Click To Unmute

Want us to remember this setting for all your devices?

Sign up or Sign in now!

Please use a html5 video capable browser to watch videos.
This video has an invalid file format.
00:00:00
Sorry, but you can't access this content!
Please enter your date of birth to view this video

By clicking 'enter', you agree to Giant Bomb's
Terms of Use and Privacy Policy

Start
End

Quick Look: Battlerite

Ben can't stop the urge to battle! Brad comes along see if that urge is wrong or right!

Sit back and enjoy as the Giant Bomb team takes an unedited look at the latest video games.

Nov. 24 2017

Cast: Brad, Ben

Posted by: Jan

In This Episode:

Battlerite

46 Comments

Avatar image for shagral
shagral

71

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

Edited By shagral

I liked this game a lot when I played it. It's like a MOBA without the boring bs, only teamfights, skillshots and combos. But it didn't seem like it had any staying power or big enough community to break out. A well-known IP could make this game big

Avatar image for schnoo
schnoo

289

Forum Posts

209

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

I think this is a lot more like Wow pvp than a moba. It's fun but it's been a while since I played it.

Avatar image for ryan3370
Ryan3370

195

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

@schnoo: I was going to say the exact same thing. A wow arena match with a very simplified move set.

Avatar image for udzie
udzie

20

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

Hey Ben, Alistar is from League of Legends ;)

Avatar image for corvidus
Corvidus

100

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

I think this is a really well made game and I kinda want this game to succeed for all the smart decisions that surround the game. Good marketing, smart release timing, good business model, well made game. My worry is that it won't be able to draw and keep players from their main games. I mean I'm playing it for a bit then heading back to league once Zoe is nerfed to the ground and Rito fix their unbalanced garbage new rune/mastery system.

If Blizzard did this style instead of Heroes I think it would've massively outperformed what they got from Heroes. I think this is casual and different enough to tempt people from their main games in much bigger numbers than Heroes.

Avatar image for jacksukeru
jacksukeru

6864

Forum Posts

131

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 22

Edited By jacksukeru

As someone who's played the, allegedly lighter, moba Heroes of the Storm for a while now, this seems neat and has a good look to it, though it's also focusing on not my favorite part of a match.

From my Hots experience I really do enjoy how teamfights play out depending on the general state of a bunch of other factors decided throughout the rest of the game, and I like playing the characters who contribute to those factors, the most (also because I'm generally not the best preformer in the middle of a chaotic 5-on-5 brawl).

As a scaled back thing though I can see this being very fun.

Also the only Tauren in Hots right now is E.T.C.

Avatar image for ares42
Ares42

4558

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

@schnoo said:

I think this is a lot more like Wow pvp than a moba. It's fun but it's been a while since I played it.

Ye, I was gonna say that. This looks exactly like WoW Arena, and very little like a MOBA.

Avatar image for shiztoid
shiztoid

60

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

Ben, I know you were talking and trying to show off the game but you not helping your healer while she was getting chased in the first round was physically hurting me.

Avatar image for engineno9
EngineNo9

266

Forum Posts

165

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 1

For anyone who is worried that this is too much MOBA based on how many times they say that and compare it directly to those games...for me it plays a lot more like an ARPG or twin-stick as they mention once.

It just feels much more immediate and satisfying to play than any MOBA does to me (someone who generally hates those games).

Avatar image for lanechanger
Lanechanger

1779

Forum Posts

2289

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 1

User Lists: 0

@udzie said:

Hey Ben, Alistar is from League of Legends ;)

Also the only Tauren in Hots right now is E.T.C.

lol ok good, I just got to that part of the video and I'm like wait... that doesn't sound right, but couldn't place a finger on it.

Avatar image for ianwclark
ianwclark

6

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

I laughed pretty good at that moment. Just mushed so much together there. Classic Ben bits.

Avatar image for lethaljam
LethalJam

12

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

That is a great username.

Avatar image for cyberspacecat
cyberspacecat

478

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

Edited By cyberspacecat

Come on caption, it's "wrong or rite!".

Avatar image for themasterds
TheMasterDS

3018

Forum Posts

7716

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 1

User Lists: 31

ETC is the rock and roll Tauren from Heroes.

Avatar image for homelessbird
Homelessbird

1681

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

this game seems allBattlerite

that is all

Avatar image for silan
Silan

68

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

As far as I remember, Stunlock Studios (makers of Battlerite and Bloodline Champions) made BC with publisher Funcom, with the publisher reserving the rights. The studio and Funcom had disagreements with how to run the game and the competitive scene post launch, and the community largely blame Funcom for the death of the game. Battlerite seems like the studios second attempt at this genre, now without a publisher so they can do it their own way. Good start so far!

Avatar image for jaypethian
jaypethian

64

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

@udzie: Yes he is. WTF BEN get your act together.

Avatar image for murdoc_
Murdoc_

810

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

Edited By Murdoc_

I'm sure there is depth, but I don't understand how every game just doesn't result in the strategy of trying to get a 2vs1.

It seems like other games like this would offer the scenario in a much richer game...

