Lumber Wack Defend the Wild - Mobile Game Review

Usually I have an aversion to anything that has to deal with monkeys, due to a childhood incident at the local zoo. With that in mind, I approached Lumber Wack Defend the Wild with a sense of dread. My dread was soon vanquished as I learned that Lumber Wack might just be the best tower defense game available on mobile platforms. In this game, players get to take on the role of a very smart monkey named Koko Cornelius. Koko has a big problem; the lumber jacks who have come to cut down the jungle that is Koko's home . Koko has a lot of jungle friends that can and will help him out.

Gameplay

To begin with, the controls of Lumber Wack are very well made and there is no doubt that the game was made with mobile devices in mind. Moving Koko across the treetops is as easy as a swipe and sending in reinforcements is done with a tap on the menu. The gameplay is simple yet deep with over 60 different levels and challenges to complete. Koko swings from treetop to treetop using special items to throw down onto the Lumber Jacks while the other creatures of the jungle attack the tree cutters on the ground. Koko can upgrade the troops that he sends into battle and there are a lot of them. With everything from slithering snakes to rhino's, Koko's jungle can pack a punch.

Graphics

The graphics of the game are fantastic with a simple cartoon like vibe. The colors really pop on the small screen and the menus look and read great. The icons are easy to notice and use, while the lumber jacks have a distinct look to each type, that is instantly recognizable. As with any tower defense game, the upgrades can be unique to the class of tower or general for all towers. The lumber jacks will enter in from the right side of the screen and Koko will send troops in from the right. The animals move as literalistic as the cartoon look will allow.

Terrible sound effects

Now let's switch gears. The sounds of this game are some of the worst of all games. It is disheartening to see so much effort go into having great gameplay and looking good and yet having to play in silence or hope that your device has enough battery life to play some of your own music library in the background. The lumber jacks sound like moaning zombies and the animal sounds are just as atrocious. It is time that developers begin to pay more attention to the sounds and music of their games. More and more mobile devices offer better sound options and some even have 7.1 surround sound.

Conclusion

Taking the issue with the sound aside, Lumber Wack is a great game for anyone who wants to game on the go. The controls are easy to use and the game looks great. There is also the option for multiplayer on some devices. The game is free to play and available on Google play store, Amazon, and iTunes. So what are you waiting for, help Koko save his jungle home, today!