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Back when Supervive was known as Project Loki, I was intrigued by how the community described it. A combination between League of Legends, Apex Legends, and even Smash Bros. That shocked me quite a bit. How can a battle royale shooter work in conjunction with a MOBA with Super Smash Bros. mechanics? Well, leave it to Theorycraft to make an amalgam work seamlessly with so many systems together. Supervive is an addictive co-op hero MOBA with battle royale elements that earned the #1 spot on my wishlist ever since I got some hands-on time with it.
During a closed media hands-on session, I was lucky enough to play an early version of Supervive. Accompanied by some of the friendliest developers I’ve met, I grabbed the best-looking waifu and dropped into a duos match in Supervive‘s most dynamic map. At first, I felt pretty overwhelmed. While the community described Supervive as an amalgam of all the other games I described above, I was surprised when I realized it played more like Overwatch. More on that later.
The Most Dynamic MOBA-Like I’ve Played
Once you land, you have the usual LoL-like loop: beat minions, level up, and unlock or upgrade any of your first three skills. However, the gameplay is more fast-paced than the usual MOBA. You can spam your LMB to attack endlessly with your base attack. I picked a sniper, so I was trying to stay far away to land some hits. Once I got my first level, I unlocked my first ability, which, in that sense, is extremely similar to League. Once you have your first skill, it’s up to you to pursue the build you want. In my case, I went with my retreat ability first, which each hunter has, to be able to escape combat faster. My partner, however, unlocked a crowd-control skill first to let us take control of a fight more easily.
In this regard, Supervive is great at allowing players to choose a progression path for each hunter. Whether you want to upgrade your dodge ability first or go wild with your DPS skills, that’s up to you. Furthermore, the game has many items you can grab, which will give you passive or active abilities. During my first run, I grabbed an item that let me heal faster when approaching berry bushes. Then, I found weapons and armor that increased my damage and defense, respectively.
Usually, I feel overwhelmed when making builds in any MOBA-like game. Sometimes, there are so many items that I just go with the recommended options and never delve into that system. But not in here. Supervive streamlines its build options by offering a few yet focused choices in weapons and armor. And while many might think that is lackluster, it isn’t. With limited item slots, each one you equip feels impactful, and even if you see the same hunter on the enemy team, both will play differently.
Speaking of hunters, the variety is great. The roster is already looking superb, but the game hasn’t even launched. Throughout my session, I was only able to try three hunters. Still, each one played completely differently. My first one was a sniper who did a lot of damage from afar and had little mobility. The second one was an assassin-like hunter who was a mix of Sombra and Reaper from Overwatch. And lastly, I grabbed a magician who summoned lightning and electrified enemies with her attacks. Each character provides a unique gameplay style that never gets old, regardless of your build.
The Sandbox Elements Make Each Match Feel Different
Initially, I thought the hunters would be the highlight of my session, but that wasn’t the case. The map was the protagonist of the show. In MOBA or battle royale games, the map is something that can make or break the experience. Supervive‘s stage is another character. Each round, you get different modifiers that affect the match, similar to Helldivers 2. For example, during a match, we saw a train pass by and hopped on it to loot items and fight other teams. I told the developers I liked the train, and in the next match, the GM added a “bullet train” modifier, making this vehicle zoom across the battlefield.
Beyond the modifiers, what really hooked me was how sandbox-y the map felt when exploring. You can find camps to capture that increase your range of vision and allow you to cook your food for better healing effects and repair your armor. In certain areas, there are vaults that are locked behind a lockpicking game. These small details make the map feel alive regardless of how many times you’ve landed on it. Frankly, I never thought all these systems would work together, but they do.
Lastly, I feel it is also important to mention the battle royale elements that are featured in every map, such as the circle that closes after time passes or the extremely welcome ability to revive your partners. Every mechanic makes Supervive the ideal genre mash-up that anyone will like. Plus, and this is me speaking as someone who isn’t a professional in MOBAs, battle royales, or co-op teams, I never felt left behind. The open-ended hero kits, the build flexibility, and the map elements you can use to wreak havoc make this game extremely accessible regardless of your experience.
Supervive’s Genre Mash-Up Is Already A Win
I must admit that at the end of my 3-hour session, I didn’t want to stop playing Supervive. In other games of the many genres, this one combines, I’ve always felt deterred. Whether it is the community, the long road one must tread before catching up to other players, or the mechanics that always get old. But here, I never felt that. Supervive feels fresh at every turn and makes it the most accessible experience one could ask for.
After my hands-on time with the game, I strongly believe it will be one of the most successful mash-ups we’ll have once its open beta launches in late 2024. Furthermore, the developers are pouring their heart into every update they launch for Supervive, so I can see this game climbing the ladder and earning a spot as one of the most-played live services games of recent times. I know I’ll be there grabbing my favorite hunters and exploring this ever-changing map. So, let’s hope that the open beta reaches the digital shelves sooner rather than later.
