Demigod

by Stardock

Product Features

• PC game combines elements of Real-Time Strategy and Adventure Role-Playing Game Genres
• Zoom in and out to fight individual battles or manage the war effort
• Hundreds of items and upgrades to purchase and acquire
• Choose between unique demigods that have different special skills and powers
• Multiplayer mode lets you set up quick matches or play in tournaments

Product Details

• Shipping: This item is also available for shipping to select countries outside the U.S.
• ASIN: B001N1C1J8
• Item Weight: 6.9 ounces
• Media: DVD-ROM
• Release Date: April 14, 2009
• Average Customer Review: 3.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (50 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #17,742 in Video Games (See Top 100 in Video Games)
  • #10 in Video Games > PC Games > Strategy > Turn-Based

Product Description

Edition: Standard

Amazon.com Product Description

For gamers who love Real-Time Strategy (RTS) and Action Role-Playing Games (RPGs), Demigod offers a unique hybrid that brings new fun for fans of both genres. In order to become a god, you'll have to master two types of game play: building up a hero for single battles and controlling armies for an entire war.

Level up your character and gain new skills and weapons. View larger.

Strategically command an army of allies to victory. View larger.

The Best of Two Genres: Real-Time Strategy and Action RPG
Demigod allows you to control two types of demigods -- generals and assassins. When playing as an assassin, you'll have control of a warrior who gains experience and money as he kills enemies. You'll have the ability to upgrade weapons and items, and to learn spells, just like in an action RPG.

When playing as a general, you'll control allied forces, commanding them to attack where you want, just like in an RTS game. Allied creeps and minions continually enter through reinforcement portals, and as the general you direct them into battle.

The goal is the same whether you are playing as assassin or general: capture the enemy's control points. Each different general and assassin has his own unique set of skills and powers, and you'll need to learn how to use each one effectively against another.

Zoom in and out to see individual fights or the whole war. View larger.

Fantastic Graphics and Beautiful Art Style
Demigod features a beautiful art style that has a sense of whimsy. The game takes place on different maps, each featuring unique elements. Beautiful, exotic locations include a lava mine, waterfall temple, and more.

The monsters and creatures of the game are rendered in great detail, and observing a mass of them engage in battle is a thrilling spectacle. Angels, demons, and creatures both gigantic and tiny all inhabit the world at the same time, giving it a diverse and varied look. By zooming in and out of the map, you can see just how massive everything is. From a birds-eye view, you'll barely be able to see the movements of the small creatures, yet zoom in and you'll be a part of an epic battle. Depending on whether you're playing as a general or assassin, you'll make different use of the zoom levels.

Different game play Modes Provide Replay Value
Demigod has different game play modes including single-player, skirmish, and five-on-five multiplayer. Single player mode provides a compelling story line concerning the tournament to become the newest god.

Multiplayer mode provides many options: you can jump right into a game for instant gratification, or you can join in tournaments that allow you to carefully build up a character and upgrade him to your liking. Multiplayer games have different settings for players to tweak, such as the amount of gold income and achievement items that can be reached.

	System Requirements
	Minimum	Recommended
OS	Windows XP Service Pack 3 or Vista Service Pack 1
Processor	1.8 GHz	3.0 GHz
Memory	512 MB	1 GB
DirectX Version	9.0c+
Video	128 MB gfx card (GeForce 6800/Radeon 9800 or better)	256 MB gfx card (GeForce 7600/Radeon x800 or better)
Internet	Broadband connection for Online-Multiplayer

Product Description

Revolutionary strategy/RPG hybrid that combines the character building of a role-playing game with the epic battles of a real-time strategy game. Choose one of nearly a dozen unique demigods each with their ownspecial skills, powers, and capabilities. Battle your way into the pantheon of the gods in a persistent singleplayer or multiplayer universe. Wage massive, earth-shattering battles across a series of awe-inspiring arenas. Seize key, strategic positions on the map and turn the tide against your enemy as you assail the enemy demigod's stronghold. Watch your demigod grow in power as they gain experience, level up, and brush aside hordes of enemy minions. One of the most eagerly anticipated games of the year with stunning graphics, seamless multiplayer, and compelling single-player experiences.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

39 of 44 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Accurate Review of Demigod, April 16, 2009

By 

Verkinix - See all my reviews

= Fun:5.0 out of 5 stars 

This review is from: Demigod (DVD-ROM)

Demigod has been receiving a lot of overly positive and negative reviews due to various factors. I am writing to set a few things straight from my experiences since the games release.

