Info about Element TD 2 - Mazing Expansion:

Official game description:
We're old-school gamers. To us, a worthy expansion should add a new way to play the game in addition to more content. Welcome to Mazing.
A New Dimension of Strategy
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In Mazing, you build your towers on top of Blockers, which are placed on the path to obstruct the enemies. This forces them to change their route giving you an additional layer of tactics to play with. Each map has different boundaries and dimensions that make you adjust your maze, but ultimately, the best locations for your towers are crafted by you.  
With so many different enemy paths possible, there are plenty of new strategies for your towers waiting to be discovered. Experience Element TD 2 like never before!  
Features
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*   **Mazing Mode**, which can be played in Singleplayer or Multiplayer  
*   **Blocker Tiles** allow you construct and adjust your maze at no cost  
*   **Mazing Campaign** featuring 14 Missions, each with their own Achievements  
*   **10 New** Mazing Maps  
*   **6 New** Co-op Mazing Maps  
*   **Mazing Leaderboards** for each of the new maps  
*   **174 New Achievements** just for Mazing

Release date: Dec 2, 2022

Categories: Tower Defense, Mazing, Cooperative Multiplayer, Competitive Multiplayer, Leaderboards


- Hardware Profile: No data
Feature extractions:
- Community Price:
  - Community fair range: $0.00
  - Reasoning: The community describes a generous payment model that lets friends play without owning the base game, which indicates the base game is free-to-play. The positive value comment does not include any complaint about base-game cost. Any mention of a worth-it single-player campaign refers to paid DLC, which is excluded from this base-game price estimate. Therefore, the community's fair base-game price is $0.
- Playtime Metrics:
  - Game completion: N/A
  - Story completion: N/A
  - Session length: 4.0h
  - Endgame: N/A
  - Reasoning: The only explicit playtime figure is 'nearly four hours,' which describes a long play session and supports sessionLength at approximately 4 hours. The campaign-related comments indicate completion is discussed but provide no hour values, so gameCompletion and storyCompletion are null. No clearly target-DLC-specific endgame hour figure is provided, so endgame is null.
- Time-to-fun:
  - Summary: Players describe this co-op title as fun right away, with the single player campaign and the ability to play with non-owning friends cited as strong immediate draws. The main caveats are a steep multiplayer learning curve and the heavy planning and teamwork that co-op demands.
  - Stance: Fun immediately
  - Anchor: N/A
  - Time to anchor: N/A
  - Friction: Multiplayer can be tough for new players; New players must hold a quick picture of their final layout in mind; Co-op play demands a lot of brainpower and teamwork; Limited number of co-op maps (only 6) noted by a player requesting more
  - Unlock drivers: N/A
  - Conditions: Enjoyment is stated for the single player campaign at this price point; Friends without owning the game can join via the generous payment model; Co-op enjoyment depends on teammates coordinating and sharing the cognitive load; Multiplayer difficulty for newcomers depends on visualizing the final layout in advance
- Player Archetypes:
  - Competitive PvP TD Veteran (buy)
    - Motivation: Prove competitive mastery through top scores and high PvP ranks.
    - Playstyle: Ranked PvP and leaderboard optimization, often using unconventional builds like Money Towers.
    - Experience: veteran
    - Purchase stance: buy
    - Labels: N/A
    - Reference games: N/A
  - Casual Co-op Teammate (buy)
    - Motivation: Have fun and cooperate with friends in co-op maps.
    - Playstyle: Normal-mode co-op, devising strategies with a friend, emphasizing teamwork and humor.
    - Experience: familiar
    - Purchase stance: buy
    - Labels: casual
    - Reference games: N/A
  - Base-Game Expansion Loyalist (buy)
    - Motivation: Extend a favorite base game with more campaigns, co-op maps, and expansion content.
    - Playstyle: Plays through campaigns and new co-op maps, treating the DLC as a direct continuation of the base game.
    - Experience: familiar
    - Purchase stance: buy
    - Labels: N/A
    - Reference games: Age of Empires II: The Conquerors; StarCraft: Brood War
  - Onboarding-Focused Newcomer (buy)
    - Motivation: Learn the core mechanics without being overwhelmed before committing to DLC.
    - Playstyle: Starts with the base game, practices single-player or normal modes, and studies layouts before entering multiplayer or Maze DLC.
    - Experience: newcomer
    - Purchase stance: buy
    - Labels: N/A
    - Reference games: N/A


