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1[[quoteright:267:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/Defendersquest_2271.jpg]]
2
3Are you a fan of ''VideoGame/PuzzleQuest''? Are you thinking "Man, I just have to play another game that's an RPG mashed up with some other genre!"? Then boy, is there a game for you.
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5''Defender's Quest'' is an indie game created by Level Up Labs that blends the addicting gameplay of a TowerDefense game with the story and tactical depth of an {{RPG}}. The game begins when Azra, the royal librarian of the Ash Kingdom, contracts a plague that turns those infected into horrifying monstrosities known as Revenants, and is thrown into a plague colony known as the Pit as a result. Fortunately, she quickly discovers that, not only is she immune to the malady, but the infection has gifted her with strange powers that allow her to fight against the Revenants.
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7A very extensive demo of the game, consisting of the entire first two (of seven) acts, can be played for free [[http://www.kongregate.com/games/LevelUpLabs/defenders-quest-prelude here]]. Once you've beaten that, you can purchase the full version (and very handily transfer your save game from the demo to it) [[http://www.defendersquest.com here!]]. You can also find it on [[http://store.steampowered.com/app/218410/ Steam]]
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9On June 14th, 2016, an HD update was released enhancing existing textures and giving new features such as Azra's journal from the get go.
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11A sequel, ''VideoGame/DefendersQuestII'', was announced on October 13th, 2013. Release date uncertain.
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13----
14
15!!This game provides examples of:
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17* ActionGirl: Ketta, Niru and Wrenna. In some case, Azra as well.
18* ActionMom: Niru.
19* AdamSmithHatesYourGuts: Every new hire costs more than the previous one, regardless of what their class is or what ass-end town you hire them from. And after they've drained your scrap supply, you still have to buy them equipment.
20* AxCrazy: Downplayed with Wrenna. She has an excessive propensity to cheerfully discuss her personal acts of homicide, but is otherwise really just another young woman with deep personal troubles.
21* TheAtoner: After all the conflicts between the Quaid Empire and the Ash Kingdom, Wrenna and [[spoiler:Bakal]] are these.
22* ArmorPiercingAttack: Knights specialise in these, being able to ignore or even break the defences of armoured enemies. Ranger's can also gain a passive armour penetration chance on all their attacks.
23* ArmyOfThievesAndWhores: Azra's teams grows into this, bonus points for an actual BloodKnight as her first companion.
24* BadBoss: Zelemir does not take to lightly on [[YouHaveFailedMe Ozimal's failures]]. [[spoiler:It comes back to bite Niru when she realized her children were slaughtered by Zelemir on his way to get to Azra.]]
25* BadEnding: Losing to the final boss gives you one of these.
26* BaldOfEvil: Zelemir is revealed to have this after he takes off his [[InTheHood hood]]. Interestingly, though, [[spoiler:this coincides with the revelation that he is a WellIntentionedExtremist instead of a straight-up EvilSorcerer.]]
27* BigDamnHeroes: And it comes from the last person you'd expect. Just as a seemingly-invincible cultist is about to kill Azra, [[spoiler:Zelemir]] suddenly appears and saves her.
28* BittersweetEnding
29** Ending C, "A Painful End", is ''very'' bittersweet. [[spoiler:Eztli-Tenoch is still alive, Bakal and Markos are dead, and many of the Pit inhabitants die or go hungry.]] On the bright side, [[spoiler:some people ''did'' survive, and Eztli-Tenoch has been permanently sealed, meaning the events of the story will never happen again]].
30** Ending A, "The Way Out" leaves [[spoiler:Eztli-Tenoch effectively sealed for good]], but [[spoiler:most of Azra's companions are also dead, along with all the inhabitants of the Pit and the last of the Quaid. Azra herself is probably scarred for life.]]
31-->'''Wrenna:''' [[spoiler:Someday, you will learn that it is better to die with your comrades than to live forever, alone. May the lesson be bitter.]]
