SCE Santa Monica Studio looks to capture the intensity and brutality of the series in its first ever multiplayer experience
Two modes were available to me: deathmatch and capture the flag. The deathmatch mode is known as Favour of the Gods and has 4 players pitted against each other with the first one to reach the score limit being the winner. You can get there either through combat kills or appeasing the God present with sacrifices. The only map available had Hercules standing up top with spike traps along to walls to kick other players in to. It was a refreshing take on a classic mode that kept it similar while still changing it up. There will also be a team Favour of the Gods in the final release. Capture the flag was pretty much self explanatory but the environment it was set in really added to the ‘epic’ nature of the game.
What I really loved was how well the multiplayer captured the ferocity and sheer carnage of the single-player by including brutal kill animations and having multiple bodies fighting onscreen. This really helped set the tone for a game that heavily focuses on making the player feel just like a demi-god. That being said, I did find that some of the weapons you can pick up (like the mace) can be almost too overpowered as one hit deals big damage and knocks the victim quite a ways. Also fighting more than one person at once is almost impossible as you are constantly being stunned and the idea of escaping is nearly nonexistent.
The beta has been released to Playstation Plus members as of January 8 and it already looks really impressive. The small issues that are usually prominent in betas are sure to be fixed by the time it is officially released on March 12, 2013. I really look forward to what additions they bring in for the finished product and it’s sure to please any fan of the series.
