App Army Assemble: Iron Marines - Another hit tower defence by the makers of Kingdom Rush?

Iron Marines is the latest tower defence by the masters of the genre, Ironhide. You'll know them best for the excellent Kingdom Rush mobile series.

The gorgeous cartoon visuals have returned this time around, but that's all that's the same. This time it's more sci-fi than fantasy, and you'll battle across a variety of planets.

But this is tower defence as you know and love it. You'll be invaded by aliens and have to drop towers and heroes to defend your bases.

At review, we gave it a Gold Award and described it as a "brilliantly balanced and hugely entertaining mobile RTS". We also asked the App Army for a second opinion, and here's what they had to say.

Lee Walker-Blythe

I don't know why there isn't a mobile Starcraft game but Iron Marines is pretty close. I'm having lots of fun here.

I have finished the first planet but it's already the best RTS I have played on iPad. I've just used the first hero, Taggins, but there are a few available from the start.

I'm worried after finishing the 2nd planet there won't be anything to do until the 3rd is released. I just don't want it to end.

Ed Davis

Having played games like Kingdom Rush, I had high expectations for Iron Marines. The game merges tower defence with point and click.

The graphics are charming, as are the sound effects and voice overs for the marines. Like its counterparts, Iron Marines offers a good level of challenge which can be altered before entering the game.

Veterans of the game might like to try the more difficult modes, but these aren't for the faint hearted. Normal mode will provide a good level of challenge while being easy enough to accomplish.

Glenn Goldberg

Take Starcraft, combine it with Kingdom Rush, and shake and pour a tall glass of it. This is the feeling I get when playing Iron Marines.

Strategic placement of your troops is a must, as well as positioning defenses. A mistake at either end, and you will watch as your troops are chewed, poisoned, blasted, and sent to oblivion in various cute ways.

The graphics are colourful and cartoony. Simple, yet easy to distinguish. Sounds are light yet fun. Having your troops blown to pieces never sounded so cute. Enjoyable and challenging, Iron Marines is a great way to scratch that strategy itch.

Leonidas Konstantopoulos

This is Kingdom Rush with an emphasis on soldier movement. Instead of focusing on the entire map from the get-go, missions start off in small areas surrounded by darkness.

Your goal is to capture various checkpoints and in order to do so you will alternate between base building and controlling your squad.

The exploration aspect makes this game more interesting story-wise and its two main mechanics make for a tense and satisfying experience.

Playing through the normal difficulty isn't a total breeze and the game can punish you for your mistakes. However, nothing seemed unfair to the point of justifying the many available IAPs.

The level of polish is very high (excellent sound, many easter eggs and humor) and the studio's trademark art style seems more fleshed out in this one.

Mark Abukoff

Iron Marines is fun and simple, though not easy. The graphics and controls are nice and simple. I like that it's easy and simple to move across the battlefield. Even if you plot a direction across impassable terrain, it'll take your marines around the proper path.

It seemed like activated powers don't last too long, but it's quite possible that that will change with upgrades. I can't see it as too involving or immersive, but for what it tries to do, it succeeds very well.

I could see myself playing this quite a bit. Again, simple and fun is what Iron Marines is all about. I found no bugs or issues.