Graphics: 9.5/10 Top notch graphics that run decently on moderate machines, but a few very minor glitches here and there.
Gameplay: 9/10 Very fun, fast paced, strategy oriented with RPG elements.
Sound: 10/10 Music and sound effects are phenomenal.
UI/Controls: 8.5/10 Menu UI needs a bit of help, but controls are simple and intuitive.
Multiplayer: Currently 5/10, but once servers are fully operational 8/10.
Ease of Use (Install & Play): 7/10 until a few more patches are released.
Online Bugs: Currently 3/10 as about 30% of people are able to play fine. These will be fixed over time, but for now it is as it is.
Engine Bugs: 9/10 (very few issues once a match is going)
Balance: 9/10 Surprisingly well balanced for a release.

It is important to note that this game is NOT single player based and does not claim to be. It has single player tournament and skirmish modes (which act like a tutorial), but the game is meant as a multi-player experience.

Some back story on the release of this game is needed in order to gain some perspective on why the online experience suffers in its infancy. Stardock (publisher) had orders with multiple retailers. One of which was Gamestop. Gamestop asked Stardock if they could release Demigod before the street date release. Stardock said no and in response, Gamestop cut their orders by 2/3rds. Further, Gamestop broke release date anyway which resulted in a fair number of people having the game 5 days earlier then expected (over a holiday weekend no less). So Stardock has been playing catchup ever since. To make matters worse, pirates have been overloading their servers by attempting to log into them causing massive slow down for everyone.

Now yes these are the companies problems to have to deal with, but Stardock has been phenomenal in dealing with these issues AND keeping the customer base informed. These issues are, in fact, only temporary so the games quality and review should not be negatively impacted by opening week jitters.

So, long story short, this is an excellent online multi-player strategy game that has a few release problems that are temporary and being worked on. It is not a single player game any more then unreal tournament, Left 4 Dead, or a whole slue of other games that focus on multi-player while having single player elements.

If you like well balanced, fun, strategy games, you will like this game. Do not count its currently online state against the game as all current issues are temporary due to unforeseen problems and unethical behavior on the parts of certain retailers and people who are not purchasing the game.

Overall Demigod is a great strategy game and weaves RPG elements into its matches nicely.

10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Spectacular and addictive multiplayer, April 20, 2009

By 

Terry Mesnard (Bellevue, NE) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

= Fun:5.0 out of 5 stars 

This review is from: Demigod (DVD-ROM)

Understand one thing up front: Demigod is not a single player game. Sure, there is a single player skirmish mode that pits you against the computer; but Demigod is not a single player game. Those of you looking for a game in the same vein as Dungeon Siege (also by the same creator), move along, there's nothing to see here. Go ahead. I'll wait. Alright, the rest of you still with me? Good. Let's move on.

Demigod will remind Warcraft 3 players of Defense of the Ancients (DotA), which is the intent. It's basically a single-minded game that wants to recreate that experience with fantastic graphics and sound, superb characters and that magical something that creates an addicting game. But let's back up a bit. When you first start playing Demigod, you will choose one of eight characters broken into two categories (General and Assassin) and then fight in one of eight arenas with the intent of decimating the other side.

The two groups of characters classify the type of character and how you'll play the game. Generals play like a small RTS-lite, giving you the ability to purchase totems of varying strength to summon a small force (two of each minion type for a max of six). The Generals aren't as strong physically and usually augment their minions, relying on them to do the most damage. On the other side of the spectrum, Assassins play like a Warcraft RPG hero. You don't get any minions, but then again you won't necessarily need them.

Each of the characters play so differently and I've yet to discover a character I don't like. Whether it's Lord Erebus, a vampire who can turn dead enemies into extra minions to augment his six, Oak, a tall hulking tree-like thing that can place standards to attract souls and heal his allies, or Torchbearer, an assassin who has two forms (ice and fire) with which to rain down destruction on his foes, there's a lot to love here. Each character has its own strategy and way of attacking. When I was playing as Lord Erebus, I tended to stay in the back, directing minions and making new ones as needed. However, when I played the similar Oak, I would try to get in on the action as my killing would heal myself and my minions.

