Smite – Nintendo Switch | Review

By Daryl Baxter
| 1st February 2019
| Review, Switch
| 0

The Switch has become an incredible success in the two years since its launch. Given the console’s ease of use and the fact it can be played virtually anywhere, developers have much to thank Nintendo for. It has also become home to some ‘great to look at’ games, that were previously released on other consoles. One such title is ‘Smite’ – the third person MOBA game developed by Hi-Rez Studios.

Originally released in 2014 on Windows, the world of Smite quickly grew, holding its own World Championship in January 2015 – and subsequent events every January since. Now that the game has arrived on the Nintendo Switch, the sudden portability has helped it open up to an even bigger audience.

In Smite you play as a god. This long after its initial release, there’s a huge variety of gods to choose from. The weapons you carry range from a bow and arrow to a sword, and as I like to play as someone with close-attacks, I usually went with ‘Anhur’ and ‘Bellona’, two Gods who are particularly keen on close range weapons.

As your chosen god, you’ll lead your soldiers towards the other team, where you need to either defeat them or lead them to a given location – a portal – on the map, thereby winning the match.

There are six modes available in total, with each offering different gameplay options. These include a range of objectives and certain enemies to defeat, but I found that ‘Conquest’ was one that players went to the most. I suspect mainly it’s due to the fun and impatience you get when you just want to take on the other team with your Phoenixes, Soldiers and Titan, the latter of which is a giant warrior who must be defeated to win the game.

Over time, by winning matches, you can upgrade your weapons and your characters by earning skill points and using them to improve what you have, alongside gems to buy cosmetic items for your Gods.

This is just one aspect of the game that motivates you to keep going and to scratch that itch of ‘just one more go’. While there are so many games in this genre, it’s nice that Smite has enough depth that you just want to keep going for the fun of it.

This is a game mainly played online; matchmaking was incredibly smooth throughout and the waiting time between matches was minimal. There was never any frustration in quitting and trying again.

Smite is generally considered a free-to-play game; however, on Switch it’s more of a closed beta that you can access by paying £25 for the ‘Founders Pack’. Usually, I wouldn’t think this is a good deal, as it’s free to play on other platforms. But when you consider that the ‘starter pack’ allows you to play as all the Gods – both the existing ones and any upcoming ones yet to be released – and gives you 400 gems to build your skin collection, it’s a good deal.

The Switch opens Smite up to more players who just want to have something to play on their commute both to and from work and of course, when they get back home and just want to start a quick game in Conquest, as long as you want to pay for it.

Final Impressions

Since Smite’s release on other platforms in 2014, it has grown to become a well-known MOBA game that you find yourself coming back to. Although the £25 entry-fee may put a lot of new players off, those who give it a shot will find a very fun game with a lot of depth and replayability. Smite will make you want to come back, whether that’s in handheld or docked mode.

*Code kindly provided by the publisher for review*

Developer: Hi-Rez Studios / Publisher: Hi-Rez Studios
Release date: 24/01/2019
Platforms: PS4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch
Platform Reviewed: Nintendo Switch