Colony Siege

Colony Siege is a sci-fi real-time strategy (RTS) and tower defense hybrid where players defend humanity’s last colonies against relentless alien swarms. Developed by Finifugal Games in 2020, the game challenges players to build and fortify bases, manipulate enemy paths through maze-like tactics, and deploy a lethal arsenal—including flamethrowers, projectile launchers, and physics-based traps—to incinerate, crush, and outmaneuver extraterrestrial invaders in dynamic, strategic combat.

Colony Siege: A Deep Dive into Finifugal’s Genre-Bending Strategy Title

Introduction: Blending Tower Defense and RTS

Colony Siege, released on September 7, 2020, is a bold attempt by Finifugal Games to seamlessly fuse the intricate base building and tactical planning of Real-Time Strategy (RTS) with the wave-based defense and strategic placement of Tower Defense. This ambitious hybrid aims to offer a unique and challenging experience, tasking players with defending humanity’s last colonies against relentless alien threats. While not without its flaws, Colony Siege carves out a compelling niche for itself, offering a deep and engaging strategic landscape that rewards both careful planning and dynamic adaptation. This review will delve into the game’s mechanics, narrative, art style, and lasting impact to determine its place within the crowded strategy genre.

Development History & Context: The Vision of Finifugal Games

Colony Siege represents the debut title from the independent studio, Finifugal Games. Self-published and developed, the game reflects a clear passion for both RTS and Tower Defense genres. The development landscape in 2020 was saturated with titles in both categories, presenting a challenge for Colony Siege to stand out. However, the decision to merge these two distinct styles, combined with the addition of unit physics and a non-linear campaign, aimed to create a fresh and memorable experience. The game was released on Steam and had an early access release date of June 19, 2020. The studio marketed the game towards lovers of the genre, and gamers new to the genre entirely.

Narrative & Thematic Deep Dive: Defending Humanity’s Last Stand

The narrative backdrop of Colony Siege paints a grim picture of humanity facing near extinction. Earth has fallen to the invading Xenos, forcing the survivors into scattered colonies across the galaxy. The player assumes the role of a commander tasked with defending these fragile outposts. The narrative introduces two primary enemy factions: the biomechanical Xenos, behaving as relentless insect swarms of alien invaders, and the Riven, corrupted humans who have succumbed to the Xenos’ DNA in an attempt to gain immunity. This factional dichotomy provides a compelling thematic layer, exploring themes of survival, adaptation, and the disturbing consequences of desperation, as well as base building, mazing, and unit physics.
The campaign is designed with branching paths upon a starmap, providing choice and allowing for a non-linear structure, and allowing you to choose missions based on your needs at the time.

Gameplay Mechanics & Systems: A Hybrid Approach

The core gameplay loop of Colony Siege revolves around strategic base building, resource management, and tactical combat. Players must construct defensive structures such as laser towers, strategically placing them to create mazes that funnel enemies into kill zones. Crucially, towers in close proximity automatically form energy barriers, restricting enemy movement while allowing friendly units to pass through.

• Real-Time Strategy Elements:
  • Base building and resource management
  • Unit recruitment and command
  • “Commander Ship” controllable by the player
  • Fighter sorties, long-range missiles, satellite-powered attacks, commander abilities
• Tower Defense Elements:
  • Defensive towers and walls
  • Unique traps to slow, impale, and burn aggressors
  • Defending the colony citadel
• Unique Mechanics:
  • Unit Physics: Leveraging environmental hazards such as cliffs and lava pits to inflict damage.
  • “Mazing”: Forcing longer routes for enemies to march and be neutralized.

The game incorporates a persistent progression system, with players earning currency by completing primary and bonus objectives in order to upgrade weapons, towers, mobile units, and unlock perks that buffer weaknesses or bolster gameplay advantages.

One minor point of criticism mentioned in one review detailed that the tutorial sometimes lacked important information about elements of the game, and the need for tooltips could have been beneficial.

World-Building, Art & Sound: A Grim, Yet Detailed, Aesthetic

Colony Siege presents a sci-fi setting with varied environments, from icy planets to volcanic worlds, space stations, and mobile space platforms. The game employs a diagonal-down perspective with a free camera, allowing players to appreciate the scale of the skirmishes. One reviewer noted the high level of detail applied to units from both sides, alongside detailed animations. The visual clarity is commendable, ensuring players can easily strategize and react to the unfolding chaos.

The sound design employs the FMOD engine. One reviewer enjoyed the game’s music choice, saying the music added added to the sci-fi theme and intensity of the battles, and didn’t feel oppressive nor annoying. Conversely, another reviewer was of the opinion that some of the voice-over work in cutscenes sounded messy or out of place.

Reception & Legacy: A Promising Start

Colony Siege received a “Very Positive” rating on Steam, backed by a solid 91% positive review score. Critics like Gaming Respawn praised the game’s successful blend of RTS and Tower Defense elements, and reviews indicated that the game brought back memories of classic RTS games like Starcraft. Users on Steam have left over 200 very positive reviews of the title, and many curators have also expressed joy. One reviewer gave the game a score of 90%, and looked forward to additional patches and content. Despite the positive feedback, Colony Siege has not yet transcended into a major gaming franchise.

Conclusion: A Worthy Addition to the Strategy Genre

Colony Siege achieves a compelling blend of RTS and Tower Defense, delivering a challenging and addictive experience. The game’s unique mechanics, non-linear campaign, and cooperative multiplayer mode make it a worthy addition to the strategy genre. While some aspects of the user interface could use improvement, the overall experience is polished and engaging. Colony Siege stands as a testament to the potential of independent game development when fueled by passion and a clear vision. For strategy enthusiasts seeking a fresh and innovative twist on familiar mechanics, Colony Siege is a valuable gem worth exploring.