During each fight, you can purchase upgrades for your character (items, potions, armor) and at the end of a match you gain favor points with which you can purchase lasting items. During each match, you can equip an already purchased "Favor Item" that will stay with you and which you can keep from map to map. As you kill enemies, you'll also game experience points and level up (to a max of 20). Like similar games, you have skill trees that you can put points into various skills, unlocking them and powering them up. What's good about this system is that there's really no wrong way of leveling. Each skill is useful and you can find fun and entertaining ways of combining the skills into effective combos.

Once you get into a match, you'll probably feel overwhelmed. I know I was, not knowing what to purchase, how to play or what I should be doing. This is where the single player mode comes in handy. Basically, the intent behind the matches is to capture flag points that provide bonuses (extra money, experience boosts, cooldown benefits) and eventually destroy the other side's citadel. The eight maps are broken down into sizes, giving you some idea about how many players per map you should have (anywhere from 2v2 to 5v5). While the arenas seem very standard, they do a good job in creating a different play style. Two of the 3v3 maps are completely different, with one being very open and the other very small, forcing battles constantly.

What I wasn't prepared for was just how beautiful the game looks and sounds. Demigod is built on a strong engine that can really output great visuals, effects and huge clashing armies with nary a stutter. There's been a problem off and on with online connections (a lot due to pirates in the beginning, but that problem has been lessened after a day two patch) but it's getting better I've noticed.

It's still not perfect and if you're holding off on buying the game because of the issues, know that Stardock is working to have it fixed by this week. In the meantime, the developers at Stardock are trying to provide other ways of playing. They recommend using a free third party program called GameRanger which acts like Impulse/Steam and allows you to play Demigod with friends. I've used it and it is a good work around until the issues with Impulse have been fixed. I bring it up as an option for those wanting to play with friends.


Overall, the music demands the spotlight. You might not recognize it right away, but it's there, adding to the chaotic spells and often funny mutterings (Torchbearer: "Would you like that well done or with a little pink?"). However, once you start to push towards the enemy's citadel, the music gets more and more majestic, feeding into your attacks. On the reverse, if you are losing, the music takes a drastic turn and I found it put me on edge, feeding into my adrenaline. It's very exciting and beautiful.

In the end, Demigod would be lacking if it weren't for a magic spark: it's addicting. It's hard to describe what the spark is, but you know it when you see it. It's Team Fortress 2's undeniable need to be player. It's Warcraft 3's tower defense that still lives years on. Demigod has it, too. And if enough people buy the game and Gas Powered Games/Stardock supports it, it can definitely have legs for quite sometime. It's great fun and I'd definitely recommend checking it out.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Visually Appealling DoTA on Steroids, May 4, 2009

By 

Daniel J. Eaton Jr. (Beaumont, TX) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

= Fun:5.0 out of 5 stars 

This review is from: Demigod (DVD-ROM)

Demigod is a visually stunning game heavily influenced by the Warcraft III mod "Defense of the Ancients", otherwise known as DoTA or DoTA: Allstars. The similarities between the two are extensive, making Demigod a very fun game to play, especially if you are already a DoTa fan. The heroes have good variety in ability selection, and the game is highly replayable. There are several modes of play but online play gravitates mostly towards "conquest", where the goal is to destroy the opposing team's "base", the citadel. Graphics are top notch and large-scale battles are a joy to behold. Single player is really non-existent, by design. The problems are coming from online play. Demigod is made to be played by online multiplayer, which is extremely buggy. Many players cannot successfully join matches. A lot of time is wasted waiting for players with speedy connections to complete a session. The game will freeze and crash upon multiple failed connections. Once a session has begun, it runs smoothly with intermittent lag when a player drops. For a game where multiplayer is not only the main but the SOLE focus, this is inexcuseable. Documentation is also non-existent; I get the impression with many recent console and computer games that this is typical. I feel somewhat confident that with time the bugs will be patched, but until then only 3 stars for failure with the game's most vital component. The longevity of Demigod may also depend on the success or failure of "League of Legends: Clash of Fates" by the former developer of DoTA.

***UPDATE 5/11/2009 If there was a documentation pamphlet, I missed it. A printed ability tree would be useful for each Demigod. Otherwise, the controls aren't difficult to figure out. I still can't figure out if there are equivalents to Warcraft III commands, like "attack move", "halt" , or shift-assigning a series of chain commands. The demigods just don't seem to respond as well as heroes in DoTA or other RTS games. As far as I can tell, personal minions are auto-assigned into groups accessed by the "8", "9", and "0" key.

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