Avatar image for antiundead
antiundead

3

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

Perhaps Ben should have played a bit more before this quick look.

Most keys are similar in outcome between heroes. Space bar is the "escape" on most heroes, Q is the counter ability, LMB is the standard attack and RMB is the longer cooldown, higher damage attack.
F is ULT. Keeping that in mind, you can carry over how to roughly play on most heroes.

The game also has some fighting game elements. Some abilities (like Bakko jump in the air/space bar) are i-frames. So when Ben was complaining about the healer, he could have jumped in the air to i-frame her stun.

Via F2P, you can unlock all the heroes from playing for about 2 months if you don't cash in your in-game coins on cosmetics. However all heroes are free to test in the playground level, so you can decide which hero suits your style of play and just unlock those.

Avatar image for ethanielrain
EthanielRain

1629

Forum Posts

45

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 2

Edited By EthanielRain

I swear there's been multiple "battle arena" games like this. I remember playing at least a couple a few years ago...this looks fun, but probably burn out on it quick. One of the things I like(d) about MOBA's is the build-up time, and the things you can do aside from team fights.

Avatar image for ares42
Ares42

4558

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

@murdoc_: The concept is more about action than strategy. It's all about timing your skills, hitting your skill shots, maintaining optimal range etc etc, sorta like a fighting game. Yes, the main strategy is almost always is gonna be to try to separate and focus fire, but the appeal is in the struggle to actually execute it.

Avatar image for murdoc_
Murdoc_

810

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

@ares42: Yeah reading the comments there is a little more going on in the game than what I saw Ben play.
At first glance I didn't get it, but could see some potential in that fighting game concept.

Avatar image for three0nefive
Three0neFive

2446

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

I swear there's been multiple "battle arena" games like this. I remember playing at least a couple a few years ago...this looks fun, but probably burn out on it quick. One of the things I like(d) about MOBA's is the build-up time, and the things you can do aside from team fights.

Yeah same here, I think that build-up is definitely part of what makes them so satisfying.

It's also one of the biggest barriers to entry for a lot of people - the sheer burden of knowledge for something like Dota wouldn't be nearly as intimidating to newcomers/casual players if they weren't forced to sit through 40 minute matches. More condensed games like this don't really appeal to me on a personal level, but they have their place.

Avatar image for ripelivejam
ripelivejam

13572

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

Edited By ripelivejam

@three0nefive: My favorite part about mobas is everyone bitching at you for not doing everything exactly right in a precise order.

Avatar image for timeshero
timeshero

1016

Forum Posts

701

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 3

User Lists: 6

MVP: RippinBlunts

Avatar image for tefari
Tefari

71

Forum Posts

1

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

This looks like League "Oops All Team Fights" edition.

Avatar image for mrasshat
mrasshat

136

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

This game is pretty neat, but the name is so bad, generic to the point of it being hard to remember.

Avatar image for plop1920
plop1920

562

Forum Posts

100

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 1

Edited By plop1920

Tried it, it reminds me of WoW arena more than the mobas (other than the camera angle). It feels polished, but after learning League, HoTS, and a bit of Dota 2, I just kinda don't have it in me to learn and entire new roster of kits and how to counterpick them. I think that's one of the major problems with these type of games; but also the reason they are incredibly rewarding

Avatar image for clockwork5
clockwork5

102

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

Edited By clockwork5

@ares42: so you are saying it looks like a "multiplayer online battle arena" and not nonsense like Dota or League?

:P

Avatar image for pause
pause422

6350

Forum Posts

16

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

Edited By pause422

really bad way of explaining at the beginning, if anyone does go further and see for themselves. It doesn't play like 'MOBAS' at all, WASD controls and permanent aiming for everything. Also has far more active skills, and a very high skill ceiling, too.

Avatar image for onemanarmyy
Onemanarmyy

6406

Forum Posts

432

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 2

User Lists: 0

Edited By Onemanarmyy

This is the spiritual successor to Bloodline Champions. They had a small but dedicated esports following around 2011-2012.

It's actually really hectic if everyone knows what's up, since most heroes are slippery in some way. Tanks ram enemies away while getting armor to soak up damage. Healers heal themselves and teammates or place barriers and teleport around. DPS guys deal a ton of burst damage are quite elusive as well but can be bursted down quite easily as well.

So it comes all down to pulling an enemy away from the rest and combine a lot of spells before his team can safe him. Quite satisfying, but you need to be focused and on your shit during an entire match. At the start of the match i basically have to make a few mental notes about which skills i can use offensively and which skills i should save up to escape unless i'm 100% sure that it will deal the killing blow if i throw it out. If you throw out skills willy nilly to see what works and what doesn't, you will lose games until you start making these mental notes beforehand. Luckily the game places the various offensive skills / defensive skills somewhat on the same buttons so that each hero feels at least somewhat familiar.

Since there are so many skills with very slight EX modifiers, i pretty much forget to use the EX moves at all. Especially since you the game used to let players change their skills after each round, it got pretty hard to keep up with the effects of your skills. They seem to have changed that into a loadout system now.

