I still remember the time when I was in high school, hiding under the covers and playing "Super Defense" on GBA. At that time, the screen was so small that the pixel particles were visible to the naked eye, but I still remember the sweaty palms of my hands every time I felt nervous about deploying troops and upgrading turrets. Later, when I went to college, I could occasionally play some strategic tower defense games on the PSP, but I always felt that it was missing a bit of flavor—it wasn't that the game wasn't good, it was that I couldn't find the sense of focus I had in my youth.
Until yesterday when I came across this "Assault Commander 2021", I didn't have any hope. I thought that mobile games nowadays are all about gold-based games. Once you play it, you can't stop playing it! 👀 It's the same thing about managing islands and resisting enemies, but the graphics in the replica version are too detailed. You can even see the textures of the modeling of the units and turrets, which was something you couldn't even imagine on the GBA back then. What surprised me the most was the design of "taking the initiative to attack other islands" - in the past, strategy games on handheld consoles were basically defensive counterattacks, and there was rarely this kind of initiative of "you grab my resources first, and I will go and place turrets at your doorstep". I feel that the planner understands veteran players and amplifies the excitement of "strategizing and counterattacking the whole game" very well.
Of course, the original also has the flavor of the original. For example, in the GBA version back then, the "Lightning Storm" skill could only be used once, and the whole process was so tense that it felt like playing with a heartbeat. However, the skill CD of the mobile game version was shortened, which increased the sense of exhilaration, but lacked the decisiveness of a last-ditch battle. But having said that, now that the pace is fast, this kind of adjustment is more in tune. And it's free with no in-app purchases. For a nostalgic person like me who only plays a few games on the commute, it's a waste of youth! 🎮
If you have ever played strategic tower defense on a handheld console, believe me, this "Assault Commander 2021" is worth a try. No need for krypton, no need for liver, just to regain the feeling of "I am the commander, I have the final say" back then. Youth is back, brothers! 🚀