I never played the original release of CastleStorm last year, so I can’t comment much on any potential differences between it and its recently released Definitive Edition, for Xbox One and PS4. The basic facts are that the Definitive Edition includes the game (of course) and both of the original DLC packs (From Outcast to Savior and The Warrior Queen), as well as graphical updates with a 1080p/60fps output. There are also “new battles, game modes, spells, support for voice commands, and other features.”
For those of you who have played the game, it seems like it’s a complete package with some updates. If that’s worthwhile for you or not, you should already know. For those of you who, like me, have never played the game, read on.
The game has two primary goals: defend your castle and destroy your opponent’s castle. You can do this by firing your ballista’s various ammunition types at the enemy’s soldiers and castle, sending your own soldiers (which requires rechargeable resources), and taking the field as Sir Gareth, the hero of the realm and commander of the king’s armies. The balance between these three mechanics can become challenging in more hectic levels, but that’s part of the game’s appeal. You can build your castle, as well, in order to maximize its defensive capabilities and foundational strength. The castle editor is, though initially confusing, quite entertaining once you get the hang of it.
CastleStorm: Definitive Edition has a fun fantasy style to its character and world design, and presents its story with a sense of humor that is, at times, nothing short of corny. In spite of some unwieldy controls at times, it’s a great title for both extended and pick-up play. If you already own the original and the DLC, there probably isn’t much here to entice you into another purchase short of the enhanced visuals, but for those who don’t own the original and want a quick pick-up game to mess around with, it’s not a bad buy.
