Gigantic: Rampage Edition is a unique hybrid: part MOBA and part Hero Shooter (it literally says ‘MOBA Hero Shooter’ on the Steam store). If you’re like me, that description immediately makes you think of Overwatch crossed with League of Legends. It’s bold, but Gigantic merges these genres and its own ideas into an enjoyable multiplayer experience.
Out with the old, in the with the new
Gigantic: Rampage Edition is unique, as the original Gigantic died an unceremonious death a year after going live in 2018. This new Rampage Edition marks a return for Gigantic and introduces crossplay, new characters and maps, customizations, and several revamped mechanics. The monetization method has also changed. This subject is important to me, and I’ll explain it in detail later on.
If you’re new to Gigantic, it’s a 3rd Person Hero Shooter with unique abilities and characters. Unlike Overwatch, where you push a payload, you capture energy points around a large map. It’s a race to power up your Titan, and a ton of strategy is involved in controlling the battlefield. You can also upgrade your skills as the match progresses.
There’s a new mode called Rush, which bypasses the upgrade system entirely. For beginners and those who want a streamlined experience, Rush is an excellent entry point into Gigantic. The matches are notably shorter, at about 10-15 minutes each.
A gorgeous game regardless of hardware
When I stepped into my first match, I immediately fell in love with the visuals. The maps are stunning, and I dig the fantasy vibe across all of them. The graphics are bold and colorful but aren’t super detailed, even on the highest settings. I have absolutely no problem with this, and Gigantic should run well on even the crustiest potato PCs. On that note, the performance was flawless for me. I noticed zero drops in frame rate, and everything runs silky smooth.
I also have no complaints about the controls, even if dodging took me a few games to figure out. There’s a universal dodge command that costs stamina but provides invincibility frames. I imagine this ability will be a game-changer in high-level play, as it rewards skilled players who can predict their opponent’s moves.
The roster is another standout part of this title. There’s an almost overwhelming number of characters, each with unique abilities. I never played the original Gigantic, so I can’t comment on any differences, but there’s something for everyone here.
I was expecting a few nods to Overwatch, and there are a couple of glaring similarities (Sorry, HK-206 is basically Bastion), but much fewer than I anticipated. The majority of Gigantic’s colorful cast is wonderfully stylish and suits the fantasy tone.
Welcome to the school of hard knocks
I mostly played against bots during my playtime, so take my experience with a grain of salt, but I did find the game state pretty hard to follow. There’s a lot to keep track of in Gigantic. Team fights are intense battles of attrition, and I struggled to balance combat, ability management, and securing objectives. I felt like I had to focus on the mini-map at all times, which will hopefully be different post-launch when I can have furious children cursing at me on the mic instead.
While many of my issues can be chalked up to poor game knowledge, character abilities don’t feel pronounced enough. I can’t even guess what you’re doing unless I’ve played your character. I know it’s a Skill issue, but is the average player expected to play all 25 Heroes in the training mode before they ‘get good’? Depth isn’t bad, and this knowledge check I failed miserably will be a massive perk for the right kind of player.
In an effort to make the Rampage Edition more approachable, there is a selection of guides in-game. These are fine but optional, and some information tucked away here is mandatory.
On that note, one of Gigantic’s most intriguing parts is the upgrade system. You constantly level up in the Clash game mode and can spend points to upgrade abilities. Each skill has multiple options, opening up many build possibilities. I did have to figure this out on my own as the guide for Clash is bizarrely level-locked, but this feature makes Gigantic feel exceptionally deep.
An excellent multiplayer title if it nails the launch
My pre-launch playtime was limited, but I sadly ran into several network and connectivity issues. It’s hard to judge Gigantic too harshly, as the game wasn’t technically live when I played. All I can say is I hope my experience isn’t indicative of server performance at launch.
I’m a little wary of mentioning microtransactions in a first impressions review, as they can always be added later. That said, the developers have taken an early stance against them. According to an official press release, there are no microtransactions at launch, and they will not be added in the future. All heroes and cosmetics are earnable through gameplay, and if this remains true, it’s music to my ears.
This refreshing stance should be celebrated in an industry where every title wants to be the next Cod or Fortnite.
If I had to score Gigantic today, I would give it an 8/10. I went in expecting a ‘poor man’s’ version of Overwatch or League but found a high-quality experience that borrows from both with a distinct feel of its own instead. While I appreciate the beginner-friendly in-game guides, I still worry the new-player experience isn’t accessible enough. This game takes a while to understand, and if you can soldier through the learning period, there’s a lot to enjoy.
