PixelJunk Monsters

PixelJunk Monsters is a tower defense video game developed by Q-Games for the PlayStation 3. The second game in the PixelJunk series, it was originally released in Japan on December 6, 2007 and worldwide by Sony Computer Entertainment on the PlayStation Store on January 24, 2008.^[1] The game was released for the PlayStation Portable under the title PixelJunk Monsters Deluxe.

PixelJunk Monsters
PlayStation Store icon
Developer(s)	Q-Games[a] Double Eleven (Ultimate HD, Wii U)
Publisher(s)	JP: Q-Games WW: Sony Computer Entertainment (PS3) WW: Double Eleven (Ultimate HD, Wii U)
Series	PixelJunk
Platform(s)	PlayStation 3 PlayStation Portable PlayStation Vita Microsoft Windows Mac OS X Linux Wii U
Release	December 6, 2007 PlayStation 3 JP: December 6, 2007 WW: January 24, 2008 Encore JP: April 24, 2008 NA: May 8, 2008 EU: May 15, 2008 PSP EU: October 1, 2009 JP: November 1, 2009 NA: April 27, 2010 Ultimate HD PlayStation Vita NA: July 30, 2013 PAL: July 31, 2013 JP: November 26, 2013 Microsoft Windows August 26, 2013 Mac OS X & Linux October 1, 2013 Wii U May 19, 2016
Genre(s)	Tower defense
Mode(s)	Single-player, multiplayer

PixelJunk Monsters Encore, an expansion pack for the game, was released on April 24, 2008 in Japan;^{[citation needed]} May 8, 2008 in North America; and May 15, 2008 in Europe.^[2]

In 2013, an enhanced version developed by Double Eleven titled PixelJunk Monsters Ultimate HD was released in 2013 for the PlayStation Vita, Windows, Mac OS X and Linux. In May 2016, a port of the original game also developed by Double Eleven was released for the Wii U.^[3]

In 2018, PixelJunk Monsters 2 was released, incorporating 3D graphics and new features.

Gameplay

A screenshot of gameplay in PixelJunk Monsters Encore

Gameplay in PixelJunk Monsters has similarities to various tower defense titles. The objective is to build defense towers along the enemies' path to keep them from reaching a hut, or base. Several small creatures dwell at the base. For each enemy that survives the defense towers and reaches the hut, one offspring is killed. If all offspring are wiped out, the level is failed.

Towers have distinct attributes, such as rapid fire, long range, air-focused, etc. Destroyed enemies usually drop coins and occasionally give gems, which then can be used to upgrade and research new towers.

There are a total of 21 different levels (36 with the expansion pack) at 3 stages of difficulty. There are also 3 special stages that unlock unique abilities for the player character. Several "Trophy Challenges" were also added to the game after a patch.

Unlike more traditional tower defense games, the player controls a character around the screen, collecting coins and building towers. This replaces the standard cursor controls. A second player can also join in and assist in building towers.

Encore

The PixelJunk Monsters Encore expansion pack includes an additional 15 levels, including layouts inspired by classic arcade games such as Pac-Man and Space Invaders. There are also small tweaks to gameplay; for instance, the ice tower is unlocked at the beginning of every level and the Tesla tower is less expensive to purchase.

Deluxe

A new version of PixelJunk Monsters was available for the PlayStation Portable. Titled PixelJunk Monsters Deluxe, it has been described by Dylan Cuthbert as the "ultimate version" of the game. It contains all of the level content from the original game and its Encore expansion pack, as well as new levels, enemies, and towers. Additional music, videos, concept art, and other special features are also included.^[4]

Soundtrack

Dive into PixelJunk Monsters
Studio album by Otograph
Released	May 22, 2008
Length	40:53

The music for the game was developed by Otograph. On May 22, 2008, a soundtrack album for the game titled Dive into PixelJunk Monsters was released via the PlayStation Store. It is the first audio album to be released through PSN.

Track listing

"Dive into PixelJunk Monsters" – 1:02 "Melodie" – 1:48 "45X8 60X6 90X4" – 0:54 "Good Morning" – 1:08 "Circle Flight Sketches" – 2:02 "A-maze-ing Maze" – 2:17 "Flux" – 1:23 "Hyper Puzzle Like a Sherbet" – 1:46 "Chocolate Ripples" – 2:26 "It's a Sonny" – 2:02 "Fantasia" – 2:29 "Mono No Aware" – 2:26 "Phase Lunaire" – 1:45 "High-Pressure Area" – 0:34 "Cracked Big Egg" – 2:16 "Visualize Your Enemy" – 1:13 "Rythmes" – 0:18 "Bye Bye Monsters" – 3:36 "Cool Brain" – 0:25 "Lumiere Tremblotante" – 2:02 "Final Bit Explosion" – 2:01 "Another Chance" – 2:03 "Lovely Brain" – 2:50 "Game Over" – 0:07

Reception

The PlayStation 3 version of PixelJunk Monsters, Encore, Deluxe, and the Vita version of Ultimate received "favorable" reviews, while the PC version of Ultimate and the Wii U version of PixelJunk Monsters received "average" reviews, according to the review aggregation website Metacritic.^{[5][6][7][8][9][10]}

Aggregate score

Aggregator	Score
	PC	PS Vita	PS3	PSP	Wii U
Metacritic	72/100[5]	84/100[6]	83/100[7] (E.) 82/100[8]	86/100[9]	73/100[10]

Review scores

Publication	Score
	PC	PS Vita	PS3	PSP	Wii U
1Up.com	N/A	N/A	A[11]	A[12]	N/A
Destructoid	N/A	N/A	N/A	9/10[13]	N/A
Edge	N/A	N/A	7/10[14]	N/A	N/A
Eurogamer	N/A	N/A	8/10[15]	N/A	N/A
GamePro	N/A	N/A	[16]	N/A	N/A
GameSpot	N/A	N/A	7.5/10[17] (E.) 7/10[18]	8/10[19]	N/A
GameZone	N/A	N/A	8/10[20]	9/10[21]	N/A
IGN	N/A	9/10[22]	8.5/10[23] (E.) 7.9/10[24]	9/10[25]	N/A
Nintendo Life	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	8/10[26]
PlayStation Official Magazine – UK	N/A	8/10[27]	7/10[28]	8/10[29]	N/A
The A.V. Club	N/A	N/A	B[30]	N/A	N/A

Reception

Notes

1. Additional work by Santa Monica Studio