Below are summaries of things people say about the game per category.
Each point is assigned a weight that represents how often it is mentioned across all reviews.
What players like:
- DLC is great value (weight 0.97): Reviewers consistently praise the DLC as a well-made, amazing addition that offers great value and enhances the base game.
- Innovative pathbuilding and mazing (weight 0.87): A standout feature is the ability to build towers in the field rather than on edges, adding depth and risk-reward to maze strategies.
- Top-tier tower defense game (weight 0.76): Many consider this game one of the best tower defense games on the market, with the DLC further solidifying its excellence.
- Adds complexity and depth (weight 0.67): The DLC adds new layers of complexity, such as pathbuilding and tower-focused strategies, deepening the gameplay.
- Nostalgic WC3 tower defense feel (weight 0.54): The DLC evokes the feeling of classic Warcraft 3 modded tower defense maps, appealing to fans of old-school custom games.
- Adds challenging new content (weight 0.5): The DLC introduces a new level of challenge and complexity, with a tougher campaign that builds on the original game's mechanics.
- High replayability and leaderboards (weight 0.48): The game offers huge replay diversity, with leaderboards and achievements that keep players challenged and engaged.
- Fun and enjoyable (weight 0.41): Overall, players find the game and DLC to be fun, awesome, and enjoyable, with many expressing a desire to continue playing.
- Excellent co-op experience (weight 0.39): The co-op mode is highly enjoyable, requiring teamwork and brainpower to devise effective strategies together.
- Campaign worth the price (weight 0.39): The single-player campaign alone is worth the price of the expansion, offering a substantial and enjoyable experience.
- Generous payment model (weight 0.15): The payment model is generous, allowing friends who don't own the DLC to play together, which is a welcome feature.
- Great music and presentation (weight 0.14): Players appreciate the great music and overall polish, adding to the enjoyment of the game.

Common complaints:
- Developers abandoned game with unresolved issues (weight 0.41): The developers left many problems unresolved after almost five years and are now making another game. They also implement wasteful ideas instead of fixing actual problems.
- Strongest build unbalanced for years (weight 0.31): The strongest build has been unbalanced for almost three years, making all other builds useless. It is even getting buffed again in a possible final patch.
- Developers harass players providing feedback (weight 0.31): The developers refuse to fix problems and instead harass players who provide feedback. One developer accused a reviewer of bringing imaginary people into discussions.
- Discord community heavily moderated and unwelcoming (weight 0.31): The Discord community is controlled and no one talks there for months. It is heavily moderated and discouraging discussion.
- Campaign too short with few chapters (weight 0.3): The campaign is too little, with only 2 chapters. The DLC campaign is also shorter and easier.
- Damage reduction system frustrates players (weight 0.28): An internal system decreases damage whenever you build something, and this will be increased further in a patch. This causes frustration.
- Campaign mission 9 extremely hard (weight 0.17): Mission 9 of the campaign is extremely difficult on Hard difficulty. This creates a significant challenge for players.
- Multiplayer tough for new players (weight 0.17): The multiplayer can be tough for new players because they must quickly visualize their final layout. This adds a steep learning curve.
- Boss HP too high for scaling (weight 0.17): Boss HP is too high, preventing players from scaling their build correctly. This makes progression difficult.
- Maze expansion needed for improvement (weight 0.16): The game isn't the absolute best it could be and the maze expansion could really make it good. It has potential but needs that addition.
- Single player lacks fun (weight 0.16): For single players, the game is not enough fun. It may not provide sufficient enjoyment alone.
- Boss design old and uninnovative (weight 0.16): The portal as the boss set returns with old tricks that are less innovative and even perfunctory. The boss design feels stale.
- Studio games have system interference (weight 0.16): All three of the studio's games have interference between systems that players shouldn't have to deal with. This is a recurring issue.
- Mazing makes game too easy (weight 0.16): It is very easy to beat and get 4 stars because of mazing. This reduces the challenge.
- May not be worth the price (weight 0.16): Might not be worth the price for many people. The value proposition is questionable.
- Road blocking mechanic reused (weight 0.15): Blocking the road was already a setting in many tower defense games on War3, now made as a gameplay feature. It is not innovative.
- Joke about developer skill (weight 0.14): A loading screen joke says one dev doesn't know how to play, but the reviewer says it should say all devs. It reflects poor developer reputation.

