So what is this game *really* like?

Other then the multi-player issue it's fun. It's probably the most balanced game on release that i've played. Really the biggest fixes needed aren't even about nerfing or buffing the characters, as really none of them need it too much right now. (well erebus is bit strong for a general and QoT is a bit weak in anti demi-god but not by much.) When the multi-player works though it's extemely fun and the ai can actually be challenging in single-player. People i've played with thus far though have been more like bots most of the time. (probably because it doesn't list how to do all chat in multi-player. >.>

If you like how the game looks or even if you just like the game type in general it's worth a buy.

On a side note an unbiased opinion doesn't exist as humans are biased anyways.

the game is good and fun some people have Multi player issues i havent had any other then pantheon wich is being addressed next week some time along with some connectivity problems, id say buy the game play some single player get used to the game then hopefully next week or nextweekend the came will run a lot smoother online, or u can try your luck online many people have had no issues connecting

Well, going with the likes/dislikes format (and assuming you've researched and somewhat understood how the game 'works'):

Pros

-It's a relatively fresh genre.  I, personally, haven't played a game like it (yes, I'm aware that the setup may not be original but it's not a heavily beaten path, either).

- Character customization.  As is always the case, I'm sure that mathematically ideal builds will eventually emerge but at the moment, there's a wealth of options in both skills and equipment and seemingly few 'correct' answers for questions of which to choose.

- Aesthetics.  Your mileage may vary but I think just about everything looks and sounds fantastic.

Overall, I just like the amount of choices that need to be made in a given game.  Do you upgrade your citadel and increase the overall pressure of your army or do you spend your cash on upgrades for your character who can apply that pressure with more focus?  Which skills will you use?  What equipment will you buy that compliments your skillset? 

Cons

- Variety.  I'm still having a blast but I could see wanting more maps and such relatively soon. 

*edit*- Single-player modes.  Skirmish is, of course, an option and you have a semi-campaign which is basically just a string of skirmishes in different gametypes but if you're expecting a full fledged campaign, there isn't one of be found.  I neglected to mention this because I don't care about RTS(or RTS-ish) campaigns in the slightest but it suddenly hit me that you just might.

Beyond that and the technical issues, I really don't have any gripes, though.  For my part, it's been a while since I've enjoyed a game this much.

Just as a note on the author (for bias assesment), I primarily play networked games with/against friends, have very limited experience with the online modes, and have no interest in pretending that I'm a pro.

Ok, here's my honest and fair shot:

I'll start by saying if you've ever played DoTA, you'll have a rough idea of what to expect. Generally it's an rts with all the same basic requirements. The differences are that you only control one "unit". This unit is like a hero from similar games, far more powerful than normal units and with several abilities himself/herself. If you've ever played diablo, your hero and his advancement is almost exactly that same as it was in Diablo.

Now imagine an rts where two prebuilt bases constantly pump units at each other. You're a super-commander with special abilities and like any normal rts you want to trash the enemy base. Of course you'll be hindered by enemy super commanders who want to do the same.

The end result is a fun e-sports style arena fest with a lot of fun rpg and rts elements. For example , you can upgrade units, buildings, ect, much like rts games through the citadel window. On the other hand, you can buy items that increase the strength of your demigod (more health, more mana, more movement speed, more damage, chance to aoe, chance to stun, ect) much like an rpg.

I think it's fun, but personally I like this type of gameplay. It combines some of the best parts of popular generes into something unique and puts it into the oh-so-popular PvP setting.

I once heard this genre described as "an fps turned into an rts", which sums it up pretty well. You're still trying to gun down other players and you'll hear the usual "I win" fanfare like "Godlike" when you kill someone else, but there will also be the usual rts elements such as resources and bases involved. While hardly new ones, Demigod does have plenty of nice features and is actually very balanced right off the bat.

There are a ton of improvements that can be made as the community has already expressed (to death), but that can pretty much be said of any game and I feel it's more of a path to take with mods/updates/expansions. There are a few tiny things many of wish were added, some of it already in the works, like clan support, a better chat system, so on, but none of it really detracts from playing the game itself.

If you don't like the round by round kill fest style of fps games, nor the rpg element of character building, nor the rts element of base destruction, this game isn't for you. Since you're at least somewhat interested, I'd say you probably like one or more of these qualities. The production of the game is top notch, even if the single player isn't exactly the most epic of tales.

