Bloodports. TV attempts to blend the MOBA and Tower Defense genres into a coherent whole. The game has been extremely popular on Steam so we’re going to look into why for you today.
Boss fights are easily the best part of the game.
Bloodsports. TV Gameplay
It does deliver on the promise. It combines the individual characters of MOBAs with the waves of powerful enemies you see in a tower defense. All the normal concepts are there from laning to jungling as well. Characters control well and easily allow you to combo skill after skill with your teammates.
The equivalent of Rosh or Baron Nashor.
An extensive selection of items gives you a lot of variety in your builds. However a few really stand out such Ultra Bludgeonizer which gives anyone the ability to stun on their auto attack.
Apocalyptic Atmosphere
Everyone hates everyone else in this game so it’s not really the sort of setting for those who love grand heroics. You play a demented gladiator assigned the task for protecting rockets destined to destroy nearby villages.
The enemies are similarly edgy as well, although some stand out a bit from others such as the one pictured above. We’re not sure what “village” that thing could come from though.
Achievements after each round give you a clear view of your progress.
Extensive Unlocks
As an alternative to the normal level grind there is a huge skill tree known as the Path to Glory.
It’s not quite the same as leveling or putting points in. Instead when you complete achievements such as Revive 25 allies you get +10% attack speed with Medikus. It’s a much better alternative to the normal non-stop grind most PvE games turn into.
Variety is the only major flaw in what is otherwise a really solid game.
Repetition and Bloodsports. TV
The only major shortcoming of the game is variety. The announcer says the same few lines. Once you’ve seen all the enemies there isn’t anything else to discover. After making it to the top levels things can get a bit stale.
Character/Enemy Synergy
Another area where the game shines is in synergy. There are four clear classes you must use together for best effect:
- Slayer deals straight damage and is useful for downing bosses on higher difficulties
- Bruiser soaks damage as the tank
- Regulator stuns enemies and deals serious damage
- Medikus dispenses massive heals and buffs
Enemies have the same sort of setup as well. There are medics, bruisers and slashers which have similar roles to the players. There are also specialist enemies such as the Stonecutter who is there to take out your Bruiser. It all flows really well and the gameplay here is quite enjoyable.
Breakdown
Positives:
- Solid, exciting gameplay mechanics across eight characters
- Interesting level system sets milestones instead of just levels
- An innovative mix of MOBA and tower defense keeps the game interesting
- Difficulty ramps sharply at higher levels, providing a useful challenge
Negatives:
- Waves become a bit repetitive after seeing every enemy
- The Announcer and characters could use more lines
- Maps need some additional variety
- Limited characters (technically 8) hurt some of the replay value
Final Verdict: 4/5 – Bloodsports. TV offers excellent co-op gameplay and an innovative leveling system. While the game needs some polish it’s an excellent choice for a group of friends. At $9.99 on Steam it’s easily worth the price of admission and more.
