Project Loki: A New Action MOBA
A new action MOBA called Project Loki was revealed yesterday, and the announcement trailer left many with a familiar feeling. A team of experienced developers from Riot, Respawn, Blizzard, and Bungie have come together to create a new game that aims to fill the void left by Battlerite, an action MOBA that dropped out of the sky in 2019. Project Loki appears to be a blend of "League, Apex, and Smash," but the initial reveal evoked a strong Battlerite vibe. So, there is cautious optimism surrounding its potential.
Many early adopters, including myself, were captivated by Battlerite. I got into the game in early 2018 and fell in love with it, even writing in my review that "Battlerite is the future of fighting games." It offered immediate brawling experiences with intense team fights, reminiscent of Dark Souls, but with small teams and a MOBA-like map. PC Gamer gave it a highly positive write-up in 2017, and I remember feeling confident in its success.
However, Battlerite stumbled when it decided to compete with Fortnite. The developers attempted to enter the battle royale genre, which left the original game in an awkward state. The player base became divided, and updates were slow. Battlerite had the potential to be a standout entry in the action MOBA genre, but it stumbled by trying to compete with Fortnite.
Now, Project Loki has emerged, carrying the torch for fighting game MOBAs. The announcement trailer evokes both nostalgia and anxiety. On one hand, it shares many similarities with Battlerite - an action MOBA that emphasizes immediate brawling and team fights. However, the developers bring experience from some of the biggest studios in the industry, including games such as League of Legends and Titanfall.
The start-up behind Project Loki, Theorycraft Games, boasts a team with impressive industry recognition. Additionally, the developers are showcasing alpha footage and hyped-up voice chat clips, which is always a good sign. The Project Loki team exudes confidence, which is refreshing considering recent games like Spellbreak and Battlerite.
Games like Project Loki can either become hits like Apex Legends or fade away like Spellbreak and Battlerite. So far, Project Loki is off to a good start, but it still faces an uphill battle - it lacks brand recognition, and the gameplay isn't exactly unique. It will be intriguing to follow Project Loki's progress. In the meantime, you can sign up for the next playtest on Theorycraft's website.
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