A good example would be to say it's like Team Fortress, you don't play it because you want an epic story. You play it because you want some quick team based PvP fun and that's what keeps you and many others coming back day after day. It's pretty much the same for Demigod. While far from being the "perfect" game, it's a good one that I honestly believe is fun to play if you put aside the issues it's been having recently.

It's a unique genre that hasn't seen much light since DoTA or HoSK, and it's my honest hope it becomes a full fledged genre or at the very least a subtype.

There.. I apologize , it's hard to be 100% unbiased. If you have any specific questions, myself and the community would love to answer them.

Thanks guys, these are exactly the sort of replies I was after.

A few questions though,

1. Can you see yourself still playing this in a week? a month? a year? What keeps you coming back?

2. Judging from the responses so far, can I take it that the demigod community isn't like the CS/DOTA "lulz newb" community? Or is it just that the game hasn't been around long enough for the pros to differentiate themselves from the noobs.

3. Is there that much difference between the heroes? In DotA there's a huge difference in playstyle between Stealth Assassin and Zeus (I've only played about 10 games, but it seems that a lot of the heroes have very different playstyles).

Thanks,

Zaij.

1. Yes if they put out new items, fix Pantheon, and get rid of bot matches.  No point in play MP if you are always playing against a majority of bots.  That's my biggest issue right now.

2. Everyone's new.  Give it time.

3.  I've never played DotA, but there are definitely diff. playing styles.  Game is most fun with people who specialize.

I can certainly see myself playing this game in a years time, providing the multiplayer issues are fixed. The thing that keeps me coming back the most is that it's my favourite parts of the RTS Genre; strategy, fighting, big armies. The difference here is you get to concentrate on the fighting and strategy parts and leave everything else to the computer.

I don't think Demigod has been out long enough yet for the immature players to get a hold of it and throttle all life out of the community. Then again, the game in it's current state requires a bit of intelligence to play and to actually get working, so that's probably diven them away. Maybe all of the "multiplayer issues" are just some method the developers have decided to try to keep them from ruining this game as well.

There is a very big difference between the heroes, and theres heaps of variety between each build for each Hero. It doesn't have as many 'Heroes' as DotA, but each one has a lot more personality.

1) I could see getting a month or two out of it for the time being.  Again, not having an interest in the competitive community, I tend to get bored quickly so without new content, I'll probably be off to something else well before a year is up.  If they do add new demigods and maps and such, I'll probably stick around significantly longer.

2) N/A.

3) Not having played DotA, I'll just say that the differences, to me, seem relatively subtle in a one-on-one slugfest but become a bit more pronounced when working in tandem with other people.  If it's just you trying to take down some towers or solo another character, everyone has their relatively limited number of damage effects and the ability to run when it gets too hot.  When working with a group and having other targets available for healing, buffing, and so forth, it becomes a bit more obvious why your character is useful to have around. 

1. Yes, I can. Solid, basic gameplay that's fun on the basic level is what keeps me coming back. It's the same stuff that makes chess, checkers, poker, or any other classic still fun.

2. Well, the community was perfect until the game released. A few questionable people piqued up after that, but it's not too bad yet. I won't lie to you though, it's hard to point out an online community that isn't trash in some part. Typically, most online communities are trash overall. With time a lot of elitist and the ilk will come, but the more important question is will there be enough decent people left in the community? My guess at the moment, and my continued hope, is yes.

3. The current heros focus on the general unique "traits" that DoTa started with. The sniper, chaser, the melee raper, the shield tank, the healer, ect. The heroes are all very different, though at the moment simply not at the level of DoTA. DoTA has a lot of unique heroes with interesting abilities, even if most of them aren't ever played. But DoTA has also been out far longer, it wasn't so when it first was released. In fact, nearly every hero has undergone massive changes.

Give it time and more unique heros will rise through mods or patches. The game's not even a month old, but the base starting demigods are pretty good actually and are all very different flavors.

1. I will be playing more in a week, or a month, but knowing myself, I never stay with one game for a year. I do come back though.

2. Everyone's a noob right now, but it's not hard to learn. I can't see this game growing CS or DotA-style communities, since Demigod is very accessible, and neither of the games you mentioned are at all noob friendly.

3. The Demigods are VERY different and do not play the same at all. I could not make the statement like, "if you play Regulus like you play your Torchbearer..." because there's no way you could play Regulus like a Torchbearer.