It’s time, time to go back to the Gigantic world and take on the enemy Guardian once again in Gigantic: Rampage Edition.
Gigantic, initially launched in 2017, boasted a distinctive blend of gaming elements. It combined third-person shooter mechanics with MOBA-style strategy and resource management. Its vibrant visuals and frenetic gameplay made it stand out even among the crowded “hero shooter” genre.
The heroes in Gigantic were unique and quirky, each having their personalities, strengths, and weaknesses. With the wide range of heroes on offer, there was at least one hero that a player would have a connection with and become a specialist in that hero’s playstyle.
Unfortunately, Gigantic never took off. At the time of its release, other games stood above it, like Overwatch and Smite. Eventually, the servers shut down after only a year. The game that was deeply loved by its small community seemed lost forever. Fast forward to October of 2023 and surprisingly the servers were opened up for an invite-only “throwback” event. Was this a glimmer of hope?
In February 2024 the announcement came from Gearbox Publishers that Gigantic: Rampage Edition was going to be released in April 2024. While Gigantic was initially realized as a free-to-play game with microtransactions, Gigantic: Rampage Edition is a paid-for game. All the in-game content will be free to unlock as you play the game.
Digging into its mechanics, Gigantic: Rampage Edition features a setup where players pick heroes for arena battles. Teams fight for control points, using creatures to gather power orbs, engaging in combat for kills, and attacking enemy creatures to claim orbs. Progression involves leveling up heroes through tech tree choices that enhance abilities while accumulating power to fill a bar for a chance to assault the opposing team’s Guardian—a colossal creature akin to a MOBA’s core/base. Victory hinges on coordinated play, quick decision-making, and strategic engagements. The game ends when one team defeats the other team Guardian.
The game’s depth emerged from the dynamic player interactions, where managing stamina, cooldowns, and tactical positioning were crucial. Much like in MOBAs, success in team fights depends on resource management, movement finesse, game knowledge, and individual skills.
While the original mode of the game, Clash, is unavailable during the beta, I got to play the new game mode called, Rush. This game mode in Gigantic: Rampage Edition is more fast-paced and accessible. In Clash mode the Guardian had to be wounded 3 times to win the game, in Rush, you only must wound it once. But don’t worry upon release the original Clash mode will be available and a ranked mode will be added. During the tutorial, you can access the pop-up prompts that give you hints and tips. As well as instructions about the mode you are playing.
Gigantic: Rampage Edition goes above and beyond to cater not just to seasoned players but also to newcomers by offering a robust and comprehensive tutorial experience. This tutorial serves as a guiding light, ensuring that players are not thrown into the game without proper guidance. It covers everything from the basics of gameplay mechanics to detailed descriptions of each hero, including their roles as tanks, DPS (damage per second), or support characters.
Moreover, players can delve into a wealth of information about each hero’s unique skills and abilities, allowing them to make informed decisions about which hero aligns best with their preferred playstyle. This approach not only fosters a deeper understanding of the game but also empowers players to tailor their experience to suit their individual preferences and strengths.
Playing against the bots for practice in Gigantic: Rampage Edition wasn’t always a walk in the park. While it’s a great way to hone your skills, AI can be quite formidable, presenting a significant challenge. There were moments when I found myself sent back to spawn, reflecting on instances where I may have overextended or simply lost track of my surroundings. It’s a reminder that even in virtual battles, strategic awareness, and tactical precision are paramount for success.
The movement of the heroes felt good. Making my way around the map and getting to the different areas was fluid. The first few times I played Rush I kept my key bindings as default, just to get a feel of the controls, and they were easy to get used to. Playing on a keyboard and mouse you are already used to using your movement keys all that’s added to those are Q, E for your different abilities, and F for your ultimate ability. Collecting orbs is done by holding down the number 4 and that was the only control that felt a little off to me but that is me nitpicking.
You can do your own key binds if you’d like and something that I was happy about was that you could have a different key bind for different heroes. Your hero’s abilities run on cooldowns, so you’ll have to be strategic with how you use them and not waste them randomly.
In the heat of battle, occasional setbacks are inevitable, but there’s no need to panic if you find yourself without a support hero nearby in Gigantic: Rampage Edition. The game provides a lifeline in the form of health orbs strategically placed throughout the map, offering a chance to replenish your health and stay in the fight. Additionally, knowing when to disengage from a confrontation can be a lifesaver, allowing your health and stamina to regenerate before diving back into the fray with renewed vigor. It’s all about strategic decision-making and utilizing the resources available to maximize your effectiveness on the battlefield.
“But, Laikyn, how do you win a match in Gigantic: Rampage Edition?” you ask. Well, let me tell you. There are multiple control points around the map on both your side and the enemy’s side. These points charge up and once full you can collect the orbs from them, there are twenty orbs up for grabs at each control point. Where the combat comes in is that both you and your opponents will be trying to steal orbs from each other with the goal in mind of reaching 100 orbs.
Once your team has collected 100 orbs your Guardian will fly in and pin the enemy Guardian down, making it vulnerable for a short amount of time. That is when you launch your attack, you’ll have a few seconds to attach the Guardian and bring down its health before that phase ends and you must go back to the arena and collect more orbs. Now it’s a repeat of what you just did. The match ends when you’ve managed to kill the opposing Guardian.
After every match you’ll get a rating and earn points, you can use those points to unlock heroes, emotes, and cosmetics. You’ll also level up during the match and with those points you can either manually buy items to add to your hero’s build or you can have an auto-buy which will get you the best items for your current hero and hero build.
Gigantic: Rampage Edition brings a whole roster of heroes to life, and they hit the spot with design and personalities. The heroes have a cartoonish look to them but that’s not a negative thing, they are well-designed and work so well in the world they live in. I loved the way each hero had something special or unique about them, making them an individual.
The maps are well thought out, they are simple to navigate but not too easy, something that can be a difficult balance to achieve. You can easily tell apart your teammates from the enemies and see your teammates and enemies’ health. Gigantic: Rampage Edition is a 3rd person MOBA but also feels like a 5v5 shooter, it plays well into the style of the game. Fans of both games might find Gigantic: Rampage Edition worth their time.
The in-game sound feels bold. The voice-over and instructions are clear, though not overpowering. The sound of bullets flying and the hitting of weapons against each other isn’t overwhelming and you can tell in which direction the sound of battle is coming from. On my playing through of Gigantic: Rampage Edition I had a few times where the game stuttered and once where it crashed but those types of instances happen during a beta and I’m sure they will be fixed on release.
This time around Gigantic: Rampage Edition may have a chance. While there are still your games like Smite and Overwatch with their player base, I think there are gamers who would want to try something new. Gigantic: Rampage Edition might just be that game. It’s refreshing to see a game released that, yes is buy-to-play but, doesn’t require any microtransactions after that. This is something that has been rare in recent years and has been a complaint of many gamers.
If you’re a fan of Smite and you’re eagerly awaiting Smite 2, maybe you should give Gigantic: Rampage Edition a go, it might surprise you and you may find yourself playing it more and more. I know I’ll be hopping on again with my friends and taking on the Guardian.