It's hard to gauge sometimes whether a 0.5 second root is worth your meter or if you should just safe up for your ult instead. At high level play, i can totally see why that would be essential, but in pubs it feels like the teamwork needed to really take advantage of these status effects is not always there.

Finally, i think this game has been playable before PUBG was a thing and as far as i know the bubble getting smaller over time has been in this game for quite a while. It actually creates some fun new strats where your 'ram' abilities make the enemy end up outside the bubble and take a lot of damage. But there might be health pickups outside the bubble as well, so maybe it's worthwhile to step out of it for a while.

Just a very well made online game, but also quite hard to compare to a moba. This is more of an action / fighting game.

Avatar image for khetix
khetix

153

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

Huh. From what I saw here Ben is right- it really does seem like Overwatch spliced with Dota. Neat, I'll have to download and check it out.

Avatar image for yungfloppa
yungfloppa

80

Forum Posts

1

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

"I will portect you"

*ignores teammate*

Avatar image for straydogrenji
straydogrenji

128

Forum Posts

10

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

This 100% seems like MMO PvP, nothing like a MOBA at all not even with the "it's only the fights" caveat. Also Ben maybe the button labeled "Customize" is what you were looking for when you were trying to customize your duder.

Avatar image for kritt111
kritt111

1

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

Edited By kritt111

Don't know where to put this, but I'd like to see a Quick Look for the Steam game Stick Fight

Avatar image for borealum
borealum

193

Forum Posts

2973

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 1

User Lists: 3

Edited By borealum

'Business guns'.

Excellent.

And an excellent Quick Look, Brad and Ben - sorry, 'MeepoSpammer69'.

Avatar image for borealum
borealum

193

Forum Posts

2973

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 1

User Lists: 3

MVP: RippinBlunts

You goddamn right it is.

Avatar image for spacerunaway
SpaceRunaway

956

Forum Posts

661

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 2

Ben! Brad! This is a poor substitute for the all hero challenge!

Avatar image for neomaddy
NeoMaddy

4

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

As someone who never even tried a "proper" MOBA but really enjoyed games about competitive fundamentals like Rising Thunder, I love this game!

More than what has come to be defined as a MOBA, Battlerite focuses on fighting game fundamentals like spacing and zoning combined with MMORPG PvP fundamentals like cooldown management, burst damage, and ability synergy. They've added in a few rather unique quirks like maximum health reduction and arena shrinking that help the game avoid stalemates. It's wrapped it all up in an accessible, free to play system that isn't predatory with a dev team fully in control of their vision. In my opinion, that's a hell of a package.

If anyone from Giant Bomb wants to give it a try and have someone help them into things, feel free to add me through steam, in-game or on Discord. I'd love to play with some of you duders!

Avatar image for doctordonkey
doctordonkey

2139

Forum Posts

5

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 11

This game actually seems more like WoW 3v3 arena than MOBA team fighting, especially with the mouse aiming and WASD controls. Seems pretty cool, but HotS is already filling the role of "team fight focused MOBA".

Avatar image for onemanarmyy
Onemanarmyy

6406

Forum Posts

432

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 2

User Lists: 0

Edited By Onemanarmyy

@doctordonkey: Compared to Battlerite, i find HOTS way more casual & laidback. You start out in the lane , kill some creeps, push some lanes and fight some objectives with your teammates. Dying should be avoided, but it's not the end of the game if you die.

Battlerite is pure team combat. It has lower cooldowns, characters are all very mobile and the game punishes you very hard for dying. You can't stretch your fingers while you take a creep camp or go back to base to heal up a bit. The rounds are relative short but very action packed. You also have like 9-10 abilities with the EX moves included. Having the presence of mind to choose between a normal shot that slows vs a shot that slows and roots the enemy can be quite taxing. Something that i didn't really feel when i was playing HOTS or Dota.

It feels closer to a fighting game than a moba. There is no progression to the heroes and losing the first few rounds doesn't make the opponent stronger and more likely to win the third round as well. In HOTS i felt like the level advantage was quite a good predictor to which team wins a 5v5 fight.


WOW arena is definitly the closest comparison, but this being it's own game makes me feel like that's quite a nice little niche instead of 'yet another moba'

Avatar image for soullos
soullos

125

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

It's a Multiplayer game that is Online where you Battle in an actual Arena. Can't get more MOBA than that. ;) Using the strict definition, seems more of a MOBA than other MOBAs haha ;) As someone who doesn't give a shit about the genre, this doesn't seem that bad. Having bitesized team matches seems alright. :)

Avatar image for blannir
Blannir

405

Forum Posts

486

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 3

Edited By Blannir

@ooblix said:

"I will portect you"

*ignores teammate*

It was brutal watching him tunnel on the other teams healer instead of just peeling for his caster.

Avatar image for mr_creeper
mr_creeper

2458

Forum Posts

13

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

Seems neat, but never been one for MOBA's, even if HotS is fun in spurts.

Avatar image for clagnaught
clagnaught

2520

Forum Posts

413

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 1

User Lists: 19

Loading Video...

0:39:24

Brad and Ben did the Quick Look and they couldn't think of the name of this game.