Fortress

The Game Boy Advance game Fortress is an unusual mix of strategy and puzzle that was developed in 2001 by Pipe Dream Interactive and published by Majesco Entertainment. At its core, Fortress is about building your own fortress from falling bricks - similar to Tetris - with the bricks representing either walls or weapons. While the walls protect the castle of the little "Twerps", catapults, cannons and other weapons are used to attack the opponent's fortress.

Fortress offers various modes. In Battle Mode, players compete against each other in a single era, while in Tournament Mode, players play through a sequence of several eras. If you like it particularly fast and intense, choose Blitz Mode in Fortress, in which more weapons are available and the battles are faster. Fortress can be played alone against the computer or in multiplayer mode via a GBA-Link cable.

The thematic design of the four game worlds makes Fortress particularly varied. Each era in Fortress has its own characters, weapons and dangers: dragons and knights appear in the Middle Ages, dinosaurs and cavemen rage in the prehistoric era, sea monsters and buccaneers cause chaos in the pirate world, and UFOs and laser weapons intervene in the future. These changing environments ensure that every game in Fortress feels different.

Despite the original idea, Fortress received rather mixed reviews. Some praised the fresh approach, the combination of building and fighting and the humorous style, while others criticized the limited view of their own fortress and the somewhat clumsy controls. With a Metacritic score of 64 out of 100, Fortress is in the midfield.

All in all, Fortress is an interesting niche game for the Game Boy Advance that combines classic puzzle mechanics with strategy and action and is particularly impressive thanks to its varied scenarios and multiplayer options.