We have spent a lot of time in the last few days exploring Paladins and conducted a small test of the game. How good is the shooter from HiRez really?
Paladins – Crazy champions with big guns
Due to a lack of access to certain other games, I took a closer look at HiRez’s Paladins in the last few days. Currently, there is a closed beta, which can only be accessed if you either get lucky or purchase a starter pack for €20. Those who already had access to the game and reached account level 4 can invite up to 3 friends.
I will share a bit about my first experiences in the game, but beware: it is a very early beta version. Whether the final game contains even a fraction of what I tested is up in the air.
The goal of the game – break down walls, capture control points.
Paladins is played in 5vs5 matches. Currently, there is only one game mode. However, this is enough to get an impression of the game feel that it promises to deliver. Each team has a base protected by 3 walls. Between the bases, there is a vast, almost completely open area, with three different control points.
Regularly, one of the control points becomes active and can be captured – this works as usual by positioning yourself on the point and preventing the opponent from doing the same. If the control point is captured, a siege machine appears at that location, which then rolls unstoppable towards the enemy base to bombard the walls.
The defending team must destroy the siege machine, while the attackers protect it and support the attack on the gates. Once the siege machine has been destroyed, a new control point becomes active – this continues until one side has destroyed all 3 gates.
MOBA elements with plenty of shooting
What at first glance sounds like the siege mode of SMITE could hardly be further from the truth. While there are also skill shots here that require timing, the direct targeting like in a shooter is the core aspect – after all, Paladins IS a shooter. Each champion has its own weapon, with different effects.
While the huntress Cassie fires with an old-fashioned bow, the dwarf Barik uses his shotgun and the self-proclaimed knight Fernando wields his flamethrower. Additionally, each champion has three abilities, two of which typically correspond to the character role (damage, healing, or protection) and one serves for movement. The crazy Pip can hop quickly and far for several seconds, while the assassin Skye becomes invisible and also receives a speed boost. Learn more about the 8 different characters in our introduction to the champions.
Teamwork is essential, as only a clever combination of characters leads to victory. Lone wolves are regularly picked off as if they were a marmalade toast (which is not far off in Skye’s case). One thing is for sure: If you have no idea about shooters and precise aiming, you will not be happy in Paladins.
On the next page, we will discuss the talent system of Paladins.
