People who know me well know that I am an absolute sucker for a good tower defense game. In fact, I’m a sucker for any tower defense game, quality isn’t important. Preventing the “enemy” from crossing the field is something that tend to get a little obsessive about.
I’ve played a number of excellent free tower defense games on my Android based T-Mobile G1
Robo Defense from Lupis Labs is incredible. In addition to the open map with a single opening and exit, there are maps with three openings on one side and with three openings on the right and top, thus making planning your defense quite interesting.
Robo Defense offers 40 levels of difficulty with three levels of map difficulty. That ends up being a total of 120 levels. The game offers a number of “achievements,” such as completing a level without using guns, or another for not using rockets. There is even an achievement for completing a level without upgrading any towers.
Speaking of upgrades, towers can be upgraded and modified. Guns can be changed into anti-aircraft cannons, which can then themselves be upgraded. Rocket systems can be upgraded to surface to air missles (SAMs). SAMs can then be subsequently upgraded. Judicious use of the game’s slow towers, especially the upgraded slow towers, is a good way to keep fast moving aircraft positioned above upgraded SAM or rocket batteries.
If you are the type of player who wants to hurry the process along and get to building, Robo Defense offers a fast forward feature that runs the game at double speed. If the game is played entirely at normal speed, plan on 30 minutes per level. Even with the fast forward engaged, plan on 15 to 20 minutes per level.
With all of the available levels and achievements, a fantastic feature of Robo Defense is the ability to spend your points to upgrade your towers. I can’t imagine trying to play a level 21 map with level 1 towers. The strategy for upgrading towers will depend on how you play the game. Personally, I am a big fan of rockets, so I tend to upgrade explosions and rocket re-load over other tower upgrades.
My conclusion? This game is addictive, highly customizable, challenging, and incredibly fun. For $2.99, it is a great value that will provide many hours of challenging entertainment.
Gallery
Related Posts
About The Author
Follow on Twitter Subscribe
Christopher Earle
Christopher Earle has been working as a freelance writer since 1987. He currently lives in the Denver, Colorado area with his wife, son, and their two cats. He has been a fan of open source software for many years.
97 Comments
Good to hear the tip about the upgrade points. I was really frustrated with playing difficulty 5 without it
: ( can’t play on my dev phone as they asked for it to be protected. If I switch over to jesus freak or another vrs should I be able to download it?
Flash the JesusFreak build of ADP and you should be good to go.
A fourth map was released today for the paid version. The free version is also a lot of fun.
It is nice to see a dev offer continued support and add new features to their game. Robo Defense is now in the top sellers so I hope others recognize this and follow their lead.
This game is amazing. I played the free, bought the upgrade the day it hit the market, and I’ve been addicted since. It’s easily the best game on the market imo. I spend at least an hour a day playing. It’s well worth the $2.99
Hidden due to low comment rating. Click here to see.
Im sorry you have no fun with it, it seems like you just suck at playing.
lol yea.. the first day i had was okay then once i figured out how to do evrything like upgrade towers it was awesome!
Love the game, the achievements. And rewards are much fun
Hi, how do i find the full version, it is not showing up in my android market.
I’m based in australia, but have enabled the market hack to make me look like a US customer.
Unfortunately, i cant’ download the full version
– i’m from Switzerland
I have acheived the level 8 with the free version !!
who says more ?
Does somebody know if the full version keeps the gained points from the free one ?
I have 2 000 000 points to spend
I’ve accomplished level 9 in the free version. I also managed to finish the following achievements:
Perfect 25, Perfect 50, Perfect 100, Fast-paced, rocketman, gunner, cheapskate, big spender, 25K Club, Big Score, No sale, Fast lan, Solid effort, rainy day, big saver, big one.
Too bad I can’t buy the full version since I live in Sweden. By the time we’re allowed in to the paying market I will probably be sick of this game and won’t buy it anway!
Great game though!
Just finished level 10 on the free version, required some frantic teleport-tower madness, and a fair share of luck, but it can be done.
To switch over your robo defense gained points from robo defense free to payed robo defense BACK UP the “robo_defense_free.bak” from your SD card before you buy the game.
Delete the “robo_defense_full.bak” file from the SD after you’ve purchased the game.
Put the “robo_defense_free.bak” back on the SD, then rename the file to “robo_defense_full.bak”. Worked perfect for me.
