Gigantic (video game)

Last updated
Gigantic
Gigantic cover.jpg
Developer(s) Motiga [lower-alpha 1]
Publisher(s) Perfect World Entertainment [lower-alpha 2]
Designer(s) Carter McBee [1]
Engine Unreal Engine 3
Platform(s) Microsoft Windows
Xbox One
Xbox Series X/S
PlayStation 4
PlayStation 5
Release
July 20, 2017
  • Gigantic
  • Windows, Xbox One
    • WW: July 20, 2017
  • Gigantic: Rampage Edition
  • Windows, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S
    • WW: April 9, 2024
Genre(s) Third-person shooter
Team brawler
Mode(s) Multiplayer

Gigantic is a third-person shooter video game developed by the independent game studio Motiga and published by Perfect World Entertainment. [2] The game focused on team-based action combat with heroes battling alongside a massive guardian. Players must protect their guardian along with their team and attempt to destroy the opposing team and their guardian.

Contents

It was released as a free-to-play video game in 2017 for Windows and Xbox One, though its servers were shut down a year later. Abstraction Games and Arc Games revived the game as a buy-to-play game named Gigantic: Rampage Edition in 2024 for Windows, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One and Xbox Series X and Series S.

Gameplay

Gigantic is a MOBA title that mixes melee combat, shooting mechanics, and general MOBA archtypes onto one game. Players control their selected Heroes, which fill the gameplay roles of a shooter, melee fighter, or spellcaster. (Between these roles, different archypes for each such as Damage Dealers, Frontliners, Tanks, Support, Assassin, etc.) Each playable character has 5 skills, which inludes their basic attack and their "Focus" ability, which charges as they deal damage, heal others, etc.

With the original release and subsequent rerelease, players compete in two teams of five assisted by a magical behemoth known as a Guardian with the goal of killing the other team's Guardian. In order to kill the enemy Guardian, players must grant their own Guardian power, which is acquirred by siphoning power orbs off of summoning circles or killing opposing players and creatures.

When one team successfully acquires 100 power, their guardian will enter a Rampage state and attack the other guardian, exposing its weak point and allowing the attacking team to deal damage to the enemy Guardian. The defending team has the power they collected up into that point converted onto a shield (which functions as additional health) and must defend the weak point. Additional kills and power granting events will extend the amount of time the attacking team has to damage the enemy Guardian or grants the defending team additional shield. Fully depleting its health bar will wound it. The first team to wound the opposing guardian 3 times will win.

Players can establish stronger presence on their side of the map and "Neutral" zones by summoning creatures on summoning circles. Creatures assist the team in different ways but will remain in the area they were spawned and will automatically collect power orbs on their circle. The creature will initially be summoned as a baby, but can be upgraded into an adult creature at the cost of the summoning Hero's focus, the death of a more mature creature grants more power to the enemy team than the death of a baby creature or player.

As players advance towards the goal of killing the enemy Guardian, they progressively gain a total of 10 Skill Points. They can apply 2 of these skill points as upgrades to 4 of their 5 skills, as well as an additional modification to an existing skill, and 2 buffs to the Hero's stats themselves. Many of these upgrades radically strengthen or alter the function of a skill. For example, the skill of one hero (Tyto the Swift) which allows them to jump forward and cut down a retreating enemy, can be upgraded to either inflict heavy bleeding on their victim, or to remove the attack altogether and greatly increase the skill's jumping distance. This was intentially made to be done manually in the original 2017 release and previous beta builds, as developers wanted players to select upgrades in reaction to the trajectory of the session, but Rampage Edition adds the option to craft a "Build" of upgrades for a Hero which are automatically applied as the match progresses.

When one Guardian is reduced to 1 health bar, or enough Rampages occur, the map will become altered as each team's guardian becons players to engage in a "Final clash". Generally, the arena will become smaller via environmental damage or players will be redirected to a smaller arena while the previous one is made uninhabitable resulting in a faster pace nearing the session's conclusion. Sanctum Falls, for example, will flood the original arena while players are beconed to move toward the arena at the source of the flooding before it's too late.

With the release of 'Gigantic: Rampage Edition' in 2024, the original gameplay model was retroactively reintroduced as "Clash", while a faster paced gamemode called "Rush" was added, where Guardians only have one health bar, arenas begin in their smaller form, all players are automatically max level thanks to the new "Build" mechanic, and creatures are unable to be summoned, rather automatically spawn themselves.

