Games die regularly for any number of reasons, but it’s far less common for previously-offed games to be resurrected. 2017’s short-lived Gigantic is one such game that can add itself to the shortlist of unexpected revivals. The game’s original developer, Motiga, shuttered its doors the same year the title launched, leaving it to fade into non-existence the very next year. Under the careful restorative efforts of Abstraction Games (under the Gearbox publishing division), Gigantic: Rampage Edition has emerged from the ashes of its former self. And it’s packing some upgrades in its newly reawakened state.
For the uninitiated, Gigantic: Rampage Edition is a 5v5 MOBA partially infused with a hero shooter, one that carried a surprisingly dedicated fanbase prior to its premature conclusion. I may not have counted myself among their ranks several years ago, but I am certainly seeing what drew them to this personality-packed game when it hit the scene. Abstraction Games has injected new life into Gigantic, carefully reconstructing all that was beloved while also adding in previously unreleased content to make fans’ dream definitive edition.
Blending Cartoons and Fantasy
Before we even dive into the gameplay itself, Gigantic: Rampage Edition immediately treats the eyes with incredibly vibrant, striking visuals. Alluring cartoonish charm blends seamlessly with fantasy stylings to make for a combination of imagery that is hard to pull away from. The vast roster of ranged and melee heroes and maps serving as the arenas for each match are all varied and dazzling in their design. The same goes for the two new maps, Picaro Bay and Heaven’s Ward, which bring the total arena count up to six. Rolling around the scenery as the tank/controller Rutger made for a visually-pleasing match. For someone like myself who has never been drawn into the genre, it speaks volumes about how strong aesthetics can provide a compelling invitation to push outside one’s comfort zone.
The game itself revolves around two core modes: Clash and Rush. Clash is the same mode found in the original. Using the massive roster of twenty five heroes – this is up from twenty three thanks to the addition of newcomers Kajir and Roland – two teams of five launch into a map to battle each other in the pursuit of power, collected via kills and charged points, to enable Rampage. Once Rampage is triggered, that team’s massive guardian creature will pin the opposing team’s guardian, leaving it open to attack from players. Players can’t get close enough to rival guardians to deal damage without achieving this step. It creates a frantic and fun flow as the usual MOBA lanes are less defined here and the navigation around the map far less rigid.
Rush is the even more sessionable alternative to Clash, offering up matches that may only span several minutes. The structure is still 5v5, but the selection of heroes are all at level 10, the max level, and can be swapped out mid-match. Those are two important distinctions compared to Clash. First, having immediate access to max-level heroes makes for an extremely approachable mode for new players, as they won’t be behind seasoned veterans, at least in terms of available abilities. Heroes come with two preset loadouts, but custom configurations can be pieced together by those looking to further specialize their playstyle. Being able to swap heroes mid-match is another big deal because it allows teams to adjust strategies in real-time depending on the actions of their competitors. This reactive gameplay style heightens the frantic nature as strategies are evolving rapidly throughout these lightning rounds.
If you think I’ve touched upon Gigantic: Rampage Edition’s biggest change yet, you’d be wrong. Arguably the most notable shift in the re-release is the transition from free-to-play to buy-to-play. That’s a decision that runs the risk of going over poorly, but it has been executed well here. While the original was free-to-play, it was riddled with microtransactions. Gigantic: Rampage Edition carries a modest price tag of $20 and allows all content to be earned in-game; goodbye microtransactions. I find this approach to be far more consumer friendly, and one that the community has already rallied behind. There’s more joy in unlocking content through gameplay than a credit card.
A Foggy Future
While I’d love to say that it was all sunshine and rainbows in this relaunch, Gigantic: Rampage Edition did stumble out of the gate with unfortunate server issues causing connectivity headaches. Those server woes left me testing much of this game among bots prior to this review. I did get to play among real-life players eventually, but the obstacles that arose did sour the experience slightly in the opening moments. Obviously, these are issues that are already being addressed and may very well be a non-issue days or weeks from now, but it does have to be stated given the environment experienced during this review period.
The next piece is more informative than downright negative. The extent of Abstraction Games’ post-launch support currently consists of a ranked mode and hero skins, all of which will be free. But beyond that, development is not currently slated to evolve the game in any meaningful way in the coming months. When it comes to a competitive title, the lack of future plans in this regard might signal a death sentence (in this case, a second death). It’s hard to say whether the content on offer will be enough to satisfy fans long-term as they max out their heroes and settle into the repetitive structure with limited modes spanning the six maps. Luckily, Rampage Edition brings crossplay to the table, meaning PC and console players will forever remain a combined playerbase. And that could help maintain a healthy player count even farther down the line. Still, keep this in mind as you consider making the leap into Gigantic: Rampage Edition.
Gigantic: Rampage Edition Review Verdict
Gigantic: Rampage Edition: Gigantic: Rampage Edition is an accessible MOBA hero shooter that provides a satisfying pace faster than that of traditional MOBAs without shifting into the twitchy speeds of shooters. The modes, while limited, are fun in their push-and-pull objective pushing teams to make the opposing guardian vulnerable. And it’s all wrapped up in visuals that make for great eye candy. Some unfortunate server problems coupled with the seemingly fixed lifetime content raises questions about the longevity of the game. But perhaps at $20, you will get more than enough entertainment hours to justify the value. – Joshua
Editor’s Note: Gigantic: Rampage Edition was reviewed on PC, and a copy was provided to us for review purposes.
