Titles like Anomaly: Warzone Earth from 11 bit studios make me second guess all those years I scoffed at PC gaming aside from long MMO sessions. This fun and frantic real time strategy game was originally released on Windows and Mac back in 2011, and plays like an addictive, action-packed reverse tower defense game. Set in the near future, players take the role of the squad leader of the 14th Battalion- the last hope of saving Earth from an alien inv…

Wait, what?

You say you’re over the tower defense fad…

…not into sci-fi?

… and haven’t picked up an RTS since Command and Conquer: Red Alert?

Know what? You’re still going to love Anomaly: Warzone Earth. This little XBLA game really is that good.

Turn a tower defense game on its head and fill it with upgradable armored military units and you’ve got the basic concept behind A:WE. As the story unfolds and you go deeper behind enemy alien lines, your hero is tasked with sprinting around the battlefield avoiding enemy fire while keeping other friendly units alive. You have the opportunity to plan your route before rounds begin, but they can (and usually are) changed on-the-fly as enemy units pop up on the map and try to lay waste to your perfectly crafted plan.

Ability power-ups are the bread and butter of A:WE– usually dropped on the map once enemies are cleared out, and provide just the tools needed to sway the tide of battle. The Repair Ability works within a limited time and range to repair damaged units, Smoke creates a buff area in which your units take less damage from enemy fire, Decoy distracts enemies by creating a virtual unit and taking hits while you pummel or scurry away, and the Air Strike is your panic button when you absolutely positively have to kill every enemy in your way. Accept no substitutes.

If you think your sleek APCs, missile-launching Crawlers, and tough-as-nails Tanks are going to be enough to save the planet, even after upgrading their stats, then you haven’t played far enough into A:WE yet. Enemy tower units become increasingly treacherous as the levels progress, taking the concept of a basic “pew-pew” blaster and adding abilities like shield-melting thermal blasters and electric energy beams damaging multiple units at once to make your run just a little more challenging. Then there are the Hacker units, whose blast can turn all of your friendly units within the blast radius AGAINST you. Even if you spend 15 minutes on a map leaving nothing but scrap metal in your wake, all it takes is one Hacker to completely ruin your day.

If you’re a fan of hardcore RTS titles or simply casual games that are fun and infinitely replayable, then I implore you to purchase this beautifully crafted game. Take your tactical knowledge through its paces in A:WE’s Story Mode, then test your skill in the other more challenging game modes that become unlocked as you come closer to saving humanity from certain disaster. Even with a lack of multiplayer, this game shines on XBLA with its strategic gameplay elements and incredible fun factor, even providing the opportunity to unlock multiple Avatar Awards if you’re not already hooked. I know I am though, and the Earth is going to be much safer for it.

Anomaly: Warzone Earth is available on Xbox Live Arcade April 6th for 800 Microsoft Points.