Nightlings Review

What kid hasn't wondered what might be lurking under their bed or in their closet at night? In Nightlings, four year old Max finds out that the Nightlings emerge from these spots in the night, and they've abducted his sister. To save his sister, he must track down the source of the Nightlings while keeping them at bay with the various weapons available to a four year old in the middle of the night.

This game unfolds like a cross between and tower defense game and a reflex test. The Nightlings (basically very cute monsters) advance from the right side of the screen and players must employ different types of weapons to keep them from reaching the left side of the screen. Buttons for these weapons are spread across the bottom of the screen and players have to select each weapon before them can employ it against the advancing enemies. Some weapons, like the spit balls, are fired by simply tapping on the enemies. Others, like the sticky gum that slows enemies, are deployed with swiping motions. Each weapon also has its own warm up time between uses, during which it can't be used. Between tapping and swiping to fire weapons, touching buttons to switch weapons, tapping the screen to collect loot, and keeping track of the waves of Nightlings, this game can get hectic in a flash.

Players will have a great time juggling all of this game's different aspects, and the challenge ramps up nicely from the beginning so players don't find themselves lost or unexpectedly overwhelmed at any point. New weapon unlocks, collectable power ups and in game currency, and new levels keep this game fresh play after play. The character, weapon, and environment designs are charming in a story book way. The gameplay is smooth and the controls work very well. This is a great title, and players might be surprised by how much fun they have. It's clear the developer has put some effort into this title and it shows.