Capture the flag may be one of the oldest, most basic premises for a game ever, but it is a classic that can be easily reinvigorated with a fresh design and a few modifications. Oh My Godheads by developer Titutitech and publisher Square Enix Collective is a multiplayer combat game that is loosely based off of capture the flag, and it succeeds in keeping it engaging and fun by changing up the rules and impressing with its colorful, sharp style. With a few tweaks in gameplay, it has a bright future ahead.
First of all, this game innovates gameplay by adding an extra dimension: instead of capturing an inanimate flag, you try to hold onto a living, breathing head of a god. When preparing for battle, you can pick the location of the battle from a huge range of destinations, such as the Aztec Pyramids or Greek temples; this, is turn, determines which gods and goddesses you can choose from for the Godhead. For example, Greece includes the Lightening God Zeus, and Mexico includes the Aztec god Tezcatlipoca. Every deity possesses special powers that can help or hinder the player holding it, and this is often the determining factor of who wins the round. Obviously, then, it is imperative to quickly assess whether the Godhead can help or hinder you, and then use or avoid its powers in order to beat your competition. An extra element is when someone succeeds in carrying the Godhead to the altar of their team, after which they have the chance to “honor the gods” by killing the other player under a time limit. From experience, I can say that the creative new elements that Oh My Godheads applies to a basic game premise brings a whole new dimension of playing enjoyment.
Another aspect of the game that impressed me was the graphics. These days, especially with the rise of Millennial gamers, appearance and “aesthetics” count for more and more. Oh My Godheads hits the nail squarely on the head (no pun intended) with its uniquely vibrant and textured game design. The characters you can choose from are not only various races and ethnicities, but also include different animals and creatures. The graphic style renders their appearance adorable but also fierce, and to indicate which color team they fight on, they sport different accessories and skins. The battleground stages are also visually stimulating, and the layout and color scheme changes with every location. Finally, each Godhead has its own individual style, and the visual effects that erupt when the Godhead utilizes its special powers is stunning. More than just fun gameplay, Oh My Godheads is a treat for the eyes.
The one critique I would make is the limited game controls. To begin, there is only multiplayer gameplay, and you can only play with other people by using the same laptop, not other people connected to the online server. Also, the second player controls are mostly on the number pad, which is not included on a lot of laptops. This severely reduces the number of people who can play Oh My Godheads. Some solutions to this may be including a single player version that lets you fight computer-generated enemies, or changing the controls of the second player to keys that appear on more laptops. Besides that, though, Oh My Godheads is a rollicking joy ride of fresh challenges and visually appealing design that has the potential for enormous popularity.
8/10
Watch the Oh My Godheads Trailer:
Oh My Godheads will be releasing December 5 for PlayStation 4, Xbox One & Steam.
From the moment I first played Lego Star Wars II: The Original Trilogy on the original Xbox, I have always had an avid curiosity and enthusiasm for video games. I admire their ability to immerse us in completely different worlds, and I am always eager to see how they integrate the newest breakthroughs in digital technology to make virtual reality feel real. I am currently a senior at UC Berkeley, but when I'm not studying I always make time to play Xbox One with my younger brother.
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