Development and release

Developers had been talking about the game since 2013, codenamed "Raid" at the time. [3] Gigantic was announced officially on July 15, 2014. [4] Shortly after, on July 24 of the same year, the pre-alpha began. [5] The game's beta was launched in August 2015. [6] Gigantic was fully released on Steam, Arc, Xbox One, and Windows 10 on July 20, 2017. [7]

On January 31, 2018, it was announced that further development for Gigantic had ceased and that the game's servers would be discontinued on July 31, 2018, [8] the day that Gigantic servers officially shut down. [9] However, from October 5 to October 7, 2023, the servers were reopened in an invite only event that allowed players to play the game again, leading to speculation that the game may be revived in the future. [10]

In February 2024, it was announced that Gigantic would be re-released as Gigantic: Rampage Edition in April 2024 for PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, Arc, Steam, and Epic Games Store. This edition of the game is being developed by Abstraction Games and published by Gearbox Publishing. Additionally, it will drop the free-to-play model in favor of buy-to-play and will be released with additional content. [11] [12] [13] Gearbox Publishing San Francisco was rebranded into Arc Games on the day the game released.

Reception

Gigantic received "generally positive" reviews, according to review aggregator Metacritic. [14] [15]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Online game</span> Video game played over the Internet

An online game is a video game that is either partially or primarily played through the Internet or any other computer network available. Online games are ubiquitous on modern gaming platforms, including PCs, consoles and mobile devices, and span many genres, including first-person shooters, strategy games, and massively multiplayer online role-playing games (MMORPG). In 2019, revenue in the online games segment reached $16.9 billion, with $4.2 billion generated by China and $3.5 billion in the United States. Since the 2010s, a common trend among online games has been to operate them as games as a service, using monetization schemes such as loot boxes and battle passes as purchasable items atop freely-offered games. Unlike purchased retail games, online games have the problem of not being permanently playable, as they require special servers in order to function.

<i>Aliens: Colonial Marines</i> 2013 video game

Aliens: Colonial Marines is a 2013 first-person shooter developed by Gearbox Software and published by Sega for PlayStation 3, Windows, and Xbox 360. Based on the Alien universe and set shortly after the events of James Cameron's 1986 film Aliens, the game follows a group of Colonial Marines, a fictional military unit, as they confront the Weyland-Yutani corporation in an effort to rescue survivors from the Sulaco spaceship. The game features a campaign mode that supports both single-player and cooperative gameplay, and a multiplayer mode in which players compete in different scenarios.

<i>Bionicle Heroes</i> 2006 video game

Bionicle Heroes is a 2006 video game published by Eidos Interactive and TT Games Publishing and based on Lego's Bionicle line of constructible action figures. The game was released in November 2006 on PlayStation 2, Xbox 360, GameCube, Microsoft Windows, Game Boy Advance, and Nintendo DS; a Nintendo Wii version was later released in April 2007. The home console and PC versions were developed by Traveller's Tales, while Amaze Entertainment developed the handheld versions. A version of the game for mobile phones, developed by Universomo, was also released. The home console and PC versions of the game are third-person shooters, while the Game Boy Advance version is a run 'n' gun shoot 'em up and the Nintendo DS version is a first-person shooter. The story of Bionicle Heroes, where the player seeks to liberate the island of Voya Nui and its inhabitants from the villainous Piraka, is not canon to the official Bionicle story.

<i>Borderlands</i> (video game) 2009 video game

Borderlands is a 2009 action role-playing first-person shooter video game developed by Gearbox Software and published by 2K. It is the first game in the Borderlands series. The game was released worldwide in October 2009 for the PlayStation 3, Xbox 360 and Microsoft Windows, with a Mac OS X version being released on December 3, 2010 by Feral Interactive. The game's story focuses on a group of four "Vault Hunters", who travel to the distant planet of Pandora to search for the "Vault", which is rumored to contain advanced alien technology and other priceless riches. The hunters piece together clues to find the Vault while battling the savage wildlife of Pandora, local bandits that populate the planet, and ultimately banding together to prevent the Atlas Corporation and its privately funded paramilitary forces from reaching the Vault first.

Multiplayer online battle arena (MOBA) is a subgenre of strategy video games in which two teams of players compete against each other on a predefined battlefield. Each player controls a single character with a set of distinctive abilities that improve over the course of a game and which contribute to the team's overall strategy. The typical objective is for each team to destroy their opponents' main structure, located at the opposite corner of the battlefield. In some MOBA games, the objective can be defeating every player on the enemy team. Players are assisted by computer-controlled units that periodically spawn in groups and march forward along set paths toward their enemy's base, which is heavily guarded by defensive structures. This type of multiplayer online video games originated as a subgenre of real-time strategy, though MOBA players usually do not construct buildings or units. Moreover, there are examples of MOBA games that are not considered real-time strategy games, such as Smite (2014), and Paragon. The genre is seen as a fusion of real-time strategy, role-playing and action games.