Gameplay feedback:
- Maze building core mechanic (weight 0.97): Maze building is a core mechanic where players construct paths that monsters follow, often combining maze walls with tower placement. This adds strategic depth and planning.
- Campaign and DLC content (weight 0.95): Multiple campaigns are available, including DLC that adds new campaigns, missions, and game modes. The expansions significantly extend the game's content.
- Strategic planning and efficiency (weight 0.84): The game emphasizes strategic planning, efficiency, and developing new skills. Players must devise effective strategies to succeed.
- Co-op and multiplayer modes (weight 0.72): The game features cooperative and online multiplayer modes, including maps specifically designed for co-op play. Players can team up to tackle challenges together.
- Maze DLC features (weight 0.7): The Maze DLC introduces a new mazing system, additional maps, and a risk-reward system. It builds on the original game with new mechanics and challenges.
- Leaderboards and rankings (weight 0.4): The game includes leaderboards for scores and replays, as well as PvP ranked modes. This adds competitive elements and replayability.
- Varied map design (weight 0.39): Maps vary in size, shape, and layout, requiring players to adapt their strategies. Some maps allow dynamic path changes.
- Balance patches and feedback (weight 0.27): The game receives balance patches and has a community Discord for feedback. This shows ongoing support and community engagement.
- Boss and damage scaling (weight 0.26): A boss with high HP affects build scaling, and there is an internal damage scaling system that reduces damage as you build. This adds complexity to tower placement.

Performance notes:
- Hosting skews playtime tracking (weight 0.15): Players report that Steam fails to count hours played when another person is hosting the game session. This makes playtime records inaccurate for users who frequently join others' hosted games.

Recommendations:
- Positive DLC Recommendation (weight 0.61): Many reviewers recommend the DLC as a worthwhile addition to the base game, calling it a no-brainer for fans and saying it adds to the experience. They feel it is definitely worth the price.
- Anti-Developer Sentiment (weight 0.37): A cluster of feedback urges players not to support the developers and to save time and money instead. They suggest supporting other studios that do it better.
- Play Base First (weight 0.28): Some reviewers advise playing the base game first to learn mechanics before getting the Maze DLC. Others recommend playing the original Element TD2 before jumping into Mazing.
- Fun Co-op Experience (weight 0.18): Players highlight the co-op mode as super fun and highly recommend it. The cooperative gameplay is a key selling point for this title.
- Worth Full Price (weight 0.17): Reviewers encourage trying the game and assert that full price is definitely worth it. They believe the overall experience justifies the cost.
- Warcraft 3 Nostalgia (weight 0.15): Players familiar with Warcraft 3 Wintermauls find this game appealing. The comparison suggests the game captures a similar experience.
- Continued Developer Support (weight 0.14): A reviewer expresses intent to continue supporting the developer. This indicates ongoing loyalty and satisfaction with the game's direction.

