Awesomenauts Review

Awesomenauts is what is described as a ‘2D action real-time strategy’ game. Simply put, it’s a 2D MOBA (Multiplayer Online Battle Arena) game, featuring cartoony graphics and some interesting characters. It is currently available on the PlayStation Network and Xbox Live Arcade.

As with all MOBA games, the mission is to get into your opposing teams base and destroy an object, in this case their central drill. This takes place in frantic 3v3 online battles, with missing players automatically being replaced by bots making sure things are always evened out. While it sounds simple, there are complications along the way.

Each character - of which 3 are immediately available, with others being unlocked as you play the game - has special abilities that can come in all sorts of handy, with things like summoning a bull to push back enemies or exploding yourself to cause a little damage to you, and a lot to your foes. With the different character move sets it means you have to prioritise in the middle of battle, for example if you have a big guy who can explode and a healer, you may want to take out the healer first to prevent him healing the big guy after he has exploded.

Each team is also aided by drones (otherwise known as creeps) who act as standard cannon fodder. These are generally used to get you close enough to attack the opposing teams turrets, of which there are several in place on the way to the drill. The turrets are tough and dish a lot of damage so the drones act as shields while you pick away at the turrets life, then when the drones are gone, get out as fast as you can because the turret will have you dead faster than another player can even manage.

To make up for the lack of 3D in games like League of Legends, Awesomenauts features multiple levels to each stage, meaning there can be a war going on at ground level and above at the same time, but if you are sneaky enough you can sneak your way through the chaos to the closest turret and start picking away, however whenever you attack an opposing turret or drill core the game informs the other team that they are under attack, and will inform you if you are under attack at which point it’s time to charge and get into a huge melee, usually with all six players involved.

Each character has, as mentioned, their own abilities, three to be exact. A basic attack you start with, and two special attacks, but before you can unlock these you need to purchase them with Solar, the games currency. There is a shop available in the starting zone for both teams, which acts as a safe haven in-between the madness. In the shops you can purchase your abilities, as well as more powered up versions of those abilities, and buffs like extra health or extra damage for your attacks, where strategy again comes into play as you decide if you want more health to live longer, to do more damage, unlock both your special abilities or focus on upgrading one of them.

Each game is about time. Rushing to the enemy base will see you dead before you can be of any help to your team, but the slower paced methodical team will waltz their way to victory if they smartly upgrade, co-ordinate with each other and chip away at turrets and the drill instead of trying to do it as fast as possible.

Graphically the game is cartoony in nature and looks good, with nice backgrounds and features in each map, such as the large worm you can use to your advantage if an enemy happens to be walking over its pit. A press of the button above will see the worm instantly kill anything above it - but this also include team-mates, so caution is needed.

Overall, as a MOBA game it is fun, making up for the lack of 3D with multiple layers to each level and some solid map and character design. While the rather lengthy ranking up process will likely put off those in search of a quick-fix, if you have the time to put into it it can certainly eat up chunks of your time.