<i>Borderlands 2</i> 2012 video game

Borderlands 2 is a 2012 action role-playing first-person shooter video game developed by Gearbox Software and published by 2K. Taking place five years following the events of Borderlands (2009), the game is again set on the planet of Pandora. The story follows a new group of Vault Hunters who must ally with the Crimson Raiders, a resistance group made up of civilian survivors and guerrilla fighters, to defeat the tyrannical Handsome Jack before he can unlock the power of a new Vault. The game features the ability to explore the in-game world and complete main missions and optional side quests, either in offline splitscreen, single-player or online cooperative gameplay. Like its predecessor, the game features a procedurally generated loot system which is capable of generating numerous combinations of weapons and other gear.

<i>Fortnite: Save the World</i> Co-op sandbox survival game developed by Epic Games

Fortnite: Save the World is a cooperative hybrid-third-person looter shooter tower defense sandbox survival video game developed and published by Epic Games, part of the game Fortnite. The game was released as a paid-for early access title for macOS, PlayStation 4, Windows, and Xbox One on July 25, 2017, with plans for a full free-to-play release announced in late 2018. Epic eventually opted to move the game to pay-to-play in June 2020. The retail versions of the game were published by Gearbox Software, while online distribution of the PC versions is handled by Epic's launcher.

<i>Awesomenauts</i> 2012 video game

Awesomenauts was a multiplayer online battle arena (MOBA) video game developed by Dutch video game development company Ronimo Games. The game was released for PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 consoles in May 2012, and for Microsoft Windows systems in August 2012. It was later ported to OS X and Linux. Another version of the game, Awesomenauts Assemble!, incorporating all the changes and additions available on Windows, OS X and Linux, was released for the PlayStation 4 in March 2014 and for the Xbox One in September 2016. In May 2017, the PC version of the game transitioned to a free-to-play title, incorporating an in-game currency and reward system to allow players to gain access to new characters and other customization aspects. In September 2019, Ronimo Games announced that development on the game has stopped indefinitely. Despite this, Awesomenauts was still available to play, until the servers went offline on September 15, 2023 due to Ronimo's bankruptcy.

Smite is a 2014 free-to-play, third-person multiplayer online battle arena (MOBA) video game developed and published by Hi-Rez Studios for Microsoft Windows, Xbox One, PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch, and Amazon Luna. In Smite, players control a god, goddess or other mythological figure and take part in team-based combat, using their abilities and tactics against other player-controlled gods and non-player-controlled minions.

<i>Fable Legends</i> 2016 video game

Fable Legends is a cancelled cooperative action role-playing video game developed by Lionhead Studios and projected to be published by Microsoft Studios for Microsoft Windows and Xbox One. Microsoft cancelled the game on 7 March 2016. The servers shut down on 13 April 2016.

This is a non-comprehensive list that includes terms used in video games and the video game industry, as well as slang used by players.

<i>Borderlands 3</i> 2019 video game

Borderlands 3 is a 2019 action role-playing first-person shooter video game developed by Gearbox Software and published by 2K. It is a sequel to 2012's Borderlands 2, and the fourth entry in the main Borderlands series. Borderlands 3 was released on 13 September 2019 for PlayStation 4, Windows, and Xbox One, and released for macOS on 30 October 2019. A Stadia port was released on 17 December 2019. Versions for the Xbox Series X and Series S and PlayStation 5 including free upgrades for users on the prior console versions were released on 10 and 12 November 2020, respectively. A Nintendo Switch version was released on 6 October 2023.

Borderlands is an action role-playing first-person looter shooter video game franchise set in a space Western science fantasy setting, created and produced by Gearbox Software and published by 2K for multiple platforms.

<i>Borderlands: The Pre-Sequel</i> 2014 video game

Borderlands: The Pre-Sequel is an action role-playing first-person shooter video game developed by 2K Australia, with assistance from Gearbox Software and published by 2K. It is the third game in the Borderlands series, and is a spin-off set after 2009's Borderlands and before 2012's Borderlands 2. It was released for Linux, OS X, PlayStation 3, Windows, and Xbox 360 on 14 October 2014. Updated ports for Windows, PlayStation 4 and Xbox One were released as part of Borderlands: The Handsome Collection on 24 March 2015.

<i>Battleborn</i> (video game) 2016 multiplayer first-person shooter video game

Battleborn was a free-to-play first-person shooter video game developed by Gearbox Software and published by 2K for PlayStation 4, Windows, and Xbox One. The game was released worldwide on May 3, 2016.

<i>Vainglory</i> (video game) Multiplayer online battle arena video game

Vainglory is a free-to-play video game with in-game purchases, developed and published by Super Evil Megacorp for iOS, Android and PC. The game is a version of the MOBA wherein two opposing teams of three or five players fight to destroy the enemy by controlling the path between the bases, which is lined by turrets and guarded by AI-controlled enemy creatures called minions. Off the path, players battle for control points that provide resources. The game was released for iOS on November 16, 2014, after being soft-launched for over half a year, with the Android version being released on July 2, 2015. A Mac and Microsoft Windows version of the game was released in July 2018. Through cross-platform play, players on all four platforms can play together simultaneously.

