Monday Night Combat

Xbox 360’s Summer of Arcade is currently going on and yesterday’s release was Monday Night Combat. I figured I’d download the game and give it a try, but I was not expecting it to be nearly as good as it is.

The game essentially plays like a class-based third person shooter, similar to TF2 in many ways, except it throws in an interesting extra element. Each team has various bots, which are computer controlled, that advance forward attacking enemy players and turrets until they can push their way into the enemy base and bring down their objective. This makes it almost feel like a DotA game in some ways. Killing these bots nets you extra money that can be used to purchase upgrades for your character or to build and upgrade turrets around your base.

There are six or so classes: Assault, Tank, Gunner, Sniper, Support, and Assassin. I believe that is all of them, but I might have mixed some of the names up. Each class features a few special abilities, some of which are: the assassin’s ability to cloak, the support being able to heal and drop turrets, and the gunner being able to root himself to the ground and essentially become a giant turret. There are lots more and they give each of the classes a distinct flavor.

I’ve only played for a couple hours, but I’m already hooked.  For an XBLA game it’s amazing. If this game ever comes to PC I’m sure it would be a big hit also.

  • This game is indeed awesome. TF2 meets DOTA would be a perfect description. The things I hated about DOTA is that you controlled your one guy like a traditional RTS, instead of having the freedom to move him around and attack more like an action game. Also, that game is more about your level, and avoiding combat with players at the beginning so you can upgrade your powers. This is more skill based, so you don’t have to avoid real people and shoot the minions right next to them, you can attack at will.

    The maps all feel very similar due to not varying the environments, but they each have a different design.

    If anyone wants to play: GT SportsComedian

  • Add me to your friends list, because I too am hooked. I spent a few hours last night helping a friend level up on the Exhibition season. So much fun!

  • Oh great info guys. I have a buddy coming in town to visit and we need a game to play. I can’t seem to find out if you can play the split screen on line. Can anyone confirm this for me. Much appreciated.

  • Lots of these style games out now. HoN and LoL for the PC too.

    It’s definitely a fun design.

  • @Tim

    “The things I hated about DOTA is that you controlled your one guy like a traditional RTS, instead of having the freedom to move him around and attack more like an action game.”

    Different strokes I guess. MNC has more natural character movement whereas DotA has a better sense of direction thanks to the birds-eye view.

    It’s also worth noting that DotA has quite a few characters that control more than one unit, as well as a couple items that allow you to control more than one unit (Necronomicon for summons, Helm of the Dominator to take control of powerful neutral units, and Manta Style to create copies of yourself).

    “Also, that game is more about your level, and avoiding combat with players at the beginning so you can upgrade your powers. This is more skill based, so you don’t have to avoid real people and shoot the minions right next to them, you can attack at will.”

    Level is definitely important, which is evident in Monday Night Combat as well. Switching classes mid-game after upgrading your class seems like a bad idea to me, unless it’s early in the game and you’ve spent your starting cash on turrets and such instead of personal upgrades.

    As for avoiding players early on in DotA, that depends on what character you are, what character your ally laning with you is (if you have one), and what enemy character(s) you’re facing. Sometimes it’s best to play cautiously and avoid fighting enemy players directly, sometimes it’s best to play aggressively and dominate the lane. Passive play (i.e. zero interaction, directly or indirectly) on both sides of a lane is something you’ll rarely see outside of public games.