32* GuideDangIt: The Strange Monument is positively notorious in the community. Not only are the puzzle solutions hidden in extremely obscure ways, so is the ''existence'' of the puzzles themselves.
33* BishonenLine: [[spoiler:At the start of the battle, Eztli-Tenoch looks like a golden man with a blue cape. As Azra boosts her power, Eztli-Tenoch gradually becomes more monstrous, growing more limbs and resembling human less and less... until Azra boosts herself to the max and Eztli-Tenoch is revealed to be a nude old man with very long hair and beard.]]
34* BloodKnight: Slak, a memetic example. [[spoiler:To the point that inspires Azra to [[ChekhovsSkill develop the Berserker ability]] to the entire party.]]
35* BloodMagic: [[spoiler:The seal that binds Eztli-Tenoch uses this. It can only be broken by the bloodline of the ones who originally made the seal.]]
36** In the NewGamePlus sidequests, [[spoiler:Tletl-Meztli]] seems to use something like this; many of her spells are activated after she cuts her palm and draws blood.
37* BoisterousBruiser: Slak.
38* BolivianArmyEnding: [[spoiler:The alternate ending is this for everyone except Azra, Ketta, and Markos. Fortunately, it's also one of these for the BigBad.]]
39* BraggingRightsReward:
40** "Eye of the Flame", obtained by beating the FinalBoss on the highest difficulty. Strangely enough, it's actually outclassed by [[InfinityPlusOneSword Evni]].
41*** Even moreso, the Obsidian Skull obtained by beating the FinalBoss on extreme ''in NewGamePlus''.
42*** Not necessarily though, as there ''are'' challenges in the game even more difficult than the final boss on the highest difficulty; the items may help with these.
43* BrickJoke: "The Tipsy Tiger Song".
44* BuffySpeak: The characters occasionally engage in this.
45* ChangedMyMindKid: [[spoiler:Ketta, if Azra chooses to try and stop Zelemir's plot]] at the end.
46* ClingyJealousGirl: [[spoiler:Ketta]], of all people, is in love with [[spoiler:Slak due to his proud machismo and BloodKnight tendencies. She]] gets jealous of [[spoiler:Evni]], a ''sword''.
47* CutsceneBoss: The "true" right hand of Eztli-Tenoch, who is totally invincible. Just as he's about to kill Azra, [[spoiler:Zelemir [[BigDamnHeroes drops a lightning bolt on it]]]].
48* DamageSpongeBoss: The "super sheep". It has no special skills aside from having ''a lot'' of health.
49* DarkIsNotEvil: Bakal is dressed in black robes, despite of owning a monastery meant to heal the sick and maintain order in his place. [[spoiler:Zelemir turns out to be this as well.]]
50* DeadpanSnarker: Azra, in her journal. Ketta in some extent.
51* DidntThinkThisThrough: Blasting the caverns in order to stop Zelemir from kidnapping Azra was just an idea, [[spoiler:Bakal forgotten that it left Niru's nest defenseless to [[AnimateDead reanimation]].]]
52* DreamingOfTimesGoneBy: [[spoiler: Azra has several dreams about Tletl-Meztli's life with Eztli-Tenoch, which Azra writes down in her journal. You don't really figure this out until after the final sidequest though.]]
53* DrivenToSuicide: [[spoiler:After seeing how Eztli-Tenoch has turned into a complete EvilOverlord, his lover, Tletl-Meztli, asks him for a MercyKill.]]
54* EasyLevelsHardBosses: The sheep level on higher difficulties.
55* EliteMooks: Cultists.
56* TheEmpire: The Empire of Quaid, [[spoiler:until it got wiped out by Zelemir and the plague.]]
57* EnemyMine: [[spoiler:Zelemir fights alongside Azra during the final battle against Eztli-Tenoch]].
58* EvilSorcerer: Zelemir. [[spoiler:At first, anyway.]]
59** [[spoiler:Eztli-Tenoch]] is a straighter example.
