By Katey Khaos

Showcased at PAX East 2012, Smite proved to be one of the most anticipated games of the year. The game is still in alpha testing, but will be going into beta testing this fall, so be sure to keep an eye out for it. In the meantime, allow me to explain why Smite will be giving DoTA a run for its money.

Smite is a free-to-play online battleground amongst gods. Players can choose from a selection of mythical Gods, join session-based arena combat, and use custom team tactics against other player-controlled as well as NPC minions.

Yes, the game was inspired by DoTA, but Hi-Rez Studios have taken this style game to a whole new level with one simple modification ~ the camera angle. Instead of being above all the action, like in DoTA, Smite puts players directly in the fights. The creators of Smite have opted to use a third-person camera and WASD controls, making the player feel more immersed in this style of game than ever before.

This seemingly small change of the camera angle makes the gameplay completely different. With the camera now locked behind your character, scanning all over the map is no longer possible. Therefore, if you lose track of an enemy, there is no way to see where it went or if it’s about to attack you or a team mate. This means that communication is more important than ever.

The new camera angle also breathes new life into the typical skills and abilities characters have to offer. When playing as Ymir, an icy deity, one of her skills produces a wall of ice (similar to Anivia’s ability in League of Legends). However, unlike Anivia’s wall, which is used to block a path, Ymir’s wall is used for visibility purposes, and is capable of hiding allies. The downside, just like Anivia’s wall blocking allies in a team right, is that Ymir’s wall can also block allies’ views.

Ambushing characters is also completely different with a new camera angle. Looking over your shoulder every now and again becomes a key part of gameplay lest you get ganked. Of course, your heart will be racing in fear that something is behind you at all times, but that’s part of the fun.

Smite looks promising, and for those who are already into DoTA and League of Legends, it’s definitely a game worth checking out.

To check out some gameplay, or to register for the beta testing, visit www.smitegame.com.