It did it automatically for me. I didn’t have to back up any files or anything. I just installed the full version and all my points earned and awards carried over, no problem.
yes the full version keeps reward points earned in the free game. we just upgraded today and I am resorting to reading about it because my girl won’t give me back my phone.
This game is a blast, where does time go! Seriously, a neat game worth reviewing if you own a G1.
i want to no how i can buy this game,
is it possible to do it whit my own pc or must i use my G1 for it.
I think that only people in USA can buy it. A terrible shame.
Yeah! Totally addictive. Both for my 9yr old daughter and myself
Using a dev unit I can’t get the Full version (or?)…
I’ve achieved level 9-71 with the Free version. Anyone got any higher?
i have finished it!
Seriously, where can I buy it for my android? not found in market.
if you go to the android market on your phone and select the games option then push your menu button select the search option and type in robo defense, should bring up the free & paid versions
I am from the US, and I cannot find the game in the market either. What gives?
Different regions have different market access. Some providers/roms dont connect to the market via an app that allows for pay apps.
This happens for a variety of reasons including license issues. You can still go to the devs website and request a copy that way.
LOVE the game? What’s the best tower setup that you’ve come across? I find weaving back and forth with a step ladder approach works best and eliminates the need for speed slowing towers as they all have to make multiple turns and ti seems to slow them down just a bit… ANyone else?
Jamie – yeah, I use the same approach, steps of towers, but I also place slow towers in the gap, which still allows them to zap the bad guys with slow, and make them go slower with multiple turns.
Ugly ASCII example:
T T
TS
TS
T = tower of some type
S = slow tower
enemy comes in between the corridor of the two T’s on the left, then goes up, right, up, right, while getting nuked and slowed.
That creates a very slow corridor and enhances the effect of your gun towers. Put rocket towers one level back, and then your rockets get em while your guns get em while your slow towers slow them down …
‘luck
Oops. I guess the ascii art didn’t really work. Try this on for size, then:
..S..T………T
T………….T
…….T.. S
T..S
Not sure if that one will come through …
my personal favorite (excellent against air & ground)
MRRCCCCCRRRCCCCCRRRCCCCCRR
MRRCRRRCRRRCRRRCRRRCRRRCRR
RRRCRRRCRRRCRRRCRRRCRRRCRR
RRRCRRRCRRRCRRRCRRRCRRRCRR
GGRCRRRCRRRCRRRCRRRCRY!RCRR
CS2!CS2!2!CS2!2!CS2!2!CS2!2!CSY!2!CSC
CGRCRRRCRRRCRRRCRRRCRY!RCRB
CGRCRRRCRRRCRRRCRRRCRRRCRB
CGRCRRRCRRRCRRRCRRRCRRRCRB
CCCCRRRCCCCCRRRCCCCCRRRCCC
C – Cooridor for enemies
M – Mortar fully upgraded
R – Rocket
2! – Rocket upgraded once
Y! – Rocket converted to anti-aircraft fully upgraded
S – Slow tower fully upgraded
B – Slow tower converted to return tower
the aircraft fly directly over the upgraded slow towers, rockets and anti-aircraft…
haven’t tested this method on higher levels…still haven’t upgraded to the pay-version, but will soon!
To buy the game you find the Robo Defense download under games. It’s a separate listing than the free version, and there’s no option to buy the full version from the free version app./download.
I’ve spent perhaps 20 hours on this game over the past few weeks. It’s great to play on a plane with earphones.
Totally hooked on this one. And I only have the free one. Thanks for the advice on setup strategies.
This game is great, and maddening. I actually hate it, but that’s because I just died on board #2 on like round 85. Every time that happens I say, “OK, that’s it. Leave it”. Then I play again.
However, I think I am done. The issue with the game isn’t it doesn’t scale up in difficulty well. I’ve been banging away at this board for a while, and once I hit the 80’s, that’s it.
The game needs a community, where people can post defense layouts and strategies. For example, I’d love to see somebody beat this board without upgrading. I can’t even imagine it.
It’s about upgrading your weapons. Use your points gained from beating the first level a few times to upgrade your bullet and rocket power. Upgrading reload times is also very important, in fact more so earlier on than weapon strength. build either corridors or stepped corridors leading to the gate, and make sure that any rocket towers in the direct path from gate to gate are either at Advanced Rocket tower or at least Anti-Aircraft. It’s the jets and helicopters that’ll get you, so don’t forget your slow towers. Also, with a new update, you can use teleport towers, and they will work on aircraft, though they cost a million reward points, and therefore take several games to accumulate enough. Good luck.