60* EvolvingWeapon: In a NewGamePlus, unique equipment obtained from a regular game can be upgraded using a special currency, giving them improved stat bonuses and special effects.
61* ExperiencePoints: The game also comes with an option to increase or [[SelfImposedChallenge decrease]] the amount of experience you gain.
62* FirstPersonSmartass: Azra during her journal entries, which are only available on NewGamePlus.
63* ForcedLevelGrinding: ''Lots''. You ''will'' need to return to older levels and try them at higher difficulties to have any hope of continuing the main story. Frequently.
64* TheFundamentalist: Quaid was apparently full of these before it fell.
65* GameplayAndStoryIntegration: The quality of the ending you get after the final level is tied to your performance during it. You get the worst ending if [[spoiler:Zelemir]] dies, a better ending if they are only injured, and the GoldenEnding if they are unharmed.
66* GameplayAndStorySegregation:
67** Extra recruits are never mentioned or referenced in the main story, and only really seem to be there to make gameplay easier.
68*** Extra ice magi in particular are rather awkward, since Wrenna's backstory seems to imply that her powers are supposed to be unique.
69*** That's only if you fail to pay attention to the story. When Wrenna tells her story how she came to wield ice she also says: "I am not the only one who has had this experience. Many survive this plague and return changed." Actually every story character explicitly explains where other recruits come from except Slak and Ketta, because, raging half-naked nomad warriors and female nomad bow wielders are just way too common among Nomads and don't require any extra explanation.
70** Also, it is entirely possible to revisit levels (or even towns) that you shouldn't be able to access according to in-story events.
71* GeniusBruiser: Despite being essentially diagnosed with insanity, [[spoiler: Slak knows how to read and write like a printer]], much to Azra's annoyance.
72* GiantSpaceFleaFromNowhere: The Right Hand of Eztli-Tenoch. Lampshaded.
73-->'''Slak (boggling):''' Is that a...giant...hand? Any other unusually sized body parts fixing to burst out of the ground?
74* GuideDangIt: The Strange Monument is positively notorious in the community. Not only are the puzzle solutions hidden in extremely obscure ways, so is the existence of the puzzles themselves.
75* AGodAmI: Niru and, by extent, [[InTheBlood her bloodline of dragons]] before her.
76** [[spoiler:Eztli-Tenoch.]] He may not be entirely off the mark, though...
77* GoldenEnding: Receiving this requires [[spoiler:not allowing Zelemir to be harmed]].
78* GuysSmashGirlsShoot: Averted with healers and dragons (though dragons do also have a ranged attack), played straight everywhere else.
79* HealingFactor: Everyone. Berserkers get a trait that specializes in it, however, probably to balance out their lack of armor.
80* HeelFaceTurn: [[spoiler:Zelemir has a ''very'' slow one. He starts off appearing as a typical EvilSorceror, then is revealed to be a WellIntentionedExtremist, and at the very end, [[EnemyMine he fights alongside you for the final battle]].]]
81* HeroicSacrifice: [[spoiler:Bakal, Zelemir, and/or Markos can die while resealing/killing Eztli-Tenoch at the end of the game]].
82* AnIcePerson: More like, [[AxCrazy a not really nice person]] but icy Wrenna, trading "the fire of her heart" that she can continue to live on.
83* ICallItVera: Slak is ''really'' fond of Evni, to the point of treating "her" like a real person.
84** He's also named all his abs. And his glutes. And the skulls on his necklace of skulls.
85--->'''Slak:''' I call the big one Blinky, and the little one here Mr. Teeth.
86* InfinityPlusOneSword: Evni for swords, Gilded Death for bows, Kozomon's Scepter for staves.
87** InfinityMinusOneSword: Eye of the Flame, obtained by beating the FinalBoss on the highest difficulty level.
88** And you can make them even ''[[EvolvingWeapon better]]'' in a NewGamePlus...does that make them infinity+2 weapons?
89* InTheHood: Zelemir for the first half of the game. Afterwards, he's revealed to have BaldOfEvil.
