Smite
Posted: 12 Oct 2015 20:32
Does anybody here play the MOBA game Smite?
I played during Beta actually, but quit around the time they added Freya. I've started sort of getting back into the game, which is a lot different and a lot better than how I left it.
I noticed in another thread that Kiwi complained that Smite solely sets itself apart from other MOBAs by the third party perspective rather than any unique design decisions. I actually disagree with that just a little bit. Smite definitely takes inspiration from other MOBAs, but I think it does a few unique things compared to others. For example, the changed perspective allows them to differentiate between jumping and dashing gapclosers. This actually makes a huge difference because the game is partially designed around this differentiation. If you're trapped in an Odin spearwall, you're screwed if all you have is a dashing gapcloser, but if you can jump out of it, you might be saved. Alternately, I think one champion has a move which sends jumpers crashing to the ground, but somebody who can dash might be able to get away. I also think that ADCs are a lot different in Smite because they have to manually aim their auto attacks, which means that the game takes a bit more skill since you constantly have to precisely hit every shot. Virtually all skills require aim, in fact, which makes the game a bit more complex than League of Legends imo. Another difference is that magic and physical characters are completely separated in Smite. This wasn't always the case. In Beta, for instance, you could build a physically based Sobek or Ymir if you wanted. As far as I can tell, though, you can't do that anymore. Smite also has some unique CC ideas which are benefited from the changed perspective. Ra has a move which "blinds" you by literally causing the screen to flash white and Bacchus has a move which makes you intoxicated, causing you to be unable to walk in a straight line. Lastly, your final objective in the game is a living thing which fights back against minions, which is different from League's Nexus.
Overall, I feel that Smite is actually very innovative to the genre.
I played during Beta actually, but quit around the time they added Freya. I've started sort of getting back into the game, which is a lot different and a lot better than how I left it.
I noticed in another thread that Kiwi complained that Smite solely sets itself apart from other MOBAs by the third party perspective rather than any unique design decisions. I actually disagree with that just a little bit. Smite definitely takes inspiration from other MOBAs, but I think it does a few unique things compared to others. For example, the changed perspective allows them to differentiate between jumping and dashing gapclosers. This actually makes a huge difference because the game is partially designed around this differentiation. If you're trapped in an Odin spearwall, you're screwed if all you have is a dashing gapcloser, but if you can jump out of it, you might be saved. Alternately, I think one champion has a move which sends jumpers crashing to the ground, but somebody who can dash might be able to get away. I also think that ADCs are a lot different in Smite because they have to manually aim their auto attacks, which means that the game takes a bit more skill since you constantly have to precisely hit every shot. Virtually all skills require aim, in fact, which makes the game a bit more complex than League of Legends imo. Another difference is that magic and physical characters are completely separated in Smite. This wasn't always the case. In Beta, for instance, you could build a physically based Sobek or Ymir if you wanted. As far as I can tell, though, you can't do that anymore. Smite also has some unique CC ideas which are benefited from the changed perspective. Ra has a move which "blinds" you by literally causing the screen to flash white and Bacchus has a move which makes you intoxicated, causing you to be unable to walk in a straight line. Lastly, your final objective in the game is a living thing which fights back against minions, which is different from League's Nexus.
Overall, I feel that Smite is actually very innovative to the genre.