part, too.

Play Tactics 100 Live at kongregate.

The Blade of Innocence

Blades of Innocence is a very simple RTS game. Build up your castle and your forces and attack the other castle before the computer manages to take you down. Your income comes at a steady stream, so no worries about resource collection except to build those things that increase your income.

Not hard to beat at the easy or very easy level, this game becomes more difficult at normal. Be ready for real frustration if you get beyond that (I tend to scream about how the computer is cheating).

I try to build up resources first, then my army. This game doesn't give you much time to do that, however. And if all your footsoldiers die, when you create a new one, it may not go for the weakest opponent (Which absolutely drives me nuts!).

It's distracting to see the directions in two different languages, but I learned to live with it.

This game is not exactly going to tempt you into replaying it again and again, but for those of you who want a taste of RTS...

Play Blades of Innocence at flashgames247. Found via forbored.

Momentum Missile Mayhem

Momentum Missile Mayhem is a great twist on the defend your castle genre. Fire your missiles at the advancing tanks before they have a chance to cross your tower. You get 40 lives (40 chances to let a tank break through), but you're more likely to die when your tower blows up due to near-by explosions.

As with many archer games, pull back and let fly your missiles at the advancing hordes. Each wave gets more and more difficult, so choose wisely when it comes to your upgrades. Either better missiles, more energy build-up, better stability, etc... Everything comes into play.

Tips: Build up your energy and your stability first. Having the missile you want to throw at the advancing hordes blow up in your face instead of hitting one of the tanks is really depressing. Also, the shockwave is easy to acquire near the beginning. Set it to blow next to a line of tanks and watch them blow up in line.

One other thing. This game reminds me of bowling sometimes. If you shoot your missile at the right angle, you may get a strike, rather than just hitting that one pin on the left. Of course, it's also easy to be left with a 7-10 split, too. ;-)

Play Momentum Missile Mayhem at armorgames.

Castle Wars

Castle Wars is a card game, similar to arcomage or magic. Your job is to build up your castle and/or destroy your opponents castle. You do so by attacking, building, casting spells, etc...

The graphics and sound are pretty basic, but the strategy is interesting. There is a chat and multiplayer is possible or you can play against the computer at beginner or advanced level.

Each round starts off by increasing your resources. There are three types: bricks, weapons and crystals. For every builder, soldier or magic you have, you get one of each resource. Then you play one card from your hand (eight cards are in your hand). That card costs X amount of resources. Any cards that you can play, i.e. you have enough resources to do so, will be highlighted. If you can't play a card, or if you choose not to, you will need to discard instead (hold the ctrl button and click on the card you wish to discard).

If you build your castle up to 100 or reduce your opponents castle to 0, you win the game.

Hints and Tips:
Build up your resources in the beginning rather than trying to attack or build up your own castle. I don't believe you can rush attack or be destroyed quickly enough to make it worthwhile. Instead, try to play the soldier, school, or magician cards early on. If you can, build up your crystal stores as much as you can.

The Curse card subtracts one from each category and adds one to each category and is extremely powerful. Think about it. If you are suddenly taking in 4 resources each round, while your opponent is limited to 1...

Play Castle Wars at kongregate.

Sea of Fire

Sea of Fire is a strategy game from armorgames. I feel like I've played this game before but I can't remember what it was called.

Build up your base on just seven possible spots. The best strategy is to build up your defense, either through defensive gun enplacements and/or building your airforce to keep your opponent down, while building up your money supply. As soon as you have enough money rolling in, take out your defensive buildings and start building your factories and such.

Do yourself a favor and conquer the outer island first before striking across the mainland. In fact, do it in this order. Take the territory with the gold resource so that you can build up your finances, then the oil. Then move west to the end of the outer island. Then move south to finish the outer regions. Then strike at the mainland. You can take the capital whenever you get close enough to it, but that ends the game.

BTW, make sure you build an anti-missile laser as soon as you are able to as part of your defensive scheme. There's nothing worse than losing half your base to a missile.

Overall, not much of a game, but strategy games are few and far between.

Play Sea of Fire at fpflashfarm.

