As I slam the nitro, swerve round a missile into the ultimate nook and fling the ball into the enemy purpose, I realise the just-launched Heavy Metal Machines isn’t any MOBA, and that’s a superb factor. Hoplon’s quirky genre-blending vehicular sportsball game has been out there in early entry for some time now, however yesterday it launched in full, and is free-to-play.
Despite the builders calling it a MOBA, Heavy Metal Machines seems like a mix of Blizzard console gem Rock N’ Roll Racing, plus some Twisted Metal and Rocket League. Two groups of 4 vehicles combat over an exploding ball, aiming to tug it into the opponent’s purpose on the finish of a winding racetrack. After taking part in a pair rounds of this, I reckon it’s value taking for a spin.
There’s a world of distinction between Heavy Metal Machines and Dota 2. While it cribs a lot of its UI from MOBAs, in addition to its mouse and keyboard interface and cooldown-based powers, similarities finish there. Your workforce’s solely purpose is to place the ball within the purpose, utilizing no matter particular powers your chosen vehicles have to dam enemies, attempt to knock them out of the match briefly or enhance your self to the purpose. No ranges, no creeps, no inventories – simply drive, shoot and rating.
The path to the purpose is twisty and filled with obstacles, however gamers with out the ball can use shortcut routes to intercept quicker. Despite solely supporting mouse and keyboard, it handles surprisingly nicely, too. Your automobile faces the place you level the mouse, and left mouse button accelerates, whereas proper mouse button pulls a fast 180 to reverse in that very same path, serving to you shoot behind you if wants be. Special talents are sure to Q, W, E and R, with Q being your fundamental assault transfer (typically a easy projectile) most often.
Not each character is unlocked at first, however taking part in matches and incomes your first few ranges unlocks a couple of of them completely, and earned foreign money can be utilized to get the remaining. Free choices seem like on rotation, as per MOBA normal. There’s a premium season go out there, nevertheless it appears centered on beauty rewards, providing you with new skins, results and music. The first season go’s ‘premium’ observe does give early entry to 1 character, although – Icebringer, driving a heavyweight huge rig.
Heavy Metal Machines is out now on Steam and free-to-play. I additionally observed that Alienware are giving away a stack of starter packs, unlocking two characters early, plus a handful of cosmetics.
