# Defense Grid: The Awakening

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/defense-grid-the-awakening/511246>\
**Category:** The Game Room\
**Created:** [September 23, 2009, 3:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/defense-grid-the-awakening/511246 "2009-09-23T15:31:18Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 2\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Raza](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/raza/32/213_2.png) [@Raza](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Raza)\
**Post date:** [September 23, 2009, 3:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/defense-grid-the-awakening/511246/1 "2009-09-23T15:31:18Z")

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[http://www.metacritic.com/games/platforms/xbox360/defensegridtheawakening](http://www.metacritic.com/games/platforms/xbox360/defensegridtheawakening)

This is my first exposure to this franchise, and I’m enjoying it. It seems like _Total Annihilation_ or _Command and Conquer_ without the micro-management. True to its title, it focuses on the defensive aspects, which is the technique I naturally gravitate towards in strategy games, so I’m lovin’ it.

It’s $10 on XBox Live and there is a playable demo available; $20 on the PC.

I’m roughly 20 levels in and starting to get seriously challenged. I’m stuck on my current level, and I’ve tried a mix of various strategies, but still around wave 15 (of 25) a couple of shielded aliens will abscond with my last few orbs. This, even though I’m very gun-heavy (probably 50% of my towers are guns) and use Temporal towers at key points.

Anyone else playing? Any general advise/strategy that you’ve picked up?

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**Author:** ![Darkhold](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/90db22/32.png) [@Darkhold](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darkhold)\
**Post date:** [September 24, 2009, 6:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/defense-grid-the-awakening/511246/2 "2009-09-24T06:39:10Z")

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There was a series of YouTube videos showing how to beat each stage. I’m sure you could look up that if you’re stuck.

I never needed any though I did check them out to improve my score. I’m amazed at some of the complex mazes you can build if you examine the map before placing your towers.

Heh gun heavy? I’d say gun heavy would be about 90% or more (the best way to see if you’re gun heavy is if you shred everything but Rumblers who just charge right through your maze). Are you building too many laser towers? If two laser towers hit the same creature they do massively less damage. It’s good to space those out. Also make sure to upgrade the heck out of your gun towers as they’re crap past the first few waves on lvl 1.