Battlefield General

Battlefield General is an RTS game. Well, it's as close to an RTS game I've seen in a flash game, at least. Build up your troops and attack your enemy. Each level has its own goals. On some, you'll need to fend off attackers, while building up your troop strength so that you can attack their castle. In others, you just need to make enough money to please the emperor.

The game is 'based' in China. The emperor is building the great wall and needs all of your excess cash to build his grand project. But if you don't make enough money, he'll penalize you so that you enter the next level with even less cash.

There's no resource gathering, aside from killing the enemy or raiding (destroying) enemy strongholds. That makes it easier to concentrate on your strategy. The best weapon is the cannon, but can be easily destroyed once an opponent gets close enough. I found the best way to cope was to build several cannons in depth, so that the ones in back can defend the ones in front (preferably from towers). Also, try to position them on hills so that anyone trying to rush the cannons has to slow down, allowing the cannon enough time to decimate even large groups.

For attacking, you probably want to use two cannons and some horsemen to lure others in. Probe with a horseman, drawing attackers into an cannon ambush (preferably from on top of a mountain). But be careful as the AI will turn your horseman around to attack if he gets hit.

The enemy AI isn't all that smart, and the website keeps trying to pop up (or under) ads which is quite annoying. Also, the 2D aspect can make it hard to determine who's who sometimes. But a free flash RTS game is pretty rare and I was able to deal with it. One nice feature is being able to save your game. So you can go back an replay any level you want.

Play Battlefield General at freeworldgroup.

Flash Circle TD

Flash Circle TD is another Tower Defense game from the same creator of Flash Element TD. This time, the weapons are a lot more balanced, and the objective has changed. Before, you had to defend the castle from invasion. Now, your objective is just to keep the number of creeps down below a certain limit (100 in normal, 80 in hard). The graphics have improved and so has the sound. But the game has become too balanced.

The problem is the upgrades just aren't a lot of help. The game has become too balanced. Each upgrade gives your gun turrets the ability to do more damage, but since with each upgrade, your increase in damage goes down and the cost goes up, the increased range just doesn't help out more.

So, either make more level 0 turrets, or upgrade the ones you've got to get as far as you can. And unless you just build Fast Towers, it doesn't seem to matter which tower you choose to use. Whether splash towers coupled with slow to spread your damage around or damage towers with their massive amounts of damage per shot, as long as you have a couple of air towers in the center to take care of the flyers, you should get into the low 70's.

Play Flash Circle TD at candystand.

What's your best strategy?

Update: Tip: (or should I call it a walkthrough?) I was able to get to level 103, score of 2878 using the following strategy. Build 4 splash towers (then upgrade) in the upper (middle-ring, as opposed to the center and outer rings) right hand, with slow towers nearby. As the creeps come in on the right, click on the front creep to target him. As he falls back into the crowd, click on the next creep to come to the front, thereby bunching them up. This allows you to maximize the splash affect.

Build some slow towers on the left side, to automatically bunch up the creeps as they come in the left.

Once your four splash towers have been upgraded, build some more.

Also, build some air towers in the center to take care of the flyers as needed.

The only issue with this strategy is the massive amount of clicking you need to do. Fast creeps can ruin this, as well as too many flyers left circling around. They just get in the way.

Update Again
Flash Circle TD was updated to include interest payments. You get 5% back at the start of each wave for whatever money you have in the bank. You've also lost the ability to target creeps, so the above strategy no longer works.

Current Strategy: you should allow the creeps to build up as much as you can stand in order to take advantage of the interest payments. In other words, don't build more towers unless you need to. Build one fast tower, then let the creeps come. When you feel like you're about to be overrun, build a damage tower in the center block (along the edge). Let it go again. When you feel like you're in danger again, build another damage tower. Let the creeps keep coming. When needed, add an air tower. When you feel like it, upgrade. Repeat...

