Retro Defense - New level "Long Distance"

[solokron]

Well after mentioning the lack of power ups after playing the level 40+ times they rained down on me and I got all the way to level 48. I was @ 1 heart for about 15 of those levels which was scary. Once you get the two bluepows in the center and fully powered up it is pretty gratifying. As I don't have the kit installed I took a few pics with my Canon of the phone. As I knew the blues would give me trouble down the line I started loading the board with red pows in the empty spots but alas, they did only so much. In hindsight it may have been better just to have the bluepows there as well.

[bnash972]

I have solved every level of Retro Defense except End Run. I've tried just about everything. Has anyone else solved this one? Please help! Level 20 is as far as I've made it.

[extorian]

Ooo - didn't realise there were new levels... I'll try that one now.

[extorian]

Level 12... ouch.

[bnash972]

Any luck with End Run yet? Still stuck on 20.

[extorian]

Haven't had the time to try again yet If I do crack it I'll be sure to come back here and post how.

[kitsunisan]

8 levels with end run. I tried red and green in the corner, with a medium green at an end on the center island, but died before I could build it up enough.

[thumper300zx]

Got kinda lucky with the powerups and some extra hearts (lol). I finally got caught with a set of blues I couldn't handle.


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Why did you have $9999? Why not put more big greens up, as near useless as they may have been? Then just recycle if you got more range/power ups?

To the other two guy -- hats off !!! Obviously you aren't BSing.

I too have noticed the only way you can pass this level would be to get lucky with the mix of enemies (no reds, and preferably no blues in the late going, as LARGE blues is the only way to advance considerably in this game). I almost made it to level 30 WITH TONS OF LUCK -- but then ran into a phase of reds in level 26 and blues in 27 -- that's all it took. Had two big blues at the bottom going by the end (one full power, one not). And one large red with range, 3 range/power, and one power around it. I think it would be smart to build the power ups in a cross formation 'cause then you can get four weapons in each square...but they'd all have to be range/range-power.

I could see getting to Level 20 or so in that other one (End Run) if everything worked out magically. But honestly, you get one mix of reds followed by greens early, and it's death. Or, if you set up for greens, then get a set of fast enemies, they fly by. I've hit level 12 twice, but have not had the luck of many of the same colors in a row. You simply don't earn enough money to keep up with a bunch of purple phases, either.

[thumper300zx]

Well after mentioning the lack of power ups after playing the level 40+ times they rained down on me and I got all the way to level 48. I was @ 1 heart for about 15 of those levels which was scary. Once you get the two bluepows in the center and fully powered up it is pretty gratifying. As I don't have the kit installed I took a few pics with my Canon of the phone. As I knew the blues would give me trouble down the line I started loading the board with red pows in the empty spots but alas, they did only so much. In hindsight it may have been better just to have the bluepows there as well.

Yeah, maybe you didn't have the range/$ necessary to start the BLUE POWS up high. I could see that happening on this board.

BTW, for anyone that didn't know -- they show the first 30 phases in that color bar at the top (sometimes it shows up on bottom). So you can see how fortunate these phases were

Starting on PHASE 7, I've seen from 1-4 enemies (4 more common, and 5 if there's a power up with them) will escape from a phase of reds if you have two full SMALL RED towers at the bottom (which I don't understand why it would vary -- it's a freaking computer game ). You won't likely have anything with enough range at that point to hit from the top -- I think you'd have to have a MEDIUM RED near full power with 3-4 range bonuses. And that would not be powerful enough to save you (most likely) from any tough rounds.

Reds will get about 6+ out on PHASE 8. And on PHASE 9, reds are "RIGHT OUT"

By PHASE 9, a set of speedy yellows will have one guy escape, and your BIG RED tower will only be at level 4 starting phase 10 (won't have range with two range bonuses -- MAYBE if you have three you're good). If you get reds here without range from another weapon, you're dead as 12 will be able to escape with only two FULL POWER small reds at the bottom. So with reds on phase 9, unless you got two sets of BONUS hearts or a bunch of range bonuses, and didn't lose any hearts by phase 9, you're a goner).

By PHASE 10, a set of speedy yellows will have probably 6-8 guys escape. If you have lost any up to this point, you're probably dead to near dead. Then if you get reds -- see ya.

