Anomaly: Warzone Earth is a reverse tower defense game (aka tower offense or tower assault) where you must save the Earth from a strategic alien invasion.
They’ve secured major cities with an energy shield anomaly impervious to outside attack, but there is a weakspot allowing your small strike force to get through. As the commander you choose and outfit your squad, lead them through city streets and overcome the alien bases to clear out the infestation. This single player game from indie developer 11 Bit Studios has a linear story line, where you must finish a mission to continue on to the next.
For each mission in Anomaly: Warzone Earth, you have a budget for your squad to purchase up to six advanced combat vehicles, from APCs to Dragon tanks, each with up to three upgrades for more hitting power. They’ll follow the route you choose through the city streets, firing at any alien structure in range. These alien towers have various powers that will try to stop you. Destroyed targets may drop commander resources or money for more vehicles and upgrades. As they take damage, you can re-order your squad at any time to help mitigate losses. Your personal arsenal includes repair kits, smoke screens, holographic decoys and air strikes. Each has a specific use and can be used to enhance your strike abilities and keep your squad alive.
The action in Anomaly: Warzone Earth is fairly straightforward as you blast your way through alien towers. Your strategy revolves around finding the best squad and city route, avoiding losses and gathering resources before the final assault at the mission target. It’s mostly casual unless you up the difficulty or try for the gold medal achievements, where the real challenge lies. As a tower defense fan I found Anomaly a fresh change of pace and fun to play. The replay value is low once you beat it but it’s the journey that’s enjoyable. Pew pew, and all that.