Streamline
  • Home
  • Spotlight
  • Reviews
    • Action
    • Strategy
    • RPGs
  • Most Hardcore
    • Devices
    • Gifts
    • Gadgets
  • About Us
  • Android-Turnip Boy Robs a Bank-001
    Turnip Boy Robs a Bank Review
  • Android--Castle Cats and Dungeon Dogs--001
    Castle Cats and Dungeon Dogs Celebrate Thrilling Anniversary
  • Rail rescue New release
    Infinity Games Sets June 30 Release For Rail Rescue
  • Android-Human Fall Flat-Candyland-001
    Human Fall Flat Mobile Launches Brand-New Level: Candyland
  • Feature image
    Dunk City Dynasty Launches Globally on May 22
  • feature image Sky
    Sky: Children of the Light Review
  • Android--Carrion--001
    Carrion Review
  • Odin: Valhalla Rising title
    Norse Mythology-Inspired MMORPG Odin: Valhalla Rising Launches This Month
  • Android-MythWalker-001
    MythWalker Expands Adventure With Over 20 New Story Quests
  • Tribe Nine feature image
    TRIBE NINE’s Chapter 3: Neo Chiyoda City Arrives
  • Android-Blade of God X: Orisols-001
    Blade of God X: Orisols Review
  • Android-Darkest Hero--001
    Darkest Hero Review
  • Bleach: Brave Souls feature image
    Bleach: Brave Souls Launches Gift Campaign With Smartphone Wallpapers
  • Collect Or Die Ultra Title Screen
    Collect Or Die Ultra Launches On Google Play And iOS
  • Duck Detective: The Secret Salami Android
    Duck Detective: The Secret Salami Review
Hardcore Droid
Hardcore Droid
  • Home
  • News
    • News
    • Spotlight
    • Interviews
    • Consoles
  • Reviews
    • Action
    • Adventure
    • Strategy
    • RPG
    • MMOs
    • Racing
    • Indie
    • Hardware
  • Best Of
    • Top 10 Games
    • Best RPGs
    • Best Action
    • Best Puzzlers
    • Best Strategy
    • Best Indie Strat
    • Best Indie RPGs
    • Most Hardcore
  • About Us
    • About Us
    • Game Jobs
    • Archives
    • Attributions
    • Opportunities
  • Tower Defense

Mushroom Wars: Space! Review

  • July 29, 2015
  • Siobhan Harmer
mushroom wars 3, android games, best android games
Spread the love

Mushroom Wars SpaceWhen Mushroom Wars was originally released on the Playstation Network (PSN) in 2009, thousands of gamers instantly became addicted to aiding the mushroom people in their fungal feuds. Six years later and innovative mobile game producers and publishers Zillion Whales has released the second instalment of the series exclusive to mobile: Mushroom Wars: Space!

Whilst this sequel maintains many of the original features that made Mushroom Wars so popular, there are some new additions that set this instalment apart from its predecessor. There are over fifty new levels spread over three thematic planets: Summer, Frozen, Volcano and, of course, there is also a Multiplayer planet.

Upon unlocking the first single player mission, silent cartoons begin to explain how these feisty fungi ended up in space. I think – and really, I’m not sure – a UFO has waged war against the beloved orange mushroom kingdom. Although the aliens were armed with fierce scythes, the mushrooms were victorious and subsequently repaired the UFO, thus beginning their extraterrestrial expedition to conquer the entire galaxy.

So begins the epic real-time strategy experience that will have you hooked within minutes.

mushroom-wars-space-146-8-s-307x512

The idea of the game is to direct your speedy spore-based soldiers to conquer their rivals’ homes and towers. Whilst in their homes, the mushroom folk will get busy – what can I say, they’re fun guys – and multiply. You can choose to sacrifice a certain number of the soldiers to upgrade these homes, causing them to create more military at a faster rate.

Although you can still upgrade towers, mushrooms won’t breed in there, possibly because they are too busy throwing rocks at approaching enemies. When attacking, the number of soldiers you send must outnumber the number of enemy troops occupying the rival base. The more bases you overthrow and keep, the more mushroom folk you have.

Ultimately, the team with the largest army wins, however you’ll have to be more than a war potato to win. Throughout Mushroom Wars: Space! you will have to apply strategic resource management in order to succeed: you’ll repeatedly ask yourself ‘do I attack, defend or upgrade?’ If you make the wrong decision you may be forced to watch helplessly as your orange realm is overthrown. Victory is satisfying, but defeat is crushing.

mushroomwarsspace-04

Like most family-friendly mobile games, gameplay mechanics are extremely easy to grasp; you’ll simply need to know how to drag and double-tap. Although, you do have to be accurate and concentrate on where you direct your fungal forces to attack or you’ll find them wandering off to another base. Really, that’s as complicated as the controls get.