<i>Paragon</i> (video game) Video game

Paragon was a free-to-play multiplayer online battle arena (MOBA) game developed and published by Epic Games, powered by their own Unreal Engine 4. The game started buy-to-play early access in March 2016, and then launched free-to-play access to its open beta started in August 2016. After failed attempts to make the game sustainable and having trouble keeping a player base, Epic Games made the decision to shut down Paragon servers in April 2018.

A hero shooter is a kind of shooter game which emphasizes "hero" characters that have distinctive abilities and/or weapons that are specific to them. A hero shooter can be a first-person shooter or a third-person shooter.

<i>Master X Master</i> 2017 video game

Master X Master (MXM) was a multiplayer online battle arena (MOBA) video game developed and published by NCsoft.

<i>Minecraft Legends</i> 2023 video game

Minecraft Legends is a 2023 real-time action-strategy video game developed by Mojang Studios and Blackbird Interactive, published by Xbox Game Studios. Serving as a spin-off of the 2011 sandbox game Minecraft, the title was released on the platform Windows, as well as on consoles such as the Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S on April 18, 2023. The game would later cease development on January 10, 2024.

References

Notes
  1. ↑ Abstraction Games developed the Rampage Edition.
  2. ↑ The Rampage Edition was published by Arc Games.
Footnotes
  1. ↑ GoGigantic (June 18, 2015). "Gameplay Designer Carter Mcbee chats with @ExpertZone about Gigantic's heroes, gameplay & more! #E32015". Twitter. Archived from the original on March 5, 2016. Retrieved January 21, 2015.
  2. ↑ "Xbox One/PC Game Gigantic Lives on With New Publisher". Gamespot. Archived from the original on 2016-05-16. Retrieved 2016-05-12.
  3. ↑ "Exclusive video of an early version of Gigantic (code name Raid)". 3 November 2020.
  4. ↑ "Gigantic - Videojuegos". Meristation (in Spanish). February 2018. Archived from the original on 2018-08-29. Retrieved 2021-02-16.
  5. ↑ Gigantic - Pre Alpha Gameplay, archived from the original on 2022-08-20, retrieved 2022-08-20
  6. ↑ Sanchez, Miranda (June 17, 2015). "E3 2015: Spectator Mode In the Works For Gigantic". IGN . Archived from the original on July 10, 2015. Retrieved July 3, 2015.
  7. ↑ "Gigantic Welcomes Arc to Open Beta! | Gigantic". Archived from the original on 2017-07-14. Retrieved 2017-07-18.
  8. ↑ "Browse Free-to-Play Video Games | Arc Games". www.arcgames.com. Archived from the original on 2018-01-31. Retrieved 2018-02-01.
  9. ↑ "Gigantic Server Shutdown | Arc News | Arc Games". www.arcgames.com. Archived from the original on 2018-12-09. Retrieved 2018-12-09.
  10. ↑ Chalk, Andy. "5 years after it closed for good, Gearbox confirms that the hero shooter Gigantic is coming back for a 'limited time throwback event'". PCGamer. Retrieved 22 October 2023.
  11. ↑ Chalk, Andy (2024-02-20). "6 years after it closed for good, a free-to-play hero shooter is making a comeback as a paid game with 'zero microtransactions'". PC Gamer. Archived from the original on 2024-02-21. Retrieved 2024-02-21.
  12. ↑ McWhertor, Michael. "5 years after shutting down, MOBA hero shooter Gigantic is coming back". Polygon . Retrieved 21 February 2024.
  13. ↑ Van Aken, Alex. "Gearbox Is Reviving An Underrated MOBA-Hero Shooter In Gigantic: Rampage Edition". Game Informer . Retrieved 21 February 2024.
  14. 1 2 "Gigantic for PC Reviews". Metacritic . CBS Interactive. Archived from the original on April 21, 2019. Retrieved March 24, 2019.
  15. 1 2 "Gigantic for Xbox One Reviews". Metacritic . CBS Interactive. Archived from the original on September 4, 2017. Retrieved September 15, 2017.
  16. ↑ Vazquez, Suriel (July 28, 2017). "A Featherweight Competitor - Gigantic - PC". Game Informer. Archived from the original on July 30, 2017. Retrieved July 28, 2017.
  17. ↑ Todd, Brett (August 12, 2017). "Gigantic Review". GameSpot. Archived from the original on September 16, 2017. Retrieved August 12, 2017.
  18. ↑ Fanelli, Jason (August 30, 2017). "Gigantic Review". IGN. Archived from the original on August 30, 2017. Retrieved August 30, 2017.
  19. ↑ Ramos, Jeff (July 21, 2017). "Gigantic review". Polygon. Archived from the original on July 21, 2017. Retrieved July 21, 2017.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.