Download Ancient Rush 2 NSP Full Game

Table of Contents

About this Game

Ancient Rush 2 Origins will feel instantly familiar to anyone who has played Kingdom Rush or Kingdom Rush Frontiers – and that’s by no means a bad thing. However, there are some minor differences, all of which are welcome. Having played all three of these mobile titles on my phone and the Switch, I can confidently say that they are a perfect fit for the console.

As the title suggests, this is a prequel, but newcomers need not worry; the story is not the main focus of the game. That said, you do get a brief written introduction that gives context to each level, and most stages contain plot elements woven into the comic book style. Interactive maps make each level feel unique, and the adventurous music score is neither intrusive nor annoying (although the sound effects could be).

From the first few levels, it’s clear that the terrain is more interesting than in previous episodes. The days of straight paths are over; routes now constantly cross, opening up new strategic possibilities and giving enemies new ways to bypass your defenses and reach the target you need to protect. Certain map elements can change over time, requiring you to constantly stay on your toes.

The left joystick allows you to switch between different building plots where you can build four types of towers: archers, mystics, stone circles, and barracks. The first three deal different levels of damage at different ranges and speeds. Meanwhile, soldiers can be redeployed from the barracks to effectively block the enemy advance, exposing the enemies to fire from your turrets.

A familiar concept for series veterans

If this sounds familiar to series veterans, it’s because the core formula remains unchanged. Whatever the towers look like, especially in their highly improved forms, they perform the same functions. And, just like before, you can’t set attack priorities for specific enemies; This becomes a hindrance when a tower focuses on a straggler rather than a large group.

However, the heroes make dealing with stragglers easy. This mechanic – which returns in this episode – lets you control a powerful soldier and instantly place them anywhere on the map. Some, like the starting hero, have ranged attacks, while you can unlock stronger ones later. It’s also a breeze to pick off enemies trying to escape, thanks to the return of reinforcements and the ability to zap enemies with lightning.

These enemies come in a wide variety of shapes and sizes.

Some are more vulnerable to specific types of damage. Defeating them gives you gold to spend on towers, although the task isn’t just about clearing out an advancing horde. The levels themselves sometimes contain enemy elements that affect your tower or barracks soldiers; conversely, you can find a local willing to help you for a fee. Managing all of these factors is much easier with touch controls than with Joy-Cons – which makes sense given the game’s mobile origins.

(Get the pun?) Still, playing without the touchscreen isn’t too much trouble, although the experience is better in handheld or tabletop than in TV mode. Each victory earns stars that can be used to upgrade heroes, towers, and skills. Upgraded turrets can be cheaper and deal more damage, while upgrades reduce cooldown. You can reallocate points according to your needs or just to experiment. Beating levels on different difficulty settings earns you more stars, giving you another reason to keep playing this incredibly addictive tower defense game.