Great game… played and won all levels in the free version… and would really like to buy the full version. I can not find it in the market though (I’m on a developer device).
I can’t beat level 7, darn it. My ladder looks like this:
TTSTTTTTSTTTTTSTTTTTSTTTTT
____ T_____ T_____
|| T || T || T || T ||
|| T || T || T || T ||
OS || T || S || T ||
T T || S || T || S || …
T T || T || T || T ||
T T _____ T_____
TT TT S TT TTTSTTTTTSTTTTTSTTT
This is the basic scheme, but it doesn’t seem to be able to get me all the way through. Either the planes or the fast cars always kill me. I have the SAMs disposed all adjacent to the slow towers and at every corner the robots have to turn 180 degrees, I try to put the flamers. What’s a better scheme?
Never mind, found a better scheme…
I got a question I got the full version and I wana know what the highest upgrade u can get my bullet power is at level 20 I wana know what’s the max
I absolutely love this game. Is this available anywhere for the pc?? anyone have any ideas? pls help
It is really difficult to beat the airplanes if you dont have your air missiles fully upgraded as you get into the harder levels……..MAKE SURE YOU FULLY UPGRADE YOUR SLOW TOWERS!!! Oh and one more thing!! The Mortar and Artillery is crucial as you get deeper in the levels!!
Oh yeah and the missiles are kind of crappy UNTIL you upgrade them. The basic ones arent the answer. It is the equivalent of fighting on Marvel vs Capcom with Juggernaut—powerful but very slow and sluggish. once you upgrade them they are great though…
is this available for pc? is there a demo i can download?
has anyone bought this game yet on the uk market i cant find how to buy it!
It doesn’t seem to be available for download in Canada…at least the free version isn’t…is there somewhere i can download it to the computer and transfer it over?
After the teleport tower and mine upgrade unlocks, are there any more “unlocks”? I have about 3MM points and don’t want to chance there being more to spend the big points on
I’ve finished level 90 and now it says: finish level 100 to unlock level 110…… how many levels are there???
Found the demo on my new htc hero today and I just love it! But apparently I cant buy it here in sweden
Fix, fix, fix!
excellent game, really worth its price!
A tip for the avid players: while the heavy robots or tanks enter a tunnel, sell a structure from the beginning of the tunnel, this way the attackers will return (they think they found a faster way out), then when they are about to enter the breach, put back there the sold structure. This way they get 3 times the amount of fire they would normally receive.
i like playing games. we are all discussing things with eachother. we’re all good friends. peanut butter rules.
OMG! Best.game.ever. I want to play that on my PC, thats how good it is.
first time buying for my g1
Great game. One of the best on Market.
If your country doesn’t support paid apps then root your android at install Market Enabler.
How and where? Do you ask. Try with your favorite search tool
Joe Do I buy/download this game. Just gotta have it…
so no one had a download we canadians can use to install?
For those who can’t download it from your countries: have you tried “Market Enabler”? Apparently you can use it to buy/download apps from outside the US.
Does someone know to find the Titan ?
I played level 25 for Ruin and Titan just appeared. If you killed him, you will give 100+ on the money. Can someone tell me how many levels are there for this game? I’m at level 230. Also, do I get anything more if I accomplish all the achievements?
You get more points per level when you have more achievements.
+1 on where is the titan, how many levels, and whats the max upgrade levels
Im on lvl 250 and it just keeps going, I think it goes forever. You don’t get anything for all the achievements, except robo destruction glory.
Happy to see the Titan, I have to find him….and destroy him.
nice game
same question, where to buy the full version of the game. get addicted deeply. pls help me!!!
I’m already at level 430 Basic with tower at power level 29 and still does not seem to be able to reach the end level. I’m determine to carry on to see what is the max level I can go………
Hi guys,
I wanna do the latest Android firmware update – how do I keep my paid for version of Robo Defense without forking out for it a second time?
I’m from Singapore and am not able to download nor search for the full version… any direct help is appreciated.
