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Friday, March 11, 2011

Bloodline Champions

The elevated viewpoint and number of heroes to choose from means that Bloodline Champions initially looks like another take on the Defense of the Ancients style of real-time strategy game. The fact that it’s free-to-play only adds to this impression. In reality, however, this is a straightforward action game of fast-paced arena battles between teams of three to five players. You take charge of one of 20 champions and must crush your enemies in quick and bloody rounds with teamwork and lightning reflexes.
Each champion has seven unchanging skills. There’s no character loadout to alter, and no levels or experience points to spend, but within these confines the champions are enormously varied. Most share similar ability types, such as a fast move skill on the spacebar, but while the Vanguard has a jump attack, the Gunner will use her huge rocket launcher to blast herself away from enemies. Control abilities can freeze foes or drain their life, while projectiles can heal or harm, all depending on the character selected.
Azeroth's architects have clearly kept busy.
Rounds are over in under two minutes, and pass in a screen-wide kaleidoscope of quick-fire abilities, area-of-effect spells and giant laser beams. Movement uses the WASD keys, abilities are tied to keyboard shortcuts and, crucially, every shot must be carefully aimed. Bloodline’s scraps require good reflexes and some deft mousework to keep up. Be prepared to spend a lot of time dead.
Learn or burn
Instead of a traditional mana bar, skills are restricted by cooldown timers. Many abilities take a second or so to cast, an irritation that constantly interrupts the fluidity of the combat. It’s impossible to keep track of the cooldown remaining on each ability. Instinct and guesswork are required to know when your skills are ready to use again, and that comes through experience.
Drum up some courage and you'll survive the learning curve.
Bloodline Champions is really about finding your favourite fighter, though. With no levelling or loot to keep me interested, it was only an urge to master the intricacies of the team-healing Astronomer that kept me playing. Each character is just different enough to require time to learn, and the singleplayer bots aren’t sly enough to present a challenge for long. This means it’s necessary to go online and get kicked around a lot while you learn the ropes. It’s a competitive community and the learning curve is steep.
It doesn’t help that only four characters are unlocked to begin with, and these four change every once in a while, making it hard to settle on a favourite. Many people will give up in frustration long before the 17,000 in-game points needed to unlock a character have been earned, and the £4.30 required to buy one using Funcom points is a little steep. Still, the initial download is small, and the action’s slick and well balanced enough to make Bloodline Champions worth a punt.
Posted by GrimJke at 1:23 PM Email This BlogThis! Share to X Share to Facebook

27 comments:

Patti D. said...

It looks very cool, thanks for the review.

March 11, 2011 at 2:46 PM
Barney said...

WOW! bloodline champions looks like my kind of game!

March 11, 2011 at 3:23 PM
Nick said...

I'll give it a try if its balanced then, but those graphics are too wowish.

March 11, 2011 at 6:31 PM
PacoTaco said...

oi looks just like heroes of newerth

March 12, 2011 at 1:07 AM
Jessica Thompson said...

This looks super fun,.

March 12, 2011 at 6:51 AM
Anonymous said...

This sounds like a game I would play with a group of friends on a nonsnse gaming night.

March 12, 2011 at 8:52 AM
Liquid said...

Bloodline yay my favorite,such a wonderful game
tnx for the review though,followed! ;)

March 12, 2011 at 5:17 PM
SKINNYBOX said...

might get into this seeing as it's free. Never heard of it before though

March 12, 2011 at 6:22 PM
Fix PC Games Admin said...

looks fun thx for tip +followed

March 12, 2011 at 6:34 PM
TheStamos23 said...

a buddy of mine has this game, he loves it, not really my thing buts it its pretty tight.

March 12, 2011 at 6:47 PM
duffboi said...

Definitely sounds like fun for a group of friends to play each other.

March 12, 2011 at 11:57 PM
Innovations said...

this looks liek a better version of WoW

March 13, 2011 at 12:54 AM
snypadub said...

Looks stunning, might give it a go. Good review.

March 13, 2011 at 1:20 AM
LOB said...

Havn't heard of this game! I'll have to check it out.

March 13, 2011 at 9:40 AM
John A.S. said...

Going to the game shop tomorrow to buy that one! Seems a great game

March 13, 2011 at 4:49 PM
reviewsandtherest said...

sounds interesting! followed

March 14, 2011 at 12:15 PM
M. Kwell said...

Followed, love your blog

March 14, 2011 at 4:55 PM
Sam A Lot said...

Sounds awesome, followed!

March 14, 2011 at 4:59 PM
Virellum said...

looks nuice, might give this a shot. following!

virellum.blogspot.com

March 15, 2011 at 2:24 PM
Unknown said...

This looks pretty cool, I might check it out! Thank you for sharing!

March 16, 2011 at 7:43 PM
Erika said...

Looks fun =]

March 17, 2011 at 5:33 PM
GADAFINY said...

great blog
following and $upporting

March 20, 2011 at 9:20 PM
gfdsgsdgsd said...

This is sucha good blog. Following you man.

March 30, 2011 at 7:53 PM
7-gap said...

good article, really enjoyed reading. i m gonna follow you man!

March 31, 2011 at 6:25 PM
WizWayne said...

this actually looks pretty decent, I'm looking forward to more games reviews!

March 31, 2011 at 8:31 PM
Anonymous said...

must try!

April 1, 2011 at 2:51 AM
Prowler said...

Your detailed reviews always make me want to start playing new games, wish I had the time!

April 2, 2011 at 7:58 PM

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      • Rift Review
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      • Games PC : Fallout New Vegas
      • Xbox 360 games - Dragon Age 2 Gameplay Demo
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      • Gray Matter
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