Sequels to MOBA games from a decade ago are not common. I think DOTA 2 is the only time this has ever happened. Lightning seems to strike twice. This time, SMITE 2 is kicking off again thanks to Hi-Rez and Titan Forge Games’ Pantheon Party. Although it was just released today, it is still a long journey for good friends in China. Still, I checked it out for myself.
If you watched the press conference, you’ll know that the developer’s stated mission statement was to trade in old SMITE clunkers for new SMITE 2 vehicles, give them a fresh coat of paint, and feature current-gen consoles . All while retaining the same style, gameplay and feel as the popular SMITE 1. The result is a very familiar gaming experience with a ton of exciting extras.
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In our preview, we played Conquest – the standard 5v5 MOBA mode – with a small selection of gods to choose from. For MOBA newcomers, it plays almost exactly like SMITE 1. Push down towers, kill camps, kill a phoenix or two, etc. However, even in the two brief games I played, the impact of SMITE 2’s gameplay changes was palpable. obviously.
First, the relic is gone, replaced by crowd control disruption and vision wards that can spot nearby enemy players. This removes some complexity and standardizes the early game, which is a boon for new players – Titan Forge Games’ obvious target audience for SMITE 2. These relic abilities have been moved to a vastly altered shop and item system, which when paired with a sixth item slot, means these valuable activatable options remain available later in the game.
The real stars of the show, though, are the new map objectives – like the War Horn and the Gold Pile. These are contested objectives immediately adjacent to specific lanes that will cause combat due to their immense value to your entire team. Players who trample their opponents can buff their team’s minions or significantly increase their gold lead, rewarding players who perform well rather than just throwing kills and early towers at them. This also puts some pressure on junglers, who now have to worry about these powerful boons on top of a well-fed Anhur.
Speaking of which, I played Furry Angry Anhur in one game and Chuck in another. Both look very sexy in Unreal Engine 5. Maybe at first glance you might not care much about the looks – but when placed side by side, SMITE 1 really shows its age. The gods move either with grace or with thunderous heaviness. Their abilities shatter enemies they hit. Teamfights in SMITE 2 are violent, colorful affairs – like two pyrotechnics trying to eliminate each other.
This game feels a bit like SMITE, but newer. It’s easier to understand, but still retains the Smite juice people have been happily sipping for a decade. SMITE 2 may also have a giant neon sign that says, “Hey, new players, check this out.” It’s a clean slate without a lot of 10-year-old baggage – which means those who’ve been on the fence (or more likely forgot SMITE existed) can take notice and jump on board.
I did encounter bugs, as expected in the early stages of game development. I was locked out for a few seconds in combat, and you couldn’t knock back players in the air, which was a bit frustrating for Anhur at times. But honestly, for a super early build, it performed surprisingly well! It’s a game I could get lost in all night, which is exactly what a MOBA needs. The urge to “go again” is king.
From a gameplay perspective, I feel very positive about SMITE 2. If it releases with all the additional game modes that SMITE 1 had, has a healthy 50 god launch roster, and doesn’t have catastrophic launch issues, I can see people having a blast playing SMITE 2 good time. This will be a more digestible version of SMITE with less of it. Just like Sprite Zero – same Sprite taste, zero sugar. Or should I say, zero Surtr… now!
As a live-service game, the struggle only begins at launch. The game needs to maintain momentum and keep progressing after launch. Hi-Rez and Titan Forge Games also have to grapple with community sentiment toward Legacy gems and Divine Legacy, which haven’t gone over well with some older and more mature players. SMITE 2 may be great for new players, but as a company that recently released Bake Kujira, they should be aware of the dangers of harming whales.
Of course, it’s worth noting that this is not 2014 anymore! When SMITE launched, we were still in the early days of Gaas supremacy. People are always having fun and the desire for free games with interesting twists and turns is very strong. SMITE has a unique gameplay style that jumps over the spike pits of Super Heroes skeletons and pulls audiences away from League of Legends and Dota. But it’s already 2024. The live service game is dying left, right and center.
Whether or not the updated version of SMITE 2 will capture the hearts of new players (which is clearly the goal of SMITE 2’s developers) isn’t a sure thing. While I do enjoy SMITE 2 and respect the decision to keep the game faithful to the original, I do worry that going too crazy with the hesitation won’t appeal to audiences. That being said, CS2 didn’t exactly reinvent the Counter-Strike wheel, and it broke Steam player count records, so maybe I’m not that interested in Thor.
If you want to make up your own mind, I’m afraid you’ll have to wait a while. SMITE 2 has no release date yet, and closed beta won’t begin until this spring. If you wish, you can register now. Only God knows if you can get in.
(This preview was written following the SMITE World Tour preview session. Hi-Rez covered travel and lodging for the event).
