Dungeon Defenders 2: Four-player lane defence that towers over the opposition

Few take fans as seriously as Trendy Entertainment. Organised into a so-called Defence Council, their community boasts 10,000 members and advises on matters of supreme importance, such as the range of totems and the quality of magical headwear. Ok, so the name’s a little dramatic, but it shows the developer is committed. Case in point: there’s an avuncular tavern keeper you can report bugs to. That’s what marks the biggest difference between the dev’s first tower defence game and its sequel: this one’s for the players.

You have more character choice now, picking from several heroes including squire, huntress, mage, monk and apprentice and making use of their unique powers. The squire, for instance, can riposte to fling damage back at enemies, while the huntress lobs oil flasks which make foes nicely flammable. Monks, meanwhile, support other players (up to three can join) with damage-boosting auras. It’s all about what loot you find and what gear you equip. Want to regenerate health or resist magic? Then spec that way.

You have more choice in fights, too. a popular setup plants cannonball towers behind spike blockades as long-range ballistas fire from the back. between each of the five hectic rounds you can hoover up items, repair towers, and upgrade them up to five times provided you’ve levelled your character enough.

Tavern Brawl
There’s so much activity under the surface, whether it’s the post-game lucky dips, random mobs from the tricky Wave Director, or the dizzying number of ways you can construct your character, that you almost forget the wonderful visuals layered on top. Grand throne rooms, lazy villages, and magical forests complete with scampering squirrels supply a kids’ movie aesthetic.

Between levels you’ll visit the tavern to buy power-modifying relics, pick new equipment, and even play dress-up: the monk gets ninja gear while the huntress has Little red riding Hood garb. That’s where the title’s free-to-play model will come in adding cosmetic touches rather than game-changing ones.

Listening to the fans has stood Trendy entertainment in good stead so far, with the Council’s trusty feedback evident in a tower defence game brimming with depth. Here’s hoping the team keeps its ears to the wind.