In an oversaturated genre that seemingly hit its peak years ago, Anomaly 2 brings something fresh to the table that gives tower defense games an unexpected shot in the arm.

Polish developer 11 bit studios didn’t just recreate the success they experienced with their first outing, Anomaly: Warzone Earth, this time around. Subtle changes to this title in the reverse tower defense series, dubbed tower offense, makes it one of the most engaging real-time strategy games I’ve had the chance to play in a while.

Anomaly 2 sees players taking control of a commander supporting his on the field of battle in a war between man and machine. Self-replicating robots have practically wiped society off the map, and it’s up to you and your rolling army of vehicles to find the weapon that will swing the momentum in favor of your fellow meatbags. How do you accomplish such a momentous feat, you ask?

Rather than setting up walls and turret variations in anticipation of incoming enemies as you would in a traditional tower defense game, this game tasks players with leading a wave of units through those obstacles to the designated objective. There are numerous vehicles to choose from, each with varying stats like attack and armor that make them particularly well-suited against specific types of opponents. If enemies suddenly pop up along the route you plotted on the map, a single button press can transform your unit into its alt mode. This ability to transform a unit adds yet another layer of strategy to the battle, as it can increase a unit’s range, damage output, and more.

Like any other good real-time strategy title, Anomaly 2 shines when the action starts picking up. Units can be sold, bought, or upgraded on the fly in case enemies begin to overwhelm you. Courses may also be rerouted to meet changing goals, but you’ll likely be spending your time healing your vehicles and disrupting enemies from wailing on them with various abilities. A single miscalculation can cause you to wipe in seconds, but there’s where the replay value of the game comes in.

There’s a multiplayer mode for Anomaly 2 as well, but since this is a port of a game released last year, it might be difficult to find others to play with who have not done so on PC or mobile phones already. If you and a bud do happen to go at it, you can choose to play as the advancing army or the tower-placing fiends. Either way, expect your friendship to be tested for a few rounds as things get ugly.

Anomaly 2 turns tower defense on its head by giving gamers a taste from the other side. It’s a short but sweet ride that’s worth playing for anyone who enjoys fast-paced fun. Those who haven’t had the pleasure to experience it yet should now; it’s as great a time as any to save the world.

Anomaly 2 is available now on PlayStation 4, Steam, Google Play, and the App Store.

Anomaly 2 Launch Trailer
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xg05WZyfyek