There is only one ranged hero who tosses spears. He can also bash with his shield and cover himself in stone to absorb more damage. He can knock enemies down with an area of effect ground pound ability. For instance, there is a tank who uses a mace and shield. They fulfill a specific role, wield a unique weapon, and have unique abilities. I was also told that there are three additional characters close to being ready and that the hero pool will be increased regularly.Įach character has a unique style. But by completing quests and playing the game you will get them eventually. You can also spend real money to get them quicker. You begin the game with three characters to choose from, and there are an additional three you can purchase with in-game currency. The other is understanding the nuances of swinging your weapons and using your abilities. This is one aspect of the game’s depth I was referring to earlier. If you don’t coordinate well with your team, you’ll lose. You need to pick a good combination of heroes, and then you need to play your role correctly. In the Brawl, tactics are far more important. It was chaotic and I never felt like I was being completely outplayed like in the Brawl. There are constantly people hacking and slashing around you while you attempt to capture and hold one of three points.

Of the two game modes I played, I enjoyed Domination more.

I may have knocked my teammates to the floor a few times by kicking them in the back. It’s not something you see very often in melee games, but it adds to the chaos of the fray and forces you to consider your teammates before swinging your blade. One of my favorite things in the game is the decision to include friendly fire. Keeping a cool head is going to be another skill you need to learn to master Blood of Heroes combat. But when more than one enemy is looking to split your skull open, fights can get scrappy and messy. When you’re facing just one opponent, you have the luxury of being patient and tactical.

Domination is a team point capture battle set in a bigger arena.īlood of Heroes is aptly named because the combat is bloody and brutal. If you lose a round, you cannot use the heroes you lost with for the rest of the match. The Brawl is a round-by-round deathmatch where you need to eliminate the entire team to win the round. I didn’t get to try a 1v1 fight, but it’s pitched as the ultimate test of skill. But I got used to it fairly quickly.īlood of Heroes will have three game modes available, a 1v1 Duel, 3v3 Brawl, and 5v5 Domination. The movement was a little heavier than I am used to, which at times made my character feel sluggish. You can also chain attacks together to produce different attacks by running or dodging before you strike. You have a light attack, heavy attack, block, dodge, special character maneuver (kick, shield bash, parry), a special ability, and an ultimate ability. The combat mechanics are simple, but the nuances are going to take you time to feel out. The combat is described as Dark Souls meets For Honor. Team composition, attack timings, and positioning are all essential to winning. While I don’t think the combat mechanics are as complex as a melee game like Naraka: Bladepoint, there is depth to battles and tactics are crucial. I got the hang of the combat mechanics after a few beatings, but the difference in skill between the developers and myself was a good indication of the skill ceiling. Then I was dropped into some 3v3 Brawls and 5v5 Domination matches to fend for myself. I got to watch the developers in action, playing their own game. Blood of Heroes developer Vizor Games treated me to a preview of the new PvP melee before its open beta started swinging.

Blood of heroes video game