Defender (2002 video game)
{{short description|2002 video game}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2019}}
{{Infobox video game
| title = Defender
| image = Defender 2002 box art.jpg
| caption = North American box art
| developer = 7 Studios (PS2)
Inevitable Entertainment (GC, Xbox)
Outlook Entertainment (GBA)
Lavastorm (Mobile)
Digital Eclipse (Xbox 360)
| publisher = Midway
THQ (Mobile)
| director = George Collins
| producer = Matthew Candler
Christine Thomas
| designer = Robert Berger
Richard Bisso
Jeffery Gardiner
Michael Kirkbride
| programmer = Brian Hawkins
| artist = Miguel Lleras
| writer = Robert Berger
Michael Kirkbride
Margaret Stohl
| composer = Michael Cohen
| release = {{vgrelease|NA|21 October 2002 (PS2){{Cite web |date=2006-11-11 |title=Midway Press Release: PR 2002-10-21 A |url=http://www.midway.com/rxpage/mpr_1061.html |access-date=2023-03-19 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061111052719/http://www.midway.com/rxpage/mpr_1061.html |archive-date=11 November 2006 }}|NA|4 November 2002 (GC, Xbox){{Cite web |date=2006-11-11 |title=Midway Press Release: PR 2002-11-04 A |url=http://www.midway.com/rxpage/mpr_1056.html |access-date=2023-03-19 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061111183658/http://www.midway.com/rxpage/mpr_1056.html |archive-date=11 November 2006 }}|NA|7 November 2002 (GBA)|EU|24 March 2003}}Mobile
13 June 2003
Xbox 360
15 November 2006
| genre = Shoot 'em up
| platforms = PlayStation 2, Xbox, GameCube, Game Boy Advance, mobile, Xbox 360
}}
Defender (subtitled For All Mankind outside North America) is a shoot 'em up video game developed in October 2002 for the PlayStation 2, and Xbox, and was ported to the GameCube the following month, followed by a port to the mobile phone version published by THQ in 2003. The game was also rereleased for Xbox 360's Live Arcade in November 2006. It is a remake of the 1981 game of the same name. Featuring three-dimensional (3D) graphics, the game is set on multiple planets and moons within the Solar System where the player must defeat waves of invading aliens while protecting astronauts.
A separate version of the game was released for the Game Boy Advance. Despite sharing a name, box art and a release date with the console versions, it is a different game.
Gameplay
The player picks up humans, who are in danger from aliens, and brings them to a drop zone for extraction. The enemy landers are attacking them, and will constantly try to pick them up for themselves. Once a human is stolen, the player has a short amount of time to blast the lander and catch the slowly falling human. If the player fails to free the human, they are absorbed into the lander and the lander is transformed into a much more difficult enemy. If the human hits the ground from falling they will die. The enemies are a handful of other alien craft, including some ground units that can turn humans into zombies.
Game Boy Advance version
A separate version of the game was released for the Game Boy Advance. It contains a faithful recreation of the 1981 Defender, and an updated version with digitized sprites and new game modes.{{citation needed|date=October 2024}}
Development
{{expand section|date=February 2015}}
Reception
{{expand section|date=February 2015}}
{{Video game reviews
| align = left
| GBA = true
| NGC = true
| MOB = true
| PS2 = true
| XBOX = true
| X360 = true
| na = true
| GR_GBA = 36%{{cite web |url=https://www.gamerankings.com/gba/562106-defender/index.html |title=Defender for Game Boy Advance |website=GameRankings |publisher=CBS Interactive |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190430203022/https://www.gamerankings.com/gba/562106-defender/index.html |archive-date=30 April 2019 |url-status=dead |access-date=9 August 2022}}
| MC_GBA = 37/100{{cite web |url=https://www.metacritic.com/game/defender-2002/critic-reviews/?platform=game-boy-advance |title=Defender for Game Boy Advance Reviews |website=Metacritic |publisher=Red Ventures |access-date=14 July 2022 |archive-date=14 July 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220714201707/https://www.metacritic.com/game/game-boy-advance/defender |url-status=live }}
| Allgame_GBA = 2/5{{cite web |last=Marriott |first=Scott Alan |url=http://www.allgame.com/game.php?id=41798&tab=review |title=Defender (GBA) - Review |website=AllGame |publisher=All Media Network |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141114221105/http://www.allgame.com/game.php?id=41798&tab=review |archive-date=14 November 2014 |url-status=dead |access-date=14 July 2022}}
| EGM_PS2 = 6.5/10{{cite magazine |url=http://www.egmmag.com/article2/0%2C2053%2C1488889%2C00.asp |title=Defender (PS2) |magazine=Electronic Gaming Monthly |publisher=Ziff Davis |issue=161 |date=December 2002 |page=202 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040604075756/http://www.egmmag.com/article2/0,2053,1488889,00.asp |archive-date=4 June 2004 |url-status=dead |access-date=10 August 2022}}
