Creeper World IXE

Release Date: December 12, 2024

Strategy, science fiction, RTS, tower defense, 2D, indie games, singleplayer

70%

Steam

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A tower defense type real-time strategy, set in a sci-fi world and forcing us to fight against a liquid that devours the world. In Creeper World IXE we rely on aircraft and other means to shape the terrain and influence the gravitation. Each pixel is separately simulated.

Story
Gameplay
Mod support
Graphics

Creeper World IXE is the fifth installment in the Creeper World series. It is a real-time strategy tower defense game in which we fight against a liquid that devours living matter. The independent studio Knuckle Cracker, known from the previous parts of the series and the game Particle Fleet: Emergence, is responsible for the development.

Story

The titular Creeper is an ancient, liquid enemy that relentlessly spreads across the landscape, consuming and destroying anything in its path. With sufficient firepower, we can push it back. However, in most cases it cannot be completely destroyed simply by shooting at it, as it regenerates thanks to its emitters.

The only way to stop the alien is to find and destroy the emitters and IXE cores on each planet, and this is the goal of the campaign in Creeper World IXE.

Gameplay

In Creeper World IXE we command multiple units (primarily aircraft), fighting against spreading liquid, sand and other threats. Since every pixel is simulated, we find unique positions and angles to destroy the alien slime emitters. We explore planets and maintain our position, advancing on the located IXE cores and discovering new technologies. In the fight against the enemy we use gravity, terrain and chemistry, terraforming different types of surfaces.

The fifth part of the series introduces an improved fluid simulation with waves creating new enemy behavior, and the particle system includes new and bigger threats. Unlike previous installments, we look at the world from the side.

Mod support

Creeper World IXE features an easy-to-use level editor and gives players the ability to create custom units, missions, and control modules.

Graphics

In contrast to the previous part of the series, Creeper World IXE offers a two-dimensional pixel graphic design.

Videos and Screens

[1:14] Creeper World IXE Trailer #1

70%

STEAM Score

All Reviews: Mostly Positive (645)

STEAM

User Reviews Summary generated by AI

The main pros of the game

Innovative Gameplay Mechanics: The game incorporates pixel-level simulation and fluid dynamics, allowing for unique interactions and strategic gameplay.
Challenging Puzzles: Many players appreciate the puzzle-like nature of the game, which requires careful planning and execution to solve levels.
Community and Customization: The game offers modding support and a map editor, allowing players to create and share their own maps, which enhances replayability.
Visuals and Aesthetics: Some players enjoy the pixel art style and the fluid simulation, praising its visual appeal and creativity.
Engaging Story Elements: While some found the story lacking, others appreciated the narrative elements and the connection to previous games in the series.

The main cons of the game

Limited Unit Count: Many reviews highlight frustration with the fixed number of units per level, which can lead to a lack of strategic depth and make gameplay feel tedious.
Slow Progression: Players often expressed dissatisfaction with the pacing of the game, noting that many levels involve long periods of waiting for units to clear creeper, leading to a feeling of being stuck in a grind.
Complex Controls: The controls have been criticized for being unintuitive, with complaints about the dual use of mouse clicks for both unit selection and terraforming.
Underwhelming Chemistry System: The chemistry and fluid mixing mechanics were seen as underdeveloped and cumbersome, detracting from the overall gameplay experience.
Performance Issues: Some users reported technical problems, such as slowdowns during gameplay, especially in later levels with many units or fluid dynamics.

The features or elements that are missing from the game according to users

More Strategic Options: Players miss the ability to make more tactical decisions, as the limited unit count often leads to a singular solution for each level.
Enhanced Customization: While there is some customization, players expressed a desire for more options to define their own strategies and ship types, similar to previous titles in the series.
Improved Documentation and Tutorials: Many users felt that the tutorial and in-game documentation were lacking, making it difficult to understand the full mechanics of the game.
More Engaging Story Elements: Some players were disappointed with the narrative depth and wished for a more compelling story or character development throughout the campaign.

Summary

Overall, while Creeper World IXE has its strengths and innovations, it also faces significant criticism regarding its gameplay mechanics and pacing, leading to a mixed reception among fans of the series.

Summary generated on: January 6, 2025