90* ItsPersonal: [[spoiler: [[BigBad Eztli-Tenoch]] is noticeably [[EvenEvilHasLovedOnes emotional]] after he kills Tletl-Meztli and warns Azra to prepare herself.]]
91* JackOfAllStats: Berserkers. Effectively a basic class for the players to take advantage of. High attack speed and evasion, decent regeneration and the ability to hit multiple enemies allows easy denial in a single path without taking significant hassle pick off enemies at a long distance. No ranged abilities, though, and no utility other than a chance to inflict Bleed.
92* LargeAndInCharge: Ozimal is noticeably taller than many of the cast. [[spoiler: Subverted when he turns out to be a [[DiscOneFinalBoss Decoy Antagonist]].]]
93* LightIsNotGood: [[spoiler:Ezti-Tenoch]] appears in the form of a man of glowing golden light, but is anything ''but'' good.
94* LightTheWay: Healers, and they are the only ones who can [[spoiler:dispel the shadow hordes evasion buff for other defenders to kill them.]]
95* LineInTheSand: [[spoiler:At the end, if Azra decides to stop Zelemir, she offers this to her teammates. Ketta is the only one who takes up the offer, though she [[ChangedMyMindKid changes her mind]] later.]]
96* MagikarpPower: Rangers. They start off picking targets one-by-one with a unique medium ranged basic attack that deals a few hits short than a berserker. Later levels allows rangers to group together in a single pack that can shower enemies endlessly at a safe distance with little help from other classes.
97* TheMagicGoesAway: The source of everyone's supernatural powers was [[spoiler:Eztli-Tenoch, so when he dies, everyone reverts back to normal.]]
98* MamaBear: Niru. [[spoiler:And she is NOT happy to discover that Zelemir has been killing her kids.]]
99* ManaShield: The Psi Shield book gives Azra one of these when equipped.
100* TheManBehindTheMan: Subverted. [[spoiler:Eztli-Tenoch was never behind Zelemir]] and Ozimal was just a warm-up boss for the three-bit heroes until stronger characters showed up.
101* MeaningfulName: "Zelemir" is Old Slavic and can read as either [[spoiler:"Desire for Peace"]] or [[spoiler:"Desire for the World"]].
102* TheMedic: Healers, natch.
103* MightyGlacier: Knights. Their attacks are all single-hit and they have the slowest attack speed out of all the classes, but they hit like a truck.
104* MoodWhiplash: Frequently. Scenes love to swing from deep, serious philosophizing or plot exposition to lighthearted jokes or even madcap comedy in the span of a single second, and vice versa.
105** In particular is the ending of Wrenna's sidequest. After her tough shell fractures and she spills her heart out to Azra, detailing the horrors of the Quaid genocide that she experienced, the scene ends on...
106--->'''Azra:''' Wrenna...do you want a hug?\
107'''Wrenna:''' What's a "hug"?
108* MultipleEndings: [[spoiler:Five]].
109* MultipleLifeBars: [[spoiler:The FinalBoss uses the first variant; they have five health bars that must be depleted in sequence. They also become invincible after each one is knocked off until you expend some psi.]]
110* MundaneObjectAmazement: Azra's letter to Markos has an interesting analysis on [[spoiler:his PornStache]], considering how long Azra's been surrounded by nothing more but [[RoomFullOfCrazy bloodthirsty sociopaths]], DesertBandits and an old man she barely get a chance talk to, she takes Markor's sanity is well guarded by said [[spoiler:mustache]]. Even Slak knows what's up with her.
111--> "[[spoiler:I LOVE YOU MARKOS [[LampshadeHanging I WANT TO MARRY YOUR MUSTACHE]]...]]" - Slak's vandalism
112* MushroomSamba: According to her diary, Azra ends up going on one after her fifth boot of Slak's "boot wine" during the celebrations after slaying the super-sheep. Her diary the next morning consists of many, ''many'' reiterations of the word "NEVER" concluding with "AGAIN!"
