This game will be release to early imho

The current beta is very far from what they plan to release, especially with regards to balance and networking/matchmaking, so don't pay attention to any reviews on those matters.

That aside, my short review of the current Demigod beta is that it is shiny, addictive, and it warms my cynical old gamer soul.

Here's my initial review:

The game is easy to jump right into, has a very small learning curve, and is fun pretty much from the get go.  Current balance issues will need to be addressed for this (the fun factor) to be at all true once people play the game for more than a few days against other players.  Further balance and gameplay tweaks will be necessary to give the game greater depth and longevity, but the base product is there, and it shows a lot of promise.  Despite its problems, the game is fun and pretty addictive, though as previously mentioned it will probably require some changes and additions to remain so for more than a month or two.  It is difficult to assess at the moment what the online service will be like, since Beta has a very limited version of the online client (I'm hoping).

Overall at the moment with the Beta I'd rate the game a 7.5-8 / 10, but obviously games are not rated based on the Beta.  I think this game will be worthy of a 8-8.5 / 10 upon release, and with further improvements could even be as good as 8.5-9 / 10 eventually.

The best way I can put it is that Demigod has no soul. It follows the DotA formula too closely without distinguishing itself, as much as fans on this board disagree.

I hear that a lot, and while I can't make a distinct comment as I haven't played the game I only see a few hard comparisons to DOTA from what information I can glean. And I loved DOTA and loved HOSK even more. Honestly, even if it's true, why does it matter? A lot of people liked DotA, but DoTA is out dated. It's a mod, balance issues abound, it has one map, and I can say more than a few not so nice things about the people who play it (or who don't and just leave games even with banlists running).

Would it be so terrible to see Demigod as a refreshed and improved DoTA with far better graphics, a variety of maps even if it isn't a huge amount, and some additional mechanics? Sure, some things are lacking such as hero selection, but Dota didn't have so many when it came out either. And you tend to see the same heroes over and over again in most high end matches anyway. If it's completly different, cool. DoTA carmel core with a different outer coating. If it's neo Dota..uh..cool again? Believe it or not, people actually liked Dota. Go figure. I see it as win-win either way..

The basic gameplay is going to be the same either way as well and I'm all for this becoming a genre of it's own. That means Demigod can be a better looking Dota to bring it out of mod status into an actual game or it can be a standalone game based on Dota. I see it as a step forward either way that will hopefully help spark this gameplay style as a sub genre if nothing else..but maybe that's just me.

9/10  Great game.   Game of the year candidate.

Very easy to learn and play.

Most beautiful game I've seen. Very good action, fun to play.

I am quite particular about the games I play and only buy 1-2 games a year.

I expect a several months of good online play with Demigod. This is less than I played with SupCom and Forged Alliance and WC3 before that, but still very good.

To call the game "great", I require more strategic depth and better maps - more reactive, more open, more three dimensional.

All this assuming minimum fixes of networking and balance, while diversity and pantheon also much wanted.

This is what I meant when I said criticism wasn't well received on this forum.

Just to get this train back on track - thread isn't about the Beta process.  Stick to reviewing the game - one review per customer, and if you see something you disagree with in another writer's review counter it in your own.

Thanks, guys

A.Z. is right, you're intentionally misinterpreting him and shutting down his suggestion, which is all too commonplace here.

I'm pretty sure his point is that the maps are so flat and basically 2D (they're like wacky chessboards).  There's a lot more they could have done in that sense.

Visuals: 10/10

Performance: 8/10

Fun: 9/10 ; didnt play any games, but the ones i did were really fun.

Connectivity: 3/10 ;     pings > 100ms is just not acceptable. I can get 40ms in other games (espacially DOtA with pickup.listchecker). 

Demigoddesign: 7/10; wished the general-minions would have been implemented more RTS-like (special effects, HP + mana seen in the HUD...)

Mapdesign: 4/10; they could have done much more. Bigger maps, with greater distances and some controle areas ressembling fortresses. Moreover: what about adding a free terrain with trees, hills, rivers/lakes and roads. The minions could still walk on the predefined roads towards the enemy.

I'm not going to give the game a formal review since I haven't been able to play it in a while and don't think I can really remember enough to grade it. Also I haven't gotten to play since 3B or C. I do really enjoy the game. It's fun and it doesn't get old. The graphics are great, the music is good too. The one thing I am dissapointed about is how the Generals turned out, but otherwise I think it's really a great game and I'm looking forward to playing the released version.