Other player notes:
- Positive DLC Value and Content (weight 0.72): The DLC is praised as a fair-priced expansion that adds a single-player campaign, achievements, new maps, and a new mazing system. It offers 10-15 hours of thoughtful gameplay and allows friends who don't own it to play.
- Favorable Game Comparisons (weight 0.67): Reviewers compare the game favorably to Warcraft III custom maps, Element TD 2, and classic expansions like The Conquerors and Brood War. It is often considered the best in its genre, even better than a Warcraft 3 map.
- Studio Background and Game History (weight 0.51): The studio, Counter-Intuitive Studios, has three games, and this game was released almost five years ago (in 2021). An Alpha version exists.
- Community Moderation and Population (weight 0.37): The game's Discord is heavily moderated and has a Contributor rank, contributing to a healthy community. The server population has increased over time.
- Additional Map Variety (weight 0.28): The expansion adds more maps, increasing replayability and offering new challenges. The wintermaul-inspired map is specifically noted as similar to Warcraft 3 Wintermauls.
- Campaign Length and Gameplay (weight 0.28): The second campaign provides 10-15 hours of gameplay with a focus on thinking. The DLC's campaign is roughly half the length of the base game's campaign.
- New Campaigns and Co-op Maps (weight 0.18): The DLC introduces new campaigns and co-op maps to the main game, significantly expanding the overall content. This addition is frequently highlighted as a major selling point.

Emotions:
- Disappointment (weight 0.09): Players feel disappointed due to the limited number of co-op maps (only six) and high expectations for the DLC that felt less innovative than hoped. Additionally, unresolved problems after nearly five years of release contribute to a sense of letdown.
- Frustration (weight 0.09): Frustration arises from the excessive difficulty of Campaign mission 9 on Hard mode and general challenges during learning. A major source is the developers' refusal to fix balance issues while allegedly harassing players who provide feedback.
- Love (weight 0.09): Players love the DLC because the campaign is as good as the main game and better than the Warcraft 3 map. It builds on the original game and adds a nice twist, enhancing the overall experience.
- Enthusiasm (weight 0.09): Enthusiasm stems from the DLC adding a new level and challenge, its resemblance to WC3 funmaps, and its must-have status. The super fun co-op gameplay further fuels players' excitement.
- Enjoyment (weight 0.09): Enjoyment comes from the DLC being well made and a perfect expansion, with mazing gameplay that is different and enjoyable. Learning maps and devising strategies adds to the fun.
- Satisfaction (weight 0.09): Satisfaction is driven by the DLC adding a new layer of strategy and being worth the price. Element TD2 is considered the best tower defense game that keeps improving, making the DLC very good.
- Fun (weight 0.05): Fun is primarily derived from playing with the added depth of maze building, which enhances the gameplay experience.
- Welcome change (weight 0.05): Players welcome the change of building towers in the field rather than on the edges, which offers a refreshing gameplay twist.
- Difficulty (weight 0.05): The game is difficult for new players in multiplayer because it requires quickly visualizing the final layout, which can be tough to grasp.
- Boredom (weight 0.05): Boredom arises from the campaign being too short, with only 2 chapters available for single players, leading to a lack of content.
- Surprise (weight 0.05): Surprise is felt because more people haven't purchased and played this DLC, suggesting unexpected low adoption.
- Nostalgia (weight 0.05): Nostalgia is evoked by the DLC invoking feelings of old modded TD games and the Wintermaul-inspired map reminding players of Warcraft 3 Wintermauls.
- Anger (weight 0.05): Anger is directed at the developers for abandoning the game and making another game instead of fixing issues, leading to feelings of neglect.
- Disgust (weight 0.05): Disgust is caused by the developers' behavior, including harassment and neglect, which players find sad and repulsive.
- Annoyance (weight 0.05): Annoyance stems from the strongest build being unbalanced for almost three years, rendering other builds useless and disrupting game balance.
- Hopelessness (weight 0.05): Hopelessness is felt because there seems to be no solution to every problem, and the developers refuse to fix anything, leaving players without hope for improvement.
- Supportiveness (weight 0.05): Supportiveness is shown by players who will continue to support the developer despite any issues.
- Joy (weight 0.05): Joy is simply derived from playing one game being super fun, providing immediate happiness.
- Admiration (weight 0.05): Admiration is expressed for the DLC being an old school expansion pack done right, earning respect from players.}