113* {{Necromancer}}: Zelemir. [[spoiler:Also, given that the infected have visions of him, Eztli-Tenoch is probably one as well.]]
114* NewGamePlus: However, enemies are buffed up (and given special abilities) to be on par with your godly levels. You also get access to seven [[SideQuest optional levels]].
115* NoodleIncident: The "Raisin Pudding Incident" Azra mentions after completing the third sidequest in [[NewGamePlus new game+]].
116* NoSocialSkills: Wrenna is exceptionally unaware that people outside of Quaid are terrified about her bloodthirsty stories.
117* OnlySaneWoman: Azra, in perspective, compared to the more culturally-inclined characters like [[DesertBandits Ketta]] and [[ProudWarriorRaceGuy Wrenna]].
118* OurDragonsAreDifferent: According to Wrenna, dragons were originally a rough equivalent of angels -- creations of the Quaid's fire god, sent to watch over the realm of mortals. Unfortunately, many were corrupted by greed, leading to their hoarding and pillaging tendencies. Others also forgot their original purpose over time.
119* PathOfMostResistance: At the end of the game, the levels branch -- you either fight one easy level, or a series of much harder ones. The former will get you the bad ending, the latter will get you the good.
120* ThePlague
121** TheVirus: Those who do not survive the plague turn into Revenants.
122** TheCorruption: Averted. Many of those who do survive get superpowers out of the deal, but they don't corrupt people mentally or physically. [[spoiler:They're also key to defeating the source of the plague.]]
123* PostEndGameContent: Several "bonus" levels consisting of special challenges, as well as NewGamePlus.
124* PowerupLetdown: Azra's books. Some of them give additional effects to spells. they also have negative drawbacks, such as ''tripling the cost and '''quintupling''' the cooldown'' of the relevant spell. In many cases, this makes the powerups simply not worth it.
125* ProudWarriorRaceGuy: Wrenna and the entire Quaid empire, [[spoiler:until the Empire is destroyed by the plague]].
126* {{Pun}}
127** This absolute groaner in Chapter IV:
128--->'''Wrenna:''' ''(on Niru, the dragon)'' Many have thought they were wise enough to fool the powers of darkness. Do not let hubris lead you to deception.\
129'''Azra:''' Of course, Wrenna. I realize we're... playing with fire.\
130'''Wrenna:''' ''[[FacePalm *facepalm*]]'' That's not... even... ugh.\
131'''Azra:''' Come on, it's hilarious.\
132'''Wrenna:''' ...My mind hurts.
133** The Right Hand of Etzli-Tenoch (which is [[spoiler:[[VisualPun a literal hand]]]]) includes in its flavor text: [[spoiler:"On closer inspection, it seems to be a ''left'' hand. How sinister."]][[labelnote:*]]'sinister' means both 'evil' and 'left'[[/labelnote]]
134* RedemptionEqualsDeath: [[spoiler:Eztli-Tenoch's ultimate defeat is brought about by Zelemir and/or Bakal, who vanish/die as a direct result.]]
135* RedemptionPromotion / RedemptionDemotion: When [[spoiler:Zelemir]] joins your side during the final battle, both of these apply to an extent. They basically become a copy of Azra, so their spells are weaker, but can be used more frequently. Their massive, boss-level HP is also cut down to be comparable with Azra's.
136* RichesToRags: Turns out, [[spoiler:Slak used to be in fine royalty which includes his librarian-like education that rivals Azra, but finds [[GildedCage the sport of riches to be very boring]] and decides to ruin his own life then turn it into a bloodbath adventure just for the fun of it.]]
137* SamusIsAGirl: A subtle case, it's uncanny to tell Niru is female until she spoke out that she does have a nest to tend with.
138* ScrewThisImOuttaHere: Ketta, considering that she is a [[DesertBandits desert tribe bandit]] her likelihood of running away from a fight is expected. [[spoiler:She becomes absent if you pursue Zelemir instead of following his advice, but comes back later on since [[LoveRedeems she couldn't get her eyes out off Slak]].]]
