Last updated on December 17th, 2025 at 09:55 am
Blue Defense: Second Wave! – Entertainment Game Review
Blue Defense: Second Wave! is a Entertainment/Casual/Action game from Cat in a Box Software Incorporated, first launched in 30th September 2010.
It’s rated 9+ and currently has 20+ ratings on the App Store.
What Makes Blue Defense: Second Wave! Stand Out
"Entirely unique, without peer on the app store!" – NoDpad
"Original, intense, addictive, and most of all, fun!" – 148apps
Intense planetary defense arcade action! The Blue planet is in peril – take the fight into your own hands, and blast the evil Red and Green enemies out of the sky with the all-new planet cannon!
Blue Defense: Second Wave builds on the legendary pick-up-and-play gameplay of the original 2008 hit, hailed as an "App Store classic" by many. With game modes ranging from just seconds to several hours, you won't be able to put it down!*
6.8 billion lives hang in the balance… how long can you keep them alive?
"A game that's not to be missed." – TouchArcade
"A brilliantly executed game… Replay value is outstanding!" – AppSmile
Features:
- The planet cannon lets you take out hundreds of enemies at once!
- All-new Gauntlet mode lets you win the game!**
- Infinite-Classic and Infinite-Quickstart modes – last as long as you can!
- Level select mode – practice a level, and earn medals for your skills!
- 74 mode-based global leaderboards!
- Automatic save state – continue your game, even without iOS 4!
- Updated retro art style
- iPhone 4 Retina resolution graphics
- Runs smooth and fast even on the oldest devices
Content:
- Red and Green enemies!
- 24 enemy types!
- 64 all-new levels!
- Over 200 medals to obtain!
Controls:
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Both multitouch and tilt controls available, both can be used simultaneously
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Tilt controls: bullets shoot up, unless there's no gravity where you are
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Multi-target locking: double-tap the screen where you want to continue shooting
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Planet cannon: tap and drag from the planet to aim, release to fire
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Double-tap the planet to pause
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Seriously, there's a guy who told me he'd play it quietly in his pew waiting for church to start!
** It's the only game mode where you can have more than 0 lives at the end…
This Entertainment game offers engaging gameplay and regular updates for mobile players.
Player Feedback
As a newer release, Blue Defense: Second Wave! is building its player community. Early feedback suggests .
Recent Updates & Development
Latest Update: 11th June 2024
Recent improvements include:
Classic mode is now free and quick start, gauntlet, and level selection modes can be unlocked. If you have previously purchased the app all content will remain unlocked.
Download & Availability
Blue Defense: Second Wave! is available through the official App Store for iOS devices.
Get Blue Defense: Second Wave! on App Store
Requirements: Requires iPhone 5s / iPad Air / iPad Air (Cellular) / iPad Mini 2 (Retina) / iPad Mini 2 (Retina, Cellular) / iPhone 6 / iPhone 6 Plus / iPad Air 2 / iPad Air 2 (Cellular) / iPad Mini 3 or later.
Compatible with iPhone and iPad devices.
Player Experience Highlights
Community Insight:
We've been playing in this series since we got the iPod touch second generation and have been a huge fan since then. Now we try to play it on our iPhone 6+ and it works, as long as it can get past the Game Center log in every time we open the app. Nine times out of ten, as soon as the little banner comes down from the top of the screen, the app crashes back to home screen. Once we can manage to get through that, we can usually get a good few minutes before it crashes again. The app needs an update for the newer software. This is the only problem we have found while trying to play. Fix it and we would give it five stars as it should have. Edit: It does work now! Thank you.
Purchased based on strong recommendation. Second time loading, app crashes within seconds. Very disappointed.
Making steps towards greatness! Eternally stupendous.
Wow. We have only 1 word to describe this game. INCREDIBLE. With the description and screenshots, the game doesn't look like much, maybe something like spawn glow. The thing that convinced us 2 get it was the plethora of positive reviews. We don't think we saw one below three stars. Those guys don't lie. Great game, great game. The only drawback is that the controls are a little hard 2 master.
Great game and addictive… But it's definitely a .99 app though 1.99 isn't a deal breaker. Hopefully it gets updates? Some new stuff or monsters every once in a while? Lastly, how many people actually play this? We use to be 6 globally, now 19, but that doesn't really help if globally only 159 people play.
This is a perfect example of why we avoid buying games without a trial or free version to preview it. The game got boring after about 10 minutes. It's not horrible, but it's not particularly unique or imaginative.