After you have completed the first ten single player levels, the Multiplayer planet will be unlocked. In multiplayer, two to four players must use active and passive spells made from ingredients collected from other battles to complete the current 30 available maps. There are various mission types ranging from capturing starred houses to collecting a certain amount of points before your opponent. As you progress you move through leagues, from iron to bronze and so on, rather than joining leader boards like you did in the first game.

What truly makes this game enjoyable is that a single mission can take anywhere from 30 seconds to 30 minutes. As you accomplish level objectives and complete missions more sophisticated tactics, strategic planning and patience are required to continue, ensuring long-lasting fun for everyone.

That said, Mushroom Wars: Space! is not without it’s shortcomings. Instead of the usual formula of unlocking one level at a time, which is found in hundreds of mobile games, Mushroom Wars: Space! forces you to return to checkpoints when you run out of lives. This is particularly frustrating as you only receive six lives and there are usually around six levels between each checkpoint. This means that you must complete each mission on your first go, and if you don’t you might as well return to the last checkpoint regardless of how close you are to the next one.

Mushroom-Wars-Space-3

Also, like most F2P games, in-app purchases are shoved in your face at every possible opportunity, and they’re not really explained that well. In an attempt to see what the ‘Army Restoration’ IAPs did, I paid £0.79 (it was the cheapest one and it was on sale) for the UFO Expansion. That was two days ago and I’m still not convinced it actually changed anything.

Still, the Mushroom Wars team has undoubtedly created a winning formula for an enjoyable and addictive mobile-based RTS experience. Yes, the life system is irritating and I have no idea what the IAPs are for, but the charming animation combined with challenging gameplay still manages to keep you entertained for hours. I’m curious to see how Zillion Whales will continue to develop the series, as Mushroom Wars has some seriously wacky potential.

 

Hardcore?
3

Kind of.

Some dubious IAPs and a few poor design decisions do little to mar what is otherwise a decent entry into the Mobile RTS cannon.

Related Topics
  • Android Strategy Games
Siobhan Harmer

Siobhan Harmer is a video game, coffee and travel lover from England. Although she is the human equivalent of a sloth Siobhan sometimes writes things, most of which you can find on her blog There You Are Sibby.

Previous Article
bad dinos, best android games, android game
  • Tower Defense

Bad Dinos Review

  • July 26, 2015
  • Isaac Davis
View Post
Next Article
  • Tower Defense

BattleTime Review

  • January 17, 2016
  • Kevin Tejada
View Post
You May Also Like
Sphere Defense header
View Post
  • Strategy
  • Tower Defense

Tower Defense Game Sphere Defense Out Now

  • Daniel DeAngelo
  • December 22, 2024
Kingdom Rush 5 Alliance Official Title Artwork
View Post
  • News
  • Strategy
  • Tower Defense

Ironhide Game Studio Teases Kingdom Rush 5: Alliance

  • James Bell
  • March 16, 2024
View Post
  • News
  • Tower Defense

Defense Derby Adds New Character Florea and Valentine’s Event

  • Nicole Seraphita
  • February 7, 2024
Street Brawlers: Tower Defense feature image
View Post
  • Reviews
  • Strategy
  • Tower Defense

Street Brawlers: Tower Defense Review

  • Dave Weber
  • May 23, 2023
Candy-Disaster-TD-Featured-Image
View Post
  • Strategy
  • Tower Defense

Candy Disaster TD Review

  • Domink Manikowski
  • April 5, 2023
Dracula City Master: Idel Army Feature Image
View Post
  • Reviews
  • RPG
  • Tower Defense

Dracula City Master: Idle Army Review

  • Dave Weber
  • December 29, 2022
Counterside key art
View Post
  • RPG
  • Strategy
  • Tower Defense

Counterside Review

  • Daniel DeAngelo
  • July 19, 2022
Merge TD Hero - Tower Defence 00 itle
View Post
  • Strategy
  • Tower Defense

Merge TD Hero – Tower Defense Review

  • Daniel DeAngelo
  • February 25, 2022
The Latest
  • Turnip Boy Robs a Bank Review
  • Castle Cats and Dungeon Dogs Celebrate Thrilling Anniversary
  • Infinity Games Sets June 30 Release For Rail Rescue
  • Human Fall Flat Mobile Launches Brand-New Level: Candyland
  • Dunk City Dynasty Launches Globally on May 22
  • Sky: Children of the Light Review
  • Carrion Review
  • Norse Mythology-Inspired MMORPG Odin: Valhalla Rising Launches This Month
  • MythWalker Expands Adventure With Over 20 New Story Quests
  • TRIBE NINE’s Chapter 3: Neo Chiyoda City Arrives
Meta
  • Register
  • Log in
  • Entries feed
  • Comments feed
  • WordPress.org
Hardcore Droid
  • Reviews
  • Spotlight
  • Hardcore
Core Gaming on the Android OS

Input your search keywords and press Enter.