SpectralTime
Since: Apr, 2009
04/30/2015 00:00:00
I forgot to add this in the review itself, but one more thing: the "Match of the Day" thing is absolutely brilliant. It keeps the game fresh and fun, even if some of the modes are just stupid variations on a theme of "everyone is one or two vaguely-thematic gods!"
Leave a Comment:
My favorite MOBA.
This is not the perspective of a "pro" player, whatever that means. This is just the word of someone who likes video games, and likes mythology.
SMITE is awesome. If you ever wanted to try a MOBA, but were put off by all the fiddly, finicky complexity and nonsense, SMITE is the game for you.
By removing the RTS elements that the genre has been stuck with for so long, SMITE enjoys the advantage of being more action-packed and tighter than its competition. By streamlining the labyrinthine and often opaque piles of items and stats, and by ensuring that the UI is as friendly as possible, complete with unique and specialized pop-ups for gods with passives that need them, SMITE ensures that anyone can pick it up and play it without having to do five years of homework first. And by separating the magical and physical items, the design team can focus on making truly unique champions without worrying about unorthodox builds shattering game balance.
The mythology is genuinely interesting. As someone with an interest in it, I genuinely like most of the interpretations and stories they have with the gods, heroes, and monsters of mythologies around the world. The ones I was familiar with were done well, and I loved learning more about the ones I wasn't. And the game's monetization strategy is as tasteful as it is well-done. The Ultimate God Pack in particular is something more games of this type need to have. Plus, this might just be the one MOBA with a semi-non-toxic community. I get about one angry, bitter, sarcastic player to every twenty-five games, and that's amazing.
Is it perfect? No. I feel that too much counterplay revolves around pre-knowledge of the gods in question and preparation to specifically counter them, rather than the more-organic approach of games like League of Legends. The god design team needs to get out of the "mana box" like League did years ago. The roster is far, far too top-heavy with Greco-Roman gods, and Favor is kinda pointless once the player's bought the God Pack. Also, I don't have the fastest reflexes in the world, so I play Hunters like a lame chipmunk trying to spit through an acorn.
But, seriously, this game is still a great experience for players new and old. Give it a whirl!