PixelJunk Monsters
A tower defense game with a player-controlled character.
PixelJunk Monsters is a tower defense game from Q-Games, released for the PlayStation 3 as the second title in the PixelJunk series. It first launched in Japan on December 6, 2007, before arriving worldwide on the PlayStation Store on January 24, 2008. A PlayStation Portable version, titled PixelJunk Monsters Deluxe, was also released. An expansion pack, PixelJunk Monsters Encore, came out in Japan on April 24, 2008, in North America on May 8, 2008, and in Europe on May 15, 2008. In 2013, an enhanced version called PixelJunk Monsters Ultimate HD, developed by Double Eleven, appeared on PlayStation Vita, Windows, Mac OS X, and Linux. A port of the original game, also by Double Eleven, hit the Wii U in May 2016. A sequel, PixelJunk Monsters 2, arrived in 2018 with 3D graphics and new features.
The gameplay shares elements with other tower defense titles. Players build defensive towers along enemy paths to protect a hut, or base, which houses several small creatures. Each enemy that reaches the hut kills one offspring; if all offspring die, the level is lost. Towers have different traits—rapid fire, long range, air-focused, and so on. Defeated enemies drop coins and sometimes gems, which are used to upgrade towers and research new ones. There are 21 levels (36 with the expansion pack) across three difficulty stages, plus three special stages that unlock unique abilities for the player character. After a patch, several "Trophy Challenges" were added. Unlike many tower defense games, the player controls a character on screen to collect coins and build towers instead of using a cursor. A second player can join to help build.
The Encore expansion adds 15 levels, including layouts inspired by classic arcade games like Pac-Man and Space Invaders. It also includes small gameplay tweaks: the ice tower is unlocked at the start of every level, and the Tesla tower costs less to purchase.
PixelJunk Monsters Deluxe, for the PSP, was called the "ultimate version" by Dylan Cuthbert. It includes all content from the original game and Encore, plus new levels, enemies, and towers. It also features additional music, videos, concept art, and other extras.
The game’s music was created by Otograph. A soundtrack album, Dive into PixelJunk Monsters, was released on the PlayStation Store on May 22, 2008, making it the first audio album available through PSN.
Quick Facts
- Title
- PixelJunk Monsters
- Developer
- Q-GamesAdditional work by Santa Monica Studio / Double Eleven (Ultimate HD, Wii U)
- Publisher
- JP · Q-Games · WW · Sony Computer Entertainment (PS3) · WW · Double Eleven (Ultimate HD, Wii U)
- Genre
- Tower defense
- Series
- PixelJunk
- Modes
- Single-player, multiplayer
- Platforms
- PlayStation 3 / PlayStation Portable / PlayStation Vita / Microsoft Windows / Mac OS X / Linux / Wii U
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
PixelJunk Monsters is a tower defense game where the objective is to build defense towers along enemies' paths to prevent them from reaching a hut containing small creatures. Each enemy that reaches the hut kills one offspring; if all offspring are wiped out, the level is failed. Towers have distinct attributes such as rapid fire, long range, or air-focused. Destroyed enemies drop coins and occasionally gems, which are used to upgrade and research new towers. There are 21 different levels at three stages of difficulty, plus three special stages that unlock unique abilities. Several Trophy Challenges were added after a patch. Unlike traditional tower defense games, the player controls a character around the screen to collect coins and build towers, and a second player can join to assist.
The PixelJunk Monsters Encore expansion pack adds 15 levels, including layouts inspired by classic arcade games such as Pac-Man and Space Invaders. It also includes gameplay tweaks, such as the ice tower being unlocked at the start of every level and the Tesla tower being less expensive. A version for the PlayStation Portable, titled PixelJunk Monsters Deluxe, contains all content from the original game and Encore, plus new levels, enemies, towers, music, videos, concept art, and other special features. In 2013, an enhanced version called PixelJunk Monsters Ultimate HD was released for PlayStation Vita, Windows, Mac OS X, and Linux. A port of the original game for the Wii U was released in May 2016. PixelJunk Monsters 2, incorporating 3D graphics and new features, was released in 2018.
Reader's Guide
PixelJunk Monsters is significant as a distinctive entry in the tower defense genre, notable for replacing the standard cursor with a player-controlled character that moves around the screen to build towers and collect coins. The game received favorable reviews on the PlayStation 3, as did its Encore expansion, Deluxe version, and the Vita version of Ultimate HD, according to Metacritic. The PC version of Ultimate HD and the Wii U port received average reviews. The game's soundtrack, developed by Otograph, was released as the first audio album on the PlayStation Store on May 22, 2008, under the title Dive into PixelJunk Monsters. The game's legacy includes multiple re-releases and expansions, including the Deluxe version for PlayStation Portable, which was described by Dylan Cuthbert as the 'ultimate version' of the game, and the Ultimate HD version for multiple platforms. The series continued with PixelJunk Monsters 2 in 2018, which introduced 3D graphics and new features.
Did You Know?
- PixelJunk Monsters is the second game in the PixelJunk series.
- The game's soundtrack, Dive into PixelJunk Monsters, was the first audio album released through the PlayStation Store.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is PixelJunk Monsters?
PixelJunk Monsters is a tower defense game created by Q-Games that blends strategic unit placement with direct character control. It serves as the second installment in the PixelJunk series and launched on the PlayStation 3.
When and where was PixelJunk Monsters released?
The game debuted in Japan on December 6, 2007, followed by a worldwide PlayStation Store release on January 24, 2008. A PSP version called PixelJunk Monsters Deluxe and a 2013 HD remaster called PixelJunk Monsters Ultimate HD also exist.
What is PixelJunk Monsters Encore?
Encore is an expansion pack that added new levels and content to the original game. It shipped in Japan on April 24, 2008, and reached North America and Europe in early-to-mid May 2008.
How does the gameplay in PixelJunk Monsters work?
Players strategically place and upgrade monster units along a path to stop incoming enemy waves, while also directly piloting a character to fight through obstacles. This mix of passive defense building and active combat is what distinguishes it from traditional tower defense games.
Why is PixelJunk Monsters considered important?
It brought the tower defense genre to a wide console audience and proved the format could incorporate real-time action without losing its strategic core. Its bold pixel-art aesthetic and tight loop made it a defining PlayStation 3 indie title.
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