Also by PHASE 10 - a set of purples will pass 6 enemies with two small red full power towers. Phase 11 probably 8 purples.

Phase 11, a set of speedy yellows went through on me and 8 escaped (I had 12 hearts, so I had 4 left).

On phase 12, with TWO RANGE upgrades and a BIG RED TOWER, at power level 7, you can start reaching targets in the upper row.

You might get lucky and get sets of the endless yellows -- that'll give you a little extra cash to upgrade earlier. At the same time, a set of endless yellows might kill you if you're on the cusp of upgrades, but don't have enough to slow them down.

I just wanted to add that info for anyone that is frustrated


SAME STORY for END RUN, except more extreme. If you get a set of reds in even the 2nd phase, you're pretty much done. There is a little more versatility cause you can throw in a green pow to help combat reds. If you get range+power, set them up diagonally in the middle (cutting a line of symmetry) -- then you'll have two spots that can access both two range upgrades, which is just as good as having them right on the isolated corners. If everything lines up, there is a SLIGHT possibility it could be beat.

I once got set up with three small reds in each corner, full power. They were kicking trash on everything. Then got a medium red on one of the closest open spots in the middle, with a range up. Powered up until it could JUST reach one corner. Then got my first set or reds in phase 12 and they blew me away. No shot. Would have to have no reds until you could afford a blue pow (who knows what size) in each corner.


[EDIT]

YEAH!!! Finally got lucky enough

I was down to 6 hearts. Had two full power small reds low. 3 Range+Power upgrades and one power upgrade surrounding a big red above. As I was getting through the 20's, I got two phases of blues, so I opted to get two more big reds going up top before upgrading to a second blue tower...and it helped me get through. Got lucky to avoid reds. Here is the screen shot of when I beat 30. At this point the towers were all FULL POWER except the left BIG BLUE POW, which was only at 2.

In stage 33 blues came in and pretty much took care of me.

One other tip -- from the tippy top, a full power big red with TWO range upgrades will not have the range to reach the bottom. I believe three would. I only made it to 33 -- those blues and then a high powered set of purples did me in. You can see I had a set of reds in level 8 -- after that, I was pretty safe (luck, obviously). In level 22 I had my next set of reds, but by then, with a BLUE POW, they weren't so bad.






Here's an END RUN screen -- if it weren't for purples on level 11, it would've been 10 hearts entering round 11. And if there were TWO range upgrades (I only got one all the way through 12 levels!!!) that red could've reached either side to help out.) In round 13, a set of blues was able to pass ONE guy through this setup. All towers were full power, so I had no recourse, really. I guess I might've been able to get away with changing one of the red towers on the weak side to full green -- but recycling is not the answer for future rounds -- if greens came next, it would be all over. Can't waste money. Just have to get lucky.



Here was a VERY close one. Again, if I had been lucky and level 13 weren't red, I would've been in PRIME position. I saw reds come up and my only option was to add a very lucky THIRD range+power upgrade to allow the full med red tower to reach both sides. If this level had been pretty much any other color, I could've flown through, added another medium tower, and been set for a couple rounds to hopefully then get some small blue pows (or something) to try out. I still think the reported level 20 is about as good as it's gonna get. You'd have to play a million times, get lucky and have straight greens to win using all laser towers. Lol. As you can see in the round indicator -- first reds I faced were level 13.

The method here was this -- start with two single power small reds. On the next round, place one small green on one side, QUICKLY upgrade the other red tower as the next round gets underway (assuming it's not reds -- if it's reds, you're dead). Then go from there. Placing one green on each side gives you a little leeway if you get reds -- probably going all reds is the best method, just hoping to get lucky -- much like on long distance.

You can play the chances and place two greens to begin with, too. They will protect you if you end up getting reds. But if greens come, it's the same story, and you're dead. Reds give you the best chance. Best case scenario -- you get three power+range upgrades -- you fill in everything with reds, never get reds. Use one medium red in corner of center block of four. Put one power-range upgrade in isolated spot, then two others around that medium. Once you pass a couple more levels, add another medium red to the other axis -- hope to get ANOTHER power+range upgrade. Then you might be in business for enough to earn bigger weapons for the corners. I still can't see how it works out for 30 rounds, though. Blues would do hardly anything -- not enough time.