The best free competitor to League of Legends, in 3D
Smite is a MOBA (Multiplayer Online Battle Arena), a mixture of RPG and strategy where players compete in teams of 3 or 5. The game offers many different game modes (Arena, Conquest, Domination, Assault) reminiscent of other classics of the genre, along with some innovative gameplay. Smite stands out from the competition, including League of Legends or DotA 2, for its use of mythological themes, 3D graphics, and the abundance of different game modes.
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The MOBA with gods and many different game modes
At first glance, Smite appears to be a just another title in the ultra-saturated ocean of MOBA games. Still, it's managed to become one of the most played MOBAs by implementing a number of original features that give it personality and intrigue. The characters and themes of the game are based on mythological themes that have occurred throughout the history of mankind, and a welcome innovation that creates richness.
Compared to the traditional rigidity of MOBA games, Smite shows a fair bit of creativity. You're able to play in different game modes (conquest, assault, and jousting arena), all of which have their own appeal. There are also other cool new features, such as the worship system, that reward players who dedicate themselves to a particular character.
Rich and complex gameplay
Even though it's based on standard MOBA principles (two teams of 5 people fighting to destroy the enemy base in a map consisting of 3 lanes separated by a typical jungle), Smite is distinguished by its tendency to innovate. The 3D third person view encourages you to have a much more action-oriented approach while providing a new strategic dimension to the title. Your characters' attacks need to be timed with precision, as do the counters.
A superior technical dimension
Smite is very visually appealing, and it's constantly being improved by its developers. I must admit, I'm not used to seeing such quality graphics in the genre. The environments are well done, the character modeling is clean, and the design and animations seem very inspired. It's a technical success that's been well optimized for small configurations, which is nice to see in a world of online games that too often disregards graphics.
As for the audio aspect, the music certainly doesn't stand out (with epic themes devoid of any ounce of originality). A lot of work, however, has gone into the characters' voices. What's more, you're able to obtain new voices (through in-game purchases) to either intimidate your opponents, or simply make them laugh.
Smite, the pantheon of MOBA
Smite is an undoubted success! The game is well developed and manages to distinguish itself from the multitude of already existing MOBA games (including the hugely popular League of Legends and DotA 2) by providing fun and original gameplay. If you're looking for a smoother, more action-orientated MOBA, Smite is the game for you.
