The Creeps Review
There was a time when it seemed like every time you turned the App Store on you’d see another Tower Defense game. In fact I started thinking that the next step would be to create a TD game that was about stopping TD games from reaching the store (I own the idea so don’t try and steal it!).
But you know what? I bought them all. I think it’s a great genre for the iDevice and I really like trying out different strategies during game play. But for a TD game to stay on my phone it has to have something a little extra going for it. And, thankfully, Creeps has a lot that helps it separate itself from the group. And, yes, it’s staying on my phone.
The basic idea of Creeps by Super Squawk Software is that “creeps” are coming out of the closet (I’ll resist any jokes here) and are trying to make their way to a sleeping boy in order to give him nightmares. To stop this from happening you go into TD mode, setting up various weapons and other devices to try and stop the Creeps as they move along the path towards the bed.
So here you have the first bit that helps Creeps stand out from the pack, a funny little storyline that we can all relate to (keeping the nightmares away). To help with this is a fun graphical, cartoony look. This makes the game as fun to look at as it does to play. The images are bright and very easy to distinguish.
The weapons (or towers) are also very different, and fun. Since you’re playing a kid in his bedroom, it makes perfect sense that you’d be using items you might find in the room. So now you have things like toy laser guns for firing and glue guns to help slow down the baddies. The game even has some great accelerometer based weapons that make this game really fun. The Tornado can pick up a creep and send it back to the start.
At present the game gives four towers, each with three upgrades, and four of the “super towers”. The game also only opens certain towers during each level. This is nice because it forces you to get acquainted with each tower. No longer do you just find the few that you like and go with that the whole time.
If you’re a fan of the Tower Defense genre you’re probably already thinking that the game sounds good, but let’s take a quick look at some of the other things that make the game really fun.
In Creeps you can actually target the bad guys that you want out of the way. In most games if your guns are trained on something and another enemy moves past them, you’re screwed. But in Creeps you can switch up and take out the speedy creeps. This allows you to use your “slow down” towers in different ways for strategy.
All over the map you’ll see rocks, trees and other items that are in the way. Here you’ll have a chance to blow them away (using the targeting that I mentioned above) and clear away space for better tower placement. In fact, more bonus points are awarded if you can clear away everything, but to get those points you have to be very quick with the targeting method.
With the latest update (there are more promised) there are 16 different maps, though they’re really just different paths in two locations. These pathways might seems a little short, but the update also made everything a little bit harder and thus helped with the game play.
The levels give you different looks, to go along with the different towers, and each has a different number of Creep “waves”. There are some that are even unlimited so you can take the time to really work out your favorite placement strategies. Though, I will admit that after a while the early unlimited stages are a bit too easy. I one time left a game in a charger overnight and let the waves just keep coming all night long, waking up and finding that nothing had even gotten over half way through. Oddly enough I didn’t have any bad dreams that night.
The sounds in The Creeps are very nice and work well for the game but you can also use your own music in game. Just for fun I had to play Radiohead’s “Creep” during a game.
Play in the game is very easy as the layout of the maps is easy to follow. The learning curve for starting the game is very slight and it’s really up to you as to whether you push yourself to be challenged.
When the game first came out I wrote it off a little as being too easy (that night with the unlimited zone to blame), but with the latest update I’ve found myself going back to the game and not only finding it harder, but a lot more enjoyable as well. I’m glad to see Super Squawk is planning on keeping things fresh with the game. It’s well worth the price, even if it’s just to help keep your nightmares away, and I’m glad that this is one TD game that made it to the party.
For those still on the fence about Creeps, there is a Lite version available that will give you the feel for this fun TD game. And, if you’ve never played a Tower Defense game, this may very well start your addiction.
$2.99
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Category: Games
FYI – The Creeps! has been reduced to a sale price of .99
i tired the lite version .. really great
i hipe i win
This is the best tower defense game I’ve played in the app store.
Is it better than fieldrunners?
This game should give us some background of how the monsters come about in the story. No idea how they existed to make it more interesting. Just my two cents.
I have the creeps lite and have cleared 4 levels. Thats the end. Hope I could clear more in the full version.
I like the way the monsters squeek when i kill them…they are too cute to be monsters as a matter of fact. The bosses are also way bigger , reminds me of bubble bobble monsters.
I got this game a way back when it had no sound. I thought it was a good game at that time, and after they updated with more levels and sound, it is one of my favorite games.
oh god, the sounds annoy me so much…
Overall great game though. I didnt like it at first, but then i gave it another try and i loved it.
This is a AWESOME TD game! It is a blast to play. The graphics are adorable and the game play is fun!
Yeah, the damageable environment is a unique twist in the over-saturated tower defense market. I really enjoyed 7 Cities, though.
7 citites lite actually bored me
not much action or anything that wants you to continue to watch
i think the colors in the lite version of this were much better
I think it’s really nice how you can destroy parts of the environment and gain points (in the lite version)
Great review. Makes me want to get a tower defense game for the iphone! I bet this one is good and hope i win
this looks like a unique take on the tower defense genre. I love these types of games. Nice review, I’m going to go check out the lite version.
Finally a different tower defense game. I love these type of games and this one looks good!
Just here to say that I love tower defense games, especially ones that have great detail such as this one seems to have.
Ever since I have played Canyon Defense (miniclip) I have fallen in love with TD games.
It is great to see that this game offers a variety of levels with numerous waves of enemies per. Thanks for the review Glenn
thanks for the review! tower defense games are sweet.
finally a TD with an original storyline.
hey guys! Im new to the site and think its really cool. Anyways, this game looks awesome! Ive never played a tower defense game before but I think this would be a great way to get into it!
I love tower defense games on the Iphone. It looks pretty unique for the genre. Hope I win!
It looks pretty good, but if I was going to get a TD game I would probably get Fieldrunners or 7 Cities before this.
yeah the lite version is really cool
hope i could win
if not i will buy it
as always good review……
This game looks SSAAAWEEEEETT!!!
yea this game looks really good and the review, too ..
if i won’t win i will buy it
This game looks pretty sweet. I wish the lite version gave you a little bit more to play with though. Don’t know if it’s worth the money.
Awesome review, looks good was just wondering you emailed
but thx!!
Me a code for game but didn’t someone else win? – I won’t claim till confermation is given
If you get a code it’s yours.. I’ve not given out the code for this one yet.
Awesome thx dude!! You rock
This game looks like a good merge on cartoon and TD although like you said there are tons of tower defence games
i want to win!
This game looks awesome!
Like that cartoony look, and seems like it’s a lot of fun to play…
On the way to check out the lite version!
hey my last responce is still “awaiting moderation” but everyone else’s isn’t, what’s up?
Nevermind…
Hi, great review. I’d like to get the game but I dunno… It gives me the creeps…
I had never played a TD game before the iPhone, but boy are they fun. I’m still enjoying 7 Cities on my phone.
Creeps has been tempting me for a while, and it sounds like it’s got enough variances to stick out from the TD pack! I will be trying the lite version for sure.
I already have the game, but great review glenn. I love this game!
I have the game and I think it really is pretty good so take Glenn’s advice and buy the game, but not until you see who wins the contest
. Btw good review Glenn,I’ll try the unlimited tactic if I run into any “creeps” tonight! 