
Thunder AND games (WARNING: Thunder may not be included). Matchmaking could still use a bit of improvement, though, as matches can often take well over five minutes to find.Yet again, PlayStation Plus is bringing the thunder in January, as announced on PlayStation Blog.

There were far fewer disconnects and lag problems in my games, and there was never a loss of in-game currency as a result of being dropped from a game. It seems that many of the technical problems have been solved, as well. Plus, all the characters and maps look super sharp on PC monitors, further proving that the art style is an excellent adaptation of the classic fantasy series. Sure, the screens tend to be smaller, but the closer viewpoint and higher resolution allow for a greater ease of understanding of the complicated map and stat screens. Where I had a problem with the messy UI when playing on a TV, things made a lot more sense on a computer monitor. Trail of destructionSome things are improved on PC, however. It’s essentially a twin-stick shooter, and both moving and aiming with a mouse can feel clumsy and lead to frustration. Rather than single-target attacks like many MOBAs, Guardians emit a cone or column of damage, which are aimed with the right stick. Now, you could play GOME with a mouse and keyboard, but because of its console origins, the experience is better with a controller in hand. PC-exclusive Guardian skins are also available, giving each of the 36 combatant a new, alternate look - for a price. The horde-like Survival mode makes an appearance, too. Content-wise, the PC port collects all the DLC from the console release, including the 14 extra Guardians, as well as the Shire and Mirkwood map skins.


Without the flexibility of being able to change your items on the fly in game (buffs are chosen, loadout style, before every match) or a ranking system, GOME is more of a quick and fun experience that can be played in under 20 minutes, with the unique addition of a match timer. Thus, players looking for a competitive experience won’t find it here. Without any of the other things to worry about, GOME doesn’t feel so much simplistic as streamlined, choosing to focus on a consistent amount of action rather than the slow, tactical experience that can come from other games. Gone are some of the more nuanced attributes of MOBAs like last-hitting AI-controlled enemies for gold, leaving just the core elements of the genre: Brawling with other characters in order to get more powerful and destroy the other team’s base.
