Since Epic Games decided to shut down Paragon and offer millions worth of game assets for free, there have been a few attempts at bringing this third-person MOBA back to life. Predecessor is the latest one, coming from Omeda Studios and helmed by Robbie Singh, once the top content creator for Paragon. This is a mix of old and new, aimed at fans of the original game but also at those who prefer their battle arenas with a little bit of more action-focused combat.
The Successor
One of the first things worth mentioning about Predecessor is that it inevitably made the leap to Unreal Engine 5, with optimization coming from both ends (Epic Games and Omeda Studios), and noticeable visual improvements to the first map that make it look more organic. This is also the first step to lay the foundations for a game that is meant to run for several years, and the community anticipation seems to be reaching peak levels, promising a bright future for Predecessor. With a launch planned for PC, PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, and Xbox Series S/X, along with cross-play, this is one of the few MOBAs that tries to reach out to a vast audience and includes current and some previous console generations as well.
Paragon stood out from the competition due to its looks and third-person perspective, adding a significant dose of action into a genre that is mostly renowned for its tactical expanse. After our hands-on session with Robbie Singh leading the team, I can confirm that Predecessor is indeed a hybrid of action and strategy, a beast that is as straightforward to play as it can be different based on the choice of the five heroes per each of the two teams. Synergy is key here, finding the hero that is more suited to your goal and having a few partners who know how they can support each other according to their roles on the battlefield.
Predecessor is extremely easy to jump into and enjoy, but there is a learning curve for those who want to master every intricacy, every aspect that can make the difference between upgrading your abilities or dying at the hands of an enemy hero and watching that respawn timer increase. This is the rare MOBA that you can comfortably play with a controller and still feel that you are on an equal level with players who opt for a mouse and keyboard approach.
It’s through trial and error that you are going to learn the best approach, supported by players who are at the same level. As traditional as the mix of player versus environment and player versus player may be, it’s the action elements that separate Predecessor from most other MOBAs, requiring aiming, active dodging (superior for characters that have this specific type of ability) and a willingness to support your teammates and overcome the enemies.
Based on a few hours of gameplay alone, it’s virtually impossible to realize the order and chaos going on within Predecessor, the heroes and map from Paragon having been balanced to the extreme by a team that knows the game inside out, focusing on moment-to-moment gameplay and the fun of the matches. This is an aspect that only the most committed players will be able to safely evaluate after weeks or months of iterating and exploring every hero, every item, every possible build to come to a solid conclusion.
Despite the third-person perspective, a match in Predecessor is pretty much on par with what you can expect from a MOBA. Ranging somewhere between 25-30 minutes, this is what any fan of the genre is already expecting in terms of duration, with all the things that come with it, from upgrading abilities to using items as you take on the enemy’s tower turrets and ultimately destroy the core to win the match.
A New MOBA Dawn
Predecessor is shaping up to be the most promising return from the ashes for Paragon. The developers seem to be entirely committed to a long-lasting project, running it for the fans and with the fans, delivering on the gameplay and regular content updates that Epic Games decided to cut short. With the upcoming ranked mode and a second map, it seems like this is a game that is going to finally remain live for long, as it always should have been.
MP1st was given access to a preview build of Predecessor for our hands-on session. Predecessor is entering global open beta for PC, PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, and Xbox Series X|S on March 28, 2024.