Square Enix launches stealthy attack on Android Market with Crystal Defenders

Showing that it’s learned something from its years of churning out polished tactical RPGs, Square Enix has flanked us all by releasing Crystal Defenders onto the Android Market without so much as a hint of a warning.

Crystal Defenders eschews the Japanese developer’s usual focus on drawn-out RPG battle systems in favour of a lighter tower defence approach. This makes it perfect for portable play, which explains why we’ve already seen versions on PSP, iPhone and iPad.

Of course, Crystal Defenders retains Square Enix’s knack for memorable characters, populating its simple battlefields with familiar character classes, summon creatures, and enemies from the Final Fantasy universe.

This Android release includes both the W1 and W2 versions of the game, with the former acting as a perfect introduction and the latter incorporating new elements such as Power Crystals for “deeper, more detailed strategies.”

Crystal Defenders is available now on the Android Market for £4.59/$7.20.