Found Titan… somewhat anticlimatic… Level 30 in VR. Played the same level twice and he showed up both times during 30-79. Get over 15K points for killing him.
i have a samsung moment android and a touch pro 2 windows phone. i will be selling my android but cant fathom not being able to play this game. is there a way to get this game to install to my touch pro 2? i have already paid for the full version and would gladly pay again if it means getting it on my windows phone.
how do you complete a level? I’m playing the free version and I’ve seen 0-98 but it seems to never end.
Am I missing something?
The free version goes to level 100.
Love this game!!
i have all of the awards it was very dificult to do
I unlocked the teleport tower, but I can’t find it for sale. What upgrades to a teleport tower?
slow tower. I haven’t figured out how to use teleport towers effectively, though. Would love a tip.
The teleports are really useful, particularly against aircraft… I work out where they need to be to work on the planes etc and then line them up in the second half of the screen. Any planes that get through the anti-aircraft defences are then teleported back to the beginning and you get another go at them. If you quickly keep re-activating them, you can cope with far more planes than your anti-aircraft missiles would otherwise deal with.
The same principle can be used for the ground forces – you can also channel them through the anti-aircraft teleports as a last line of defence.
Hope this makes some sense – it’s not easy to describe!
Line them up with the exit entrance, the airplanes usually travel in a straight line from the entrance to the opposite exit entrance. In the paid version there might be several entrances and exit of which the planes randomly enter and exits.
Don’t bother with the mines, they’re a waste of 500k, I haven’t used them yet and I’m on level 35 right now for the Factory level. Invest your money on Rocket explosive / longer slow down / and firing rate instead.
I bought the full version of Robo Defense, then I had a problem with my Droid and Verizon switched it out and gave me a new Droid. Do I have to repay for Robo Defense?
Should be linked to your g-mail account which you logged in with, so I would think you could just go back to your app store and download it without it asking you to pay.
man this game is realy fun once you get the hang of things. I really would like to know if there is a PC version of this, would love to come home and try it on a larger screen and blow stuff up!!!! w00t good job either way i have alot of fun with this one
I’d settle for more units in the current version. To only pick from missiles, guns, and slow towers seems limiting. Granted the upgrades change them, just not enough variety for my tastes.
Not that this game doesn’t still blow me away and consume every lunch break I get. LoL
My understanding is there is no max level – it literally just keeps going up (I guess max level would be something like 65564)
That sucks that there is no max level. I’m on level 400 with all the achievements. I guess I’ll move on to another game.
How can I buy in canada , Market only currently shows the free version, I finished level 10 and I need new challenges.
There is a bug allowing to play higher than level 10 with the free version.
If someone find the bug unlocking maps mail me for exchange
love this game. Just on level 22 now. One good tip I have used is to create a gauntlet but leave an opening on one side at the very beginning. then when some of the particularly hard to kill tanks and slower big guys (not sure what they are called) let them walk the gauntlet but just before the end block it with a gun. they turn around and head for the opening at the beginning. Just before they exit you sell the gun and they turn around again. Keep doing that until they are gone. Be sure to sell the gun before the next level starts and don’t do this if more things are still coming out as they will all get outside of your gauntlet. Use lots of slow towers. To buy a gun is $5 and to sell it is $3. So it only costs $2 for every run verses $3 for every teleporter re-up.
didn’t see calin’s post above. same idea.
I love this game, and have played it for many many hours. Here is a big tip. I am on level 220. I might have been the only stupid person to just realise that teleport towers are also capable of transporting planes back to the start. For some dim reason, I thought that they only worked on ground troops.
OH WELL. Now I am moving up through the levels again, 10 at a time. Forget about flame throwers and aa guns, just use rockets and SAM missiles. Mines used to be powerful between levels 20 and 100, but are useless now after level 150. I only play the original map, I dont like the other maps.
I always sell all my kit off during wave 100, that way you get big bonus points for remaining dollars in the bank.
i bought the full ver. it’s a great game but how or when do i see more maps or where do i go to choose them ?
all you have to do is go to market and then chosse yourt game in there. i love this game my mom has her phone less than me laough out loud!!
MOST AMAZING (mobile) GAME EVER!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I need to start carrying around an extra battery or something. Texting what? Robo Defense baby!!!!!
sigh… that makes me and my coworker really pathetic…
I am currently at 130 and you are at 160 and we are trying to reach 1000.
I meant my coworker is at lvl 160