A cross between the definitive puzzle game Tetris and the niche arcade classic Rampart, Fortress has plenty of substance, but doesn't take advantage of the Game Boy Advance's visual and aural capabilities. The game challenges players to construct towers from Tetris-like pieces, while simultaneously trying to destroy their opponent's structure and defending their own.

Players use a variety of weapons and units to achieve their aims. Twerps are the grunts of the game and come in two varieties: offensive and defensive. Offensive twerps attack your opponent, while defensive twerps help repair your structure. Wizards will summon monsters that can inflict massive damage to your enemy. Weaponry is dependent on which level you are playing--prehistoric, medieval, pirate, or space. Prehistoric weapons are primitive (rocks and slingshots), while space weapons are futuristic (plasma cannons).

There are three gameplay modes: battle, blitz, and tournament. Unfortunately, the modes are very similar and don't greatly affect the way you play the game. Single-player games are great for quick doses of addictive action, but two-player games through a link cable can be outstanding. The caveat is that the game's nuances might be difficult for some users to pick up. The manual does a fine job of defining everything that's in the game, but a poor job explaining how to tie it all together. An in-game tutorial would have helped immensely. While the graphics and sound won't dazzle anyone, this game is both addictive and deep--a winning combination for a puzzle game. --Raymond M. Padilla

Pros:

• Epic two-player battles, if both players understand the game
• Single-player sessions are short and sweet
• Deep strategy

Cons:

• Proper strategy isn't covered in the manual
• Bland graphics
• Annoying sounds

Game Boy Advance

Average Customer Review: ( 18 customer reviews )
Write an online review and share your thoughts with other customers.

Occasionally, you receive twerps, cavemen, knights, or pirates. Defensive twerps rebuild the damaged areas of the fortress while offensive twerps attack the enemy. Three game modes keep it interesting: battle, blitz, and tournament. Battle is the original mode, blitz has more weapons, and tournament is four games using all four eras.

Though it has a cute cartoon look, it's not the most graphically rich Game Boy Advance game. Once a battle is over, that's it. There's no new level or battle. The only option is to start a new game and play a more advanced level. It's not much game for the price.

6 of 6 found the following review helpful:

does not compare to rampartDec 07, 2001
By C. Paschall
This game gets lost in what it wants to be. Strategy or Puzzler? Sadly, it does not do either well. Fortress becomes dull very quick. The different "stages" are cosmetic and provide no real game play value. It is over way to fast. Rent it first but I do not see this game high on many people's lists. My standards for a pocket game are pretty low. All I expect is something to kill time on a trip or just sitting around. Fortress feels like forced labor in which you never get anything done.

6 of 6 found the following review helpful:

Tetris gone wild!!!!Oct 22, 2001
By Bob Proctor
Well this game is ok. I'm glad I rented it first,I do like puzzle and stradegy games alot... but this isn't the greatest. Their are three modes of play, and four stlyes of fort sites to build your fort on,Pre-historic,Medevil,pirate, and space. It does remind you of tetris, you build your fort up with different shaped blocks and get weapons like cannons or lasers to destroy each others fort. Sometimes creatures walk by and smack your fort for no reason. You can't control what your weapons or twerps attack or repair(except bombs).Even if you like stradegy and puzzle games I would think about it before buying it.

Here is a tip: build a tower of blocks 3 squares wide and 8 squares high and you'll get a " " tower(" " it depends on what kind of battle site your building on).A monster comes and will destroy some of your oppents fort.

Even though I got bored of it I still keep picking it up and playing it,(It's Addictive!).

11 of 14 found the following review helpful:

Best Strategy Game Yet For A HandheldAug 16, 2001
By Brian
This game is one of the best games I've played. I am a big fan of strategy games, and this is on the top of my list. With three modes of play, three difficulty levels, this game will provide anyone with hours of fun. There are four levels, each one is a different time period, they are: pre-historic, medeivil, pirate, and space. The main thing you do in this game is create a fortress by stacking different shaped blocks on top of eachother. Now you may think, "o, this is just like tetris, I'm not wasting my money on a remake of a game that came out in the 80's." but it isn't. Sure the placing of blocks so they fit with eachother sounds boring, but when they all fit, they create wall sections of your thriving, or pitiful fortress. With every couple blocks that fall, there will be a twerp block, and cannon blocks, you can decide whether the twerp that will appear out of the twerp block will be either offensive, or defensive. The cannon blocks fall, and imediately (can't spell that word) start shooting at your enemy's fortress.

Overall, this game was great, and I would suggest that anyone who has a gameboy advance to purchase this game.

2 of 2 found the following review helpful:

Difficult game but fun none the lessDec 31, 2003
By Richard L. Branham
I'm 25 and can't win. Although I'm not the best at all video games but I think I'm decent. It's hard for the little ones but it is fun even if you don't win.

See all 18 customer reviews on Amazon.com