This is a stylish game that plays pretty well… Except the main distinguishing element of the game – its control scheme – is unintuitive and uncomfortable. Rotating the tablet 360' to direct the main line of fire is awkward. Pressing to divide fire to other directions makes it even worse. We appreciate the novelty in deign, but don't enjoy the challenge of wrestling with a control scheme, so we're not playing this one any more.
This is such a wonderfully game. The dark background / glowing content is relaxing and pleasant to interact with. Its easy to play for just a few minutes while you're bored, and its just as easy to not notice your 2 minute break turned into half an hour (break's not over till we die!) Having a single version that works on both iPhone and iPad is a welcome change as well from the many developers who like to double charge people for the same app. Will keep an eye out for anything else you guys develop.
This is by far one the best games we've downloaded. We haven't put it down since we bought it and that was hours ago. Absolutely the best game for $1.99 (the developers could probably get a good $5 for this). Highly recommended.
Just downloaded this game but what a thrill!! Simple graphics but oh so entertaining. You won't be dissapointed.
We can't believe it's only $2 – this game is incredible! Do yourself a favor and just buy it. Controlling the cannon with your fingers puts a completely new spin on Earth-defense games. (This is a review of the iPad version which brings out its full potential.).
Really fun w/ lots of cool play options.
Now HERE'S a game that truly shows off the amazing power of the iPad. Fun, challenging, addictive, innovative. This one's a keeper! Edit add: never have we been in so much danger of dropping our iPad onto the ground! This game is a blast.
We came across this game by a review in Touch Arcade. They talked about how great the first one was, and after viewing the trailer for this we were just blown away. This has the best music of any iPhone game we've ever played. Being responsible for 6.8 billion lives on earth is actually a bit intimidating, but it adds to the pressure of saving the blue planet called earth from hundreds of red and green little aliens! It has many different game modes, which keeps things interesting. You can play a survive till you die type of game, choose your own level,or compete for awards. It also has it's own strategy on how to deal with certain aliens as well! While we're not very good yet, we're sure we'll be keeping this as one of our favorites games on the iPhone.
This should win some kind of award. The quality… The detail… The depth… Simply amazing… Nice update to Blue Defense. Now what about a sequel to Blue Attack? We love this universe and graphic style. Nice work John. Keep it up! P.S. Why is Blue Attack not in the App Store anymore? We were hoping to play it again on our iPhone 4.
Screenshots do it absolutely no justice. Miles above the original blue defense in quality and content. Forget about doodle jump, this is THE game you can't put down. Until your planet dies. $0.99 is Very Cheap Indeed for a game of this caliber please buy it.
Now we're regretting returning our iPad.
You can't tell much by just looking at the screenshots, other than the obvious quality. The gameplay is wonderful – both smooth and fast paced. Making it universal is another added bonus! A great game, and for $0.99 it's an absolute bargain.
Slick use of multitouch make this beautiful shooter a bargain even at $5…we nabbed it for $1. And it's universal.
Why are you still reading reviews!?!!!!??? You could be having fun right now.
The first blue defense was one of the first apps if not the first one we purchased on the app store. This continuation adds far more content and gameplay value over the original. If you haven't played the original and you're a fan of shooters, you should definitely give this a try. For anyone who played the first blue defense, get this now.
Ol' Kooistra hits again HARD with Second Wave. Everything that made the original great is back tenfold, with all kinds of new gameplay in tow. Don't hesitate to grab this now.
We're seriously blown away by how much there is to this game. It's like a cross between Geometry Wars and Osmos, but maybe that's a lie. It's completely unique, and looks and sounds great. And it's universal!! We love this game! :D Hah, what a gushing. :D.
Enjoyable. Visually pleasing. We're not complaining, but this could be a 99 cent app.
So fun and really good looking game that is simple to play and easy to get addicted to.
Nine variant missions with multiple levels in each one make for hours of potential gameplay, but expect burnout before you have mastered the game. The tilt controls are a bit awkward particularly when it is necessary to rotate around 180 degrees. Some of the scoring is odd…such as keeping "breeding enemies" alive to run up your score. Despite these negatives, the controls and the game itself is well executed.
Couldn't get past instructions! Froze almost immediately.
User feedback from Apple App Store
App Details
- Version: 2.0
- Size: 15.70 MB
- iOS: 16.0 or later
- Languages: EN
- Content Advisory: Infrequent/Mild Cartoon or Fantasy Violence
- Developer: Cat in a Box Software Incorporated
Last updated: 11th June 2024 | Genre: Entertainment, Casual | Developer: Cat in a Box Software Incorporated