As long as you keep building up a money supply, you're interest payments will allow you to stay ahead of the creeps. By doing this, I put over $9 million in the bank on level 207. The hard part is not building at the beginning. If you're a gamer, your first response is to act, not wait. I assume I would still get overrun eventually, since I should run out of building space. But by level 150, if you're not bored, you need to get out more. ;-)

Desktop Tower Defense

Desktop Tower Defense is another tower defense game, but with more freedom. You can place your towers anywhere you like. Otherwise, it's more of the same. You get five choices for towers, each with their own strengths and limitations. Upgrade them (one fully upgraded tower is worth more than just about any amount of level one towers), then let the creeps come at them.

Basically, you have a gentleman's agreement with the creeps. They can't attack your towers, but you can't completely block their passage through.

I have to say, finding a good arrangement for my towers was a challenge. At first, I tried to build up the pellet guns as far as possible, figuring that was a cheap way to go. But the pellet guns, despite their phenomenal range once upgraded, were just too slow, even when I built up a maze that had the creeps on screen for a long time. Eventually, the maze would get overwhelmed with too many creeps on screen. So, a flyer would come on, while I was still trying to get rid of the creeps on the ground. And I would lose on level 47 or 48 (there are 49).

Instead, I came up with this '2' maze, with the squirt towers built up as much as possible in the middle. By getting the creeps to circle around the center, I'm able to keep up the maximum amount of firepower on them for just long enough. I still have trouble with the last flying group, though. I win on 'normal', but about a dozen creeps do manage to get through. It's frustrating to say the least to see the flying boss (level 42), in particular, to fly right by.

Feel free to let me know about your best strategy for defeating the creeps.

Play Desktop Tower Defense at handdrawngames.

Other Tower Defense games:
Flash Element Tower Defense - TD
Tower Defence
Imminent

Update: I was able to kill all on normal level using a circle defense: See the map That's a swarm tower surrounded by squirt towers. Frost towers line the circle to slow them down. Score 6352.

Rails of War

Rails of War is very similar looking to Final Fortress, but with a twist. This time instead of defending a fixed fortification, you're defending a moving target. But despite the similar looks, the gameplay is quite different, and not for the better.

First, it takes way too long to figure out how to play this game. Not only do you have to make choices about which rail cars to attach to your train, it just isn't clear what difference it makes. Do you go with the passenger car, or the coal car. And how does that affect your engine. And sometimes, after making your choice, the car you had chosen in the previous step disappears, but it's never clear why.

Also, it shouldn't be so hard to hook in another car midway through the level. The designers should have had the helicopter come in and do it automatically. Instead, you're left sitting there on the tracks for a few minutes trying to line the *&#*# thing up on the track. It's a waste of time and just interrupts the gameplay.

Also, it's very hard to make it through even one level. Unlike Final Fortress where you have a gradual build up of forces arrayed against you, Rails of War starts out hard and gets worse.

But, you may still want to try it out for the differences. Tip: Hold the left mouse button and continuously fire your cannon. Also, make sure you get the biggest cannon you can. It makes a big difference. Also, make sure you make a full stop in the compounds so that you can refuel and repair.

Play Rails of War at miniclip.

Endless War 3

Endless War 3 puts you in the middle of various mini-battles. The objective is simple: survive.

Each battle scene will present new weapons and new combatants, from a battlefield, whether you're fighting in WWII, Iraq, or in the future against aliens, in order to win, you'll need to reach some spot on the other side of the battle field.

Be careful when you go up against the aliens. Some of their shots will bounce. If you spend the time and make it all the way to level 4, you'll get a chance to play with those cool alien toys.

I'm not sure there are many tips I can give you, but here you go:
When the battle starts, let your teammates take the fire at first. Once the major shooting dies down, carefully proceed to engage each enemy fighter one-by-one. Don't get caught out by several opponents at once. If you can, get them to come to you, where your allies can take shots at them. Once they're distracted, step out and take them down.

Play Endless War at ungrounded.net

Flash Element Tower Defense (TD)

Flash Element Tower Defense is very similar to Tower Defense, but with some upgrades. These upgrades make this game a little bit easier, but at the same time, make the game more enjoyable.

Probably the biggest difference is your objective has shifted. Not completely, since you still need to keep the attackers from making their way through the maze. But the emphasis here is not just to survive, but also on 'just surviving'. Since you earn interest on any money you don't spend, you have to try to spend just enough to get you to the next level.