| EuroG_PS2 = 6/10{{cite web |last=Reed |first=Kristan |date=5 December 2002 |url=https://www.eurogamer.net/r-defender-ps2 |title=Defender (PS2) |website=Eurogamer |publisher=Gamer Network |access-date=9 August 2022 |archive-date=9 August 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220809235024/https://www.eurogamer.net/r-defender-ps2 |url-status=live }}
| GI_GBA = 2/10{{cite magazine |last=Kato |first=Matthew |url=http://www.gameinformer.com/Games/Review/200302/R03.0730.1631.51807.htm |title=Defender (GBA) |magazine=Game Informer |publisher=FuncoLand |issue=118 |date=February 2003 |page=110 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20041113165039/http://www.gameinformer.com/Games/Review/200302/R03.0730.1631.51807.htm |archive-date=13 November 2004 |url-status=dead |access-date=9 August 2022}}
| GI_PS2 = 7.75/10{{cite magazine |title=Defender (PS2) |magazine=Game Informer |publisher=FuncoLand |issue=115 |date=November 2002 |page=126}}
| GI_XBOX = 8.25/10{{cite magazine |title=Defender (Xbox) |magazine=Game Informer |publisher=FuncoLand |issue=118 |date=February 2003 |page=105}}
| GamePro_PS2 = 4/5{{cite magazine |author=Pong Sifu |date=11 November 2002 |url=http://www.gamepro.com/sony/ps2/games/reviews/27046.shtml |title=Defender Review for PS2 on GamePro.com |magazine=GamePro |publisher=IDG Entertainment |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050209104304/http://www.gamepro.com/sony/ps2/games/reviews/27046.shtml |archive-date=9 February 2005 |url-status=dead |access-date=10 August 2022}}
| GSpot_GBA = 4.9/10{{cite web |last=Provo |first=Frank |date=2 December 2002 |url=https://www.gamespot.com/reviews/defender-review/1900-2899162/ |title=Defender Review (GBA) [date mislabeled as "December 5, 2002"] |website=GameSpot |publisher=Red Ventures |access-date=9 August 2022 |archive-date=9 August 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220809231013/https://www.gamespot.com/reviews/defender-review/1900-2899162/ |url-status=live }}
| IGN_GBA = 2/10{{cite web |last=Harris |first=Craig |date=19 November 2002 |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2002/11/19/defender-2 |title=Defender (GBA) |website=IGN |publisher=Ziff Davis |access-date=9 August 2022 |archive-date=9 August 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220809231015/https://www.ign.com/articles/2002/11/19/defender-2 |url-status=live }}
| NP_GBA = 3/5{{cite magazine |title=Defender (GBA) |magazine=Nintendo Power |publisher=Nintendo of America |volume=165 |date=February 2003 |page=160}}
| NP_NGC = 3.1/5{{cite magazine |title=Defender (GC) |magazine=Nintendo Power |publisher=Nintendo of America |volume=165 |date=February 2003 |page=156}}
| OPM_PS2 = 3.5/5{{cite magazine |last=Baker |first=Chris |url=http://www.playstationmagazine.com/article2/0%2C2053%2C1501195%2C00.asp |title=Defender |magazine=Official U.S. PlayStation Magazine |publisher=Ziff Davis |issue=62 |date=November 2002 |page=184 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040626122839/http://www.playstationmagazine.com/article2/0,2053,1501195,00.asp |archive-date=26 June 2004 |url-status=dead |access-date=9 August 2022}}
| OXM_XBOX = 8/10{{cite magazine |title=Defender (Xbox) |magazine=Official Xbox Magazine |publisher=Future US |date=January 2003 |page=92}}
| OXM_X360 = 6.5/10{{cite magazine |title=Defender (X360) |magazine=Official Xbox Magazine |publisher=Future US |date=January 2007 |page=75}}
| XPlay_PS2 = 4/5{{cite web |last=Gallaway |first=Brad |date=13 November 2002 |url=http://www.techtv.com/extendedplay/reviews/story/0%2C24330%2C3406243%2C00.html |title='Defender' (PS2) Review |website=Extended Play |publisher=TechTV |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20021116082704/http://www.techtv.com/extendedplay/reviews/story/0,24330,3406243,00.html |archive-date=16 November 2002 |url-status=dead |access-date=10 August 2022}}
}}
The game received "mixed or average reviews" on all platforms except the Game Boy Advance version, which received "unfavorable" reviews, according to the review aggregation website Metacritic.
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References
{{reflist}}
External links
- {{moby game|id=/defender-}}
- {{moby game|id=/gameboy-advance/defender_|name=Defender (Game Boy Advance)}}
- {{moby game|id=/xbox360/defender|name=Defender (Xbox 360)}}
{{Defender series}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Defender (2002 Video Game)}}
Category:Game Boy Advance games
Category:Game Boy Advance-only games
Category:Video games developed in the United States
Category:Video games set on fictional planets
Category:Xbox 360 Live Arcade games
Category:Digital Eclipse games