Fortified

The early cold-war era spawned a unique brand of science fiction. World War-era aesthetics combined with technology still impacting the global community today resulted in a rich mix of different styles.  Games haven’t been afraid to stray into the space and make it their own either.

Fortified is the latest game to adopt the classic 1950s-era sci-fi identity, blending the chrome and over-the-top designs with its third-person shooting and tower-defense mechanics. Like Orcs Must Die, Fortified puts players in a colorful world and asks them to fight an encroaching horde. However, according to Clapfoot Games co-founder Mark Ng, the game didn’t always sport its charming aesthetic.

“It originally took place on a derelict ship in deep space, and the player was tasked with defending it against organic aliens instead of robots,” Ng says. “There was a suspense/horror element to it and it all felt very serious.” Retro science fiction replaced the serious tone after the team, who jumped to the larger project from developing mobile games, took a break to try something new. Drawing inspiration from War of the Worlds (1953) and ‘60s comic series Magnus Robot Fighter 4000 AD, the team cobbled together a prototype of what the game has become in the months since. 

Fortified is a cooperative game that puts players in the shoes of one of four heroes, tasking them with defending a base from towering alien robots. Each of those characters has a play style that supports a different role in defense. While players can choose to play as any character at any time, a more diverse squad benefits from different perks. The Space Man can manage crowds, for example, but if someone sneaks past, the Rocket Scientist and her highly mobile jetpack are better for running them down. The different class-based abilities are a key part of how Clapfoot is making sure building tower defense elements like turrets and barricades isn’t the only thing that matters in Fortified.

Along with these unique skills, each player commands a group of soldiers. “At the moment, there can be up to eight squad members under your command,” Ng says. “We’re still figuring out how far we can push this number before we reach our technological constraints.” Each of the different classes comes with its own set of unique units, which are meant as a way for players to react to different types of situations. Unit weaponry changes based on which character it belongs to, giving them different roles. Clapfoot has made it simple to respond to sudden threats; along with the standard “hold position” and “regroup” commands, Fortified’s squads can be ordered to defend the nearest structure being attacked, freeing up players to go pursue distant enemies.

Downtime in Fortified is just as important as blasting away at droves of enemies. Players have some time between rounds to repair and get ready for the next wave, but can’t afford to be complacent since a surprise wave can spawn at any moment. Outside of matches, players need to manage their skill points and invest in new buildings, units, and squad abilities.

With Fortified, Clapfoot has a chance to carve out its own little niche within the co-op landscape. The game’s charming style and premise are enough to get people to the table when the game releases this summer, but it’s up to Clapfoot to keep them there after the game launches.