A thorough review from a thoroughly addicted player

I’m slightly embarrassed to admit that I’ve played over 300 levels of Tesla Wars, so I guess that makes me qualified to write a thorough review and give some tips.

At its core, the game is simple and addictive. Gameplay is straightforward, and the graphics are notably well-crafted. The pace of the game is challenging. At times it seems impossible to move forward, but with a little strategy you can always get through.

There are a few minor annoyances I’ve had with the game. First, some of its naming is inconsistent. Is it “e-punch” or “shocker?” “X-ray” or “death ray?” Next, as pointed out by other reviewers, the fireball ability is not a net improvement. It’s too easy to accidentally trigger fireballs, and in the early stages that saps you of badly needed energy.

The most salient annoyance, and the reason for a less-than-perfect rating, is the amount of in-app purchase upsell that has surfaced in the game. Trying to buy an upgrade you can’t afford results in a prompt to buy a package of Tesla credits. (With real money, of course.) Worse still, you often aren’t even told how much the in-app purchase costs! Super sleazy.

Overall though, the game is a solid addition to my app library. Easy to pick up, hard to put down.

A few pro tips for anybody who’s similarly addicted:

Try not to spend money by restoring energy and health. Very often, you can buy energy and health capacity upgrades for less than the cost of restoring.

The best upgrades for your money in the early levels are a mix of energy/health capacity and energy/health regeneration. You’ll come to depend on that regeneration later.

Once you’ve got enough energy/health to survive most attacks, then focus on power and reflection. The reflection ability is actually one of the most satisfying aspects of the game: It’s a happy surprise when you see the lightning bounce along taking out 20+ attackers with no energy loss at all.

The best special, in my opinion, is the toxic sludge. During times of heavy attack intensity, you can make a row of sludge on the far right and far left edges of the screen that will stop all ground attackers in their tracks. The secondary explosions that happen when tanks and rockets get caught in the sludge usually end up taking out a few airborne attackers too. Meanwhile, you can sit back and let your energy/health recharge.

If you’re low on energy or health near the end of a level — enough to win the level, but not enough to survive the next onslaught — here’s what to do: Figure out which attackers drain your health LESS than the rate at which your health regenerates. (That is to say, while they’re attacking you your health is still increasing.) Wait for the last wave of attacks at the end of the level, and try to set it up so that lone attacker is the last man standing. Let him chip away at you, and watch your energy and health slowly rise up to 100%. Once you’re full again, zap him. You’re ready for the next wave.

Enjoy the game! I certainly have.

elliot2.0 about Tesla Wars, v3.1.5