In 2003 a relatively unassuming custom scenario map called "Defense of the Ancients" was created for Warcraft 3 by a map editor working under the alias "Eul". Defense of the Ancients, now known by its more common sobriquet 'DOTA' (pronounced Dough-tah), was based off a similar Star Craft scenario called 'Aeon of Strife' and revolved around two teams of up to five 'hero' characters battling each other for experience and money alongside AI controlled minions. However it was later developers Steve Feak and the reclusive IceFrog that would truly shape the hit modification that DOTA became, creating an enormous online community and fanatical following. DOTA's combination of team play, skill, and single unit micromanagement proved to be a compelling and popular experience.
However DOTA was not without its flaws. A steep learning curve and the mechanical limitations of War Craft 3 itself led to a great deal frustration for first time players and a degree of stagnation and insularity in the community, resulting in a famously troll filled online playerbase. DOTA players became as infamous for nastiness as Xbox Live gamers were for profanity happy 'tweens, and an inexperienced player could completely lose the match for their team resulting in not a few racial epithets and vulgarities aimed at the new player. So the race was on for something that captured the fast paced competitive strategy of DOTA without the drawbacks or steep learning factor. Enter League of Legends, a so called "DOTA Clone" created by Riot Games, a team built out of some of the key creative minds behind the original DOTA.
In League of Legends barebones story, the player is one of many Summoners working for the Institute of War. Following centuries of disastrous and world wrecking magical warfare, the most powerful mages of Runeterra put their collective feet down, forcing an end to open warfare and instead channeling those hostile intentions through staged mock battles, where magically summoned champions would do battle on behalf of various countries. Each character has a snippet of lore fleshing out their various personalities and alignments, and while admittedly a flimsy set up, it's nice that they took the effort for those that actually care about that sort of thing.
The in game shop has been greatly streamlined and organized in League of Legends over DOTA
Mechanics wise, League of Legends doesn't fool around with the formula laid down by DOTA. Characters are split into various demographics based on their abilities and statistics. Some are good at burst damage or nukes, others are tanks, and others still are better as support teammates behind the front lines of combat. These attributes are mixed and matched over fifty different champions, giving players a dizzying array of options when it comes to how they want to play the game. Adding even more depth is the inventory and shop system, which helpfully displays suggested items for your character based on their different skills. Each character has three basic abilities that can be leveled up to 5, an ultimate that goes up to 3, and a passive that stays with you throughout the game and may or may not level as you play. Combat itself involves controlling a single character on a team of up to four other players, each working together alongside AI controlled cannon fodder units called 'creeps' to defeat the other team by destroying their base and its primary building with a combination of skill, teamwork, battlefield feints to draw the other team into a disadvantage position. New to League of Legends is brush, pieces of terrain that block vision and allow a player to hide from view inside them, adding a wrinkle to sneak attacks and chases alike.
Gameplay is both brisk and sedate all at once. Games can last upwards of an hour, and the initial ten to fifteen minutes often consist of inconclusive sparring and creep farming as both teams work quickly to level up their champions and purchase new gear before serious PVP begins in earnest. Once the momentum of combat gets going however, game play picks up substantially. During a match you can expect the momentum to swing back and forth wildly as players maneuver, gank, and counter-gank each other in attempts to blow out the other team and ravage their bases while the enemy is on their respawn timers. Curb-stomp battles are rare thanks to a great matchmaking system, but they do occasionally occur so an option to surrender becomes available about 25 minutes into a game. Expect to devote that much time or more every time you start a match, because leavers are much reviled, and slightly punished by a built in punitive system.
Masteries and Runes add passive bonuses to your character
Layered on top of all of this is the summoner meta-game, an RPG like system that allows you to develop your statistics and play style over time. Each game nets you a certain amount of experience points and influence points. Experience points allows your summoner identity to level up, and as you level up you gain mastery points and access to new spells. Mastery Points allow you to gradually unlock a summoner skill tree of sort, which lend tiny passive benefits to your character, whereas spells are special abilities you can assign to your character (up to 2). These spells can have a large impact on a game and have varied effects such as area of effect heals or even setting enemy champions on fire. Mitigating their power are extensive cool downs, though certain mastery skills can shorten these cool downs or otherwise improve your spells. Influence points meanwhile are used to purchase rune's, collectibles that you slot to a gradually expanding rune book, bought from League of Legends built in store.
The game itself is entirely free to play - you can download the client online and create an account for no cash investment. Where Riot hopes to make its money is in micro-transactions. A player starts off with all the champions locked and unavailable for use, except for five or six free hero's available for about a week's time. Next week, a different set from the schedule. If a player wishes to keep playing a particular character, he must purchase them either using a great deal of influence points, or by buying and trading Riot points from the games built in store. Also available for purchase are cosmetic character skins that range from simple re-colors to genuinely amusing or interesting, and short term boosts that help you gain more experience or influence points more quickly after a match. Thankfully, runes or other statistic boosting elements cannot be purchased for money and are level dependent, requiring the player to put time into the game rather than just buy their way to level thirty. Boxed sets available in store come with free unlocked champions and bonus riot points for the player to use, but if you so choose and don't mind putting in the time you can play the game entirely for free.
Late game battles can get hectic and confusing, adding to the games learning curve.
One of DOTA's biggest shortcomings was its learning curve, and while League of Legends certainly isn't a beginners game and can take a great deal of effort to master, steps have been taken to alleviate the strain on new players. A tutorial mode is available to teach new players the basics, and a practice game mode has been included that lets the player cut their teeth on a limited selection of AI bots to get a feel for game play. Ultimately though, the only way to really learn is to take the plunge and possibly get owned in the process. Fortunately, the community in League of Legends is far more forgiving then DOTA's, and there is now a swear filter on the in game chat.
Conclusions: League of Legends is a well crafted evolution of the DOTA concept, expanding on it's game play while remaining true to its roots. It's addictive and complex gameplay and accurate matchmaking system make it a good game for DOTA veterans and new players alike, though they should expect a bit of a learning curve. A few opportunities were missed by Riot games, such as built in VOIP to make communication easier, and more maps and game modes. Never the less, what's here is well polished and balanced, and Riot continues to support the game with new champions and other content regularly.
Recommendation: Try it. It's free to play, so if you like it you can sink some money into it. You'll find it to be one of the most highly polished free to play games on the market, easily on par with other buyable games. With a high replay and fun factor, strategy fans will find it a good investment.
8.5/10
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