Also, if the attackers make it through, not only do they take some life (you have 20 chances), they also take away some of your money. And then they will come back through again.

Some other tweaks: hit the spacebar and you can see each creeps hp. Also, there are new towers, as well as upgrades every 7 levels. I suggest getting the money upgrade first, then the other three. Water slows down the creeps, while fire does some big damage with splash. Earth does a lot more damage, but you can't hit air creeps.

The best thing to do is to build up your money supply by building arrow turrets at the beginning. Then, when you have enough money, you can put combo towers in the center. They have the longest range and damage, but are very expensive at 200 gp. And you're going to need that extra damage potential in the last levels.

Play Flash Element TD at novelconcepts.

Bowmaster Prelude

Bowmaster Prelude successfully merges strategy, shooting and action into one fun and exciting (if long) game. 30 levels of shooting action, while your knights, horses, archers and priests take the field against your enemy. If you like the original bowmaster, you'll like this prelude.

Take charge of the hero archer with his magical bow. Upgrade your weapon, or recruit more forces to take the field. Help out your men by shooting the enemy, but be careful... You can hit your own guys.

Tips and other help: There are several options for shooting: From auto aim to drag and shoot. Take your pick, but don't worry. You won't be stuck with it. Keep track of what kind of damage each type of arrow does. Any ice creatures (white) react poorly to fire (red) and vice-versa. Flying enemies are a pain, but don't do as much damage (unless you totally ignore them). Each level ends when you capture their flag, or you defeat all waves.

I prefer to destroy the opposing castle as quickly as I can. It gives you a better field of fire as the wave of opponents enters the screen. His archers tend to hide behind it, too.

You only gain xp and gold by shooting with your basic arrow. So keep going back to it. You'll need the money for upgrades and your xp needs to go up in order for your hero to level up so he's capable of doing more damage. Head shots do more damage, but you may want to avoid them in the first few levels. Killing in two shots gives you more money and more xp.

On level 30, the big guy (shown in the picture) is invulnerable until he raises his axe (shoot him in the belly) or when he takes off his helmet (hit him with an exploding arrow to knock him over).

Categorize this under: Strategy, Shooter, Action

Play Bowmaster Prelude at lostvectors.

Tower Defence

Tower Defence is a strategic game in which you place turrets throughout the playing field in your best effort to defend your citizens from the invading dots. You have several choices in turrets, and depending on which turret you pick, you may only get so far.

Each wave of attackers is that much harder to kill. So it's not enough to build a bunch of small turrets. Each turret must be carefully placed to take advantage of its strength. For instance, fire may hit hard at lower levels, but water can shoot farther.

Probably the hardest defend your castle game I've played. I can only get in the low 70s for a score. How about you?

Categorize this under: Strategy, Shooter

Play Tower Defence at jeannettevejarano.

All Hallows Eve

All Hallows Eve is a fun zombie shooter/defend your castle game. You'll probably get sick of the 'brains....', 'death', and 'ahhhhh....' from the various undead coming at you. But that's ok. You can always turn the sound down.

Pick your weaponry carefully. I was trying the molotov cocktails out at a later stage in the game and almost got trampled because of the slow reload. It may do a lot of damage, but the frag grenades are so much better. Also, the Uzi is key. Despite it's lower damage, 30 rounds is hard to turn your nose up at.

Take head shots. They do more damage. Oh... there is a zombie without a head, however. Kind of disorienting after training yourself to only shoot at the head. You can buy several upgrades to the auto repair. It's probably the most useful defense you can get.

Categorize this under: Strategy, Shooter, Action

Play All Hallows Eve at gamesbob.

1 vs 100

Do you know which of the rice krispies gang always wears a hat? Or how about the main characters name in Old Man in the Sea? What type of do is snoopy, anyways? If so, you're probably already watching 1 vs 100 on NBC. Now go play it.

No strategy will get you through the first time around, but if you keep playing the questions will repeat themselves. So work your way up to the grand prize of a million dollars.

The timer is annoying when you're trying to figure out who your father's mother's daughters son is.

Categorize this under: Puzzle

Play 1 vs 100 at nbc.