139** Azra, if [[spoiler:you allow Zelemir to do the ritual himself, leaving to speculation to the other characters who remained to fight through the caverns.]]
140* SealedEvilInACan: [[spoiler:Eztli-Tenoch.]]
141* SelfImposedChallenge: The game is very generous with the options it gives the player. There is nothing stopping the player from attempting to beat the game by only using hero characters or cutting xp gain in half while playing on the highest difficulty.
142** There's also equipping the Book of Daring and/or Book of Silence obtained from the last bonus missions which prevent you from re-summoning defeated/recalled units and prevent you from casting spells respectively.
143* SequentialBoss: [[spoiler:The FinalBoss transforms every time you knock off one of their his bars, requiring you to expend some psi in order to keep damaging him. However, other than HP, his stats and battle tactics don't change between forms.]]
144* ShipTease: [[spoiler:Slak and Ketta, if buying Evni beforehand was enough to expose it]].
145* ShipperOnDeck: On the final page of the final entry in the journal, which is obtained by beating the NewGamePlus then going back into the game (and might require getting the GoldenEnding to boot), and is an epilogue written months after the events of the game, it is revealed that [[spoiler:Slak thinks Azra wants Markos]]. [[BrickJoke Also that]] [[spoiler:Azra kept the soup ladle, that useful instrument for interrupting Slak when he is being annoying.]]
146* SideQuest: Seven, three of which even have a connected subplot. They're only available in NewGamePlus, however.
147* SoleSurvivor: Wrenna is the sole surviving heir of the Quaid imperial family, and a powerful fighter and ice mage.
148* SquishyWizard: Healers, but subverted with Ice Mages, who dons similarly heavy armor compared to knights and are built specifically to stun-lock enemies in a lane or two.
149* TestosteronePoisoning: Slak's whole persona. Two lines from the script file convey this succinctly:
150-->'''Slak:''' HAHAHA! I AM THE SEXY GOD OF VIOLENCE! LOOK ON MY RIPPLING ABS, YE MIGHTY, AND DESPAIR!
151* ThatManIsDead: Bakal thinks Zelemir is this after [[spoiler:unleashing the overworld calamity across the world.]]
152* {{Tsundere}}: Ketta. [[spoiler:Slak is merely a "tolerable comrade in arms"? Even Azra sees through that.]] This gets on peoples' nerves, to the point that Azra claims to have seriously considered letting the dragon eat her.
153* UndyingLoyalty: Oddly enough, Slak towards Azra. [[spoiler:Markos as well for Azra if Azra decides abandon her journey to save her own skin instead of ending the plague for good.]]
154* WalkingShirtlessScene: Slak and other berserkers invoke this, since fighting bad guys with a suit of armor doesn't look cool. Markos and Ketta even insist Slak to put on a shirt, [[spoiler:because the latter couldn't keep a straight face [[FemaleGaze looking at his abs]].]]
155* WasOnceAMan: Revenants.
156** Also, [[spoiler:Etzli-Tenoch, as revealed in the final sidequest.]]
157* WellIntentionedExtremist: [[spoiler:Zelemir, emphasis on extremist. Eztli-Tenoch to an extent as well if the final sidequest is to be believed.]]
158* WhatTheHellHero: Azra will get this [[spoiler:from Niru and Wrenna if she decides to flee the Pit instead of confronting Zelemir.]] Subverted by Bakal, however, who will fully support her choice.
159** In the NewGamePlus, Azra calls out [[spoiler:Ketta]] for [[spoiler:showing no interest in rescuing some children still trapped in Ozimal's dungeon, only wanting to pursue a blood feud against a member of the rival tribe.]]
160* YouHaveFailedMe: Ozimal gets turned into a Revenant by Zelemir for failing to capture Azra for the last time.
161* ZombieApocalypse: The plague caused this for the [[spoiler:Quaid Empire]] and threatens to do the same to the kingdom of Ash.

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