Gigantic: Rampage Edition marks the unexpected resurrection of a beloved action MOBA game that went from massive hype to swift closure. Less than a year after release, it shut down as it failed to appeal to the expected player base and amass the revenue that it needed to remain live, and it also had to deal with heavy competition from the likes of Overwatch, which, while dipping on a slightly different genre, managed to capture a crowd and barely gave new live-service games a chance. Is the second time the charm?

Clash of Giants

Sporting a trajectory that isn’t entirely different from Epic Games’ Paragon, which is also rising from the ashes – again, after Overprime – with the upcoming Predecessor, Gigantic was a beloved game with a short-lived existence. The highlight was the amazing art style that made it look like a playable cartoon, with visually dazzling heroes and the impressive creatures that act as a very different kind of tower to take down, and it remains as appealing as it once was during the original release in 2017.

Gigantic: Rampage Edition brings all of that back, but it’s a lot more than the original game. The revamped premium release does away with any microtransactions (everything can be earned by playing), adds two lovely new maps to the existing pool, and brings a couple of new heroes, pushing the grand total up to 25. With a release on PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One, crossplay also makes an appearance and should help populate the matches better than ever. A new tutorial grants a smooth onboarding entrance, and the Rush game mode joins the previous one – Clash – offering a faster experience where a match lasts for about 10-13 minutes.

These are just some of the main boxes that are rightfully ticked, trying to deliver on the Gigantic experience as it was initially envisioned, providing the full content and progression mechanics that make sense in the overall scheme of things, including a revamped Fortunes system that throws some perks your way, challenge or achievement style. This is how you can gain access to new heroes and cosmetics, without requiring any sort of additional purchase.

The gameplay is very action-focused in its 5v5 mayhem, again similar to Paragon, akin to a third-person shooter despite the mix of ranged and melee heroes to pick from. Incidentally, the ability to switch heroes mid-match in Rush mode adds a welcome change of pace and tactics that constantly and pleasantly breaks the template set by both teams and the rigidness of some other MOBAs.

The Rush mode is a streamlined variation on the original Clash mode, pretty much halving the duration of a match from the latter. Dispensing with the creature summoning but keeping most other main mechanics, you have to score points by conquering zones and defeating enemies until you fill the power meter. When this happens, your creature travels to the opposite side of the map and chokes the rival guardian, giving you some time to attack their weak point. Repeat this until you take the guardian out and victory is yours. Simple, effective, and fun.

Given the very decent amount of heroes on offer (including new arrivals Roland and Kaji) and the possibility of creating varied builds, Gigantic comes with the depth and potential for some interesting synergies. Most of the heroes felt fun to control, offering a nice movement set despite a few environment collision issues that get in the way of a seamless exploration. They also have a few abilities that you can upgrade during the match. I didn’t dislike any of the ones I experimented with, which is a big plus, and slowly I was finding a mix of favorites between ranged and melee heroes – I’d wager there is someone for everyone, and time will be the best judge of that.

Upgrading your abilities during the match isn’t as intuitive as it could be, and I felt like this made me vulnerable more often than not. There’s an auto-upgrade option, but as it’s often the case, this doesn’t allow nearly the degree of customization that a player usually can do. It’s not terrible, but it’s something hard to avoid.

Then we have the visual artistry which remains of high quality even after so many years, perks of opting for a stylized approach that is brimming with creativity and smarts instead of going for a high polygon count. It’s not timeless, but it’s clearly a design that is capable of remaining current while many games are released and turn into an ugly mess of a character roster. The heroes can be so different and yet contribute to a single, consistent world, their colors often simple but reinforcing their identity – such as Tripp’s use of blue tones – and supported by animations that are detailed enough to give them this special cartoon look and feel. Naturally, the guardians are quite a sight to behold, their size interesting and their design equally good, providing impressive moments when they cross the arena for the climatic showdown, which could be more varied in animations, however.

The arenas are nice and provide interesting diversity and the occasional verticality, so there should be enough material for learning here – every turn, every twist could be a potential spot for an ambush.

Rise of the Guardians

The return of Gigantic: Rampage Edition is solid proof that the original game was prematurely closed – the quality was there, but something regarding the monetization failed to work. This revamp feels consistent, well-rounded, with good content – 25 heroes and six maps – and no microtransactions in sight. The visuals remain relevant and charming, gameplay is action-based, fast-paced, and enjoyable, and there’s little to complain. Maybe dropping free-to-play was all that Gigantic ever needed to be successful, so let’s see if this is the time when all the mythical winged creatures and toon heroes finally get their time under the spotlight.

Score: 8/10

Pros

• Engaging MOBA gameplay without unnecessary complexity
• Satisfying amount of heroes and maps
• All content is unlockable via gameplay progression
• The terrific art style still holds up

Cons

• A few environment collision issues
• Upgrading abilities during the match is tricky

Gigantic: Rampage Edition review code was provided by the publisher. You can read MP1st’s review and scoring policy right here.