Thursday 26 January 2012

Excited for Dota 2

DotA [Defense of the Ancients], a custom scenario for Warcraft III. If you don't know anything about it you can find the official website here:

Anyway, while this game is quite a distinctive community asset; it's direct sequel Dota 2 is soon to come out for PC. As a result many of the people [me included] have an urge to get our hands on this game. What makes it better is that the company behind it's development is Valve. Which can only possibly mean that the game will be great almost no matter what. And form what I've heard from the closed beta testers; this game does not disappoint.

Since we're on the topic of these style of games, commonly known as MOBA [Dota-Genre]; let's have a little chat of the other clones or branch offs of the original map. First there's all the hero war maps available in Warcraft II along with DotA. Of course, these are lesser known and tend to be of lesser quality & polish. However they appeal to the audience of lesser than competitive play. There's also some unique abilities and heroes in these less optimized maps.

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Let's first talk about the most well known branch off: LoL or more commonly known as League of Legends.


What this title does that the others did not is revamp the stats. Rather than keeping the original base stats of agility, strength and intelligence. They are simply removed and all the items and hero levels simply increases the base stats of the hero (AP [ability power], AD [Attack Damage], Armor, MR [Magic Resist], Health and Mana, Health Regen, Mana Regen.). All the items in this game simply increases on or more of these stats. For example, Ruby Crystal increases your base health by 180 hitpoints. There's also three designated starter items, all of which are named with a Doran prefix. Doran's ring, Doran's blade, and Doran's Shield. All of which are probably meant to replace bracer, etc.. from DotA.

Pros:

  • Free to play.
  • A less steep learning curve.
  • More players and higher popularity guarantees games.
  • Refreshing concept on a traditional play style.
Cons:
  • Community is usually harsh or seem to have mental problems [True with most MOBAs]
  • Lots of re connection glitches
  • I personally hate runes & masteries. [Play more get advantage, lolwut?]
Summary:
I play this game quite a bit considering my friends all play this. However i would enjoy a game or two of HoN every now and then because LoL has it's own infuriating moments. [People dying repeatedly to Tryndamere (people get money for kills, thus this is coined the term 'feeding') Essentially how people are called or are noobs.]

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Further down the branch we see HoN or better known as Heroes of Newerth.


Honestly if you're looking for a DotA replacement, you've essentially found your game (of course DotA 2 will take this spot once it actually comes out). Same to similar heroes? Check. Same to similar items? Check. Same map structure? Check Identical creeps? Check. This game just delivers for full on DotA content. It's basically DotA refined, better graphics, has servers, matchmaking, full on client and a bunch of other stuff like new maps etc... A great trait of this game is basically how much it touches it's roots. If you can't get enough of DotA, try this one out as well. [Especially since it became free to play (I bought my copy back in the day!)].

Pros:

  • Almost mirror game play of original DotA.
  • Optimized reconnection, replays, controls and maps. [Yeah those 'everywhere' hotkeys are no more!]
  • Beautiful graphics, with great optimization. [Basically so beautiful without using too much power]
Cons:
  • As usual a community is mostly full of tards and douche bags which automatically label you as noob no mater what you are currently doing, right or wrong.
  • Extremely steep learning curve
  • LOOOOOOOOOOONG queue times [I once queued for 20+ minutes! ]
Summary:
While this game can be heavily enjoyable and quite entertaining, it's community causes the game to drag. As well as the fact that the lack of high popularity of the game due to their early choice of making this game retail rather than free to play resulted in a respectable, but lower fanbase that that of LoL causes this game to take ages to find an appropriate match for you to participate in.


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We've covered the well known MOBAs now lets talk about those [mostly] obscure games that are lesser known and or are unavailable to some parts of the world.

First: SotIS, or better known as, Storm of the Imperial Sanctum.
This is just like DotA, if only in the respect of the fact that it's another custom scenario for another Blizzard RTS game; Starcraft 2: Wings of Liberty. While this game is enjoyable, it has it's own downfalls. I fell that the map is a little too small and the item and shop system could be enormously improved. Also because it lacks it's own client etc.. It lacks a matchmaking system and re connection. However I do give props to the impressive use of triggers for the skills. he gameplay is smooth and fluid and feels wonderful to play.

Pros:
  • Fluid based gameplay
  • Better community than similar MOBAs
Cons:
  • Difficult to understand shop system
  • Steep learning curve
  • No matchmaking

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I put this in here because of it's slowly, but steadily rising fanbase. While it is not a traditional MOBA or even necessarily is a MOBA, it borrows elements off of MOBA combat etc. Basically in this game you control a hero (derr?) and of which you have 7 abilities. Of which are used/controlled using the following keys: Q, E, left/right mouse clicks, spacebar, R and F. Traditionally Q, E,left/right mouse clicks typical contain most of the damage dealing moves. Q also often hold a disabling/debuffing spell as well. E and R are often used for defensive or support abilities. Spacebar is used for the displacement ability[teleporting, flash, blink, etc...]. And finally f is your ultimate, often a heavily damaging and or disabling ability. Which can be sued when your energy bar is full. You gain energy from attacking and dealing damage. Also at 50% energy Q and E have powered up abilities called EX moves are hotkeyed to Z and X. Which are often much more potent then Q and E. Almost all the abilities are skill based aiming.


Pros:
  • Very fast paced gameplay.
  • Really good community.
  • Requires almost all skill. No random based elements.
  • Pits you right into the action.
Cons:
  • Steep learning curve
  • Ridiculously hard to gain bloodcoins
  • Some unimaginative bloodlines. [Igniter for example (hurr durr durr, I shoot fireballs and make more fire!!!!!]
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Etcetera: Things I'm not in a position to compare:
Realm of the Titans [RotT] and Rise of Immortals [RoI]

I cannot possibly review RotT, because I'm not going to bother play it. While it may be good it's in Chinese and it's servers are in Asia. From what I heard however, it has good reviews.

I also do not want to review Rise of Immortals, it has a terrible review from my friends and from what I've hear it is very mediocre. However, feel free to argue against it.

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After a splurge of text, you may see my need to play this new fangled game known as DoTA 2, not only is it receiving positive reviews from every corner of the internet, it's also led by the current developer of the DotA map, Icefrog.

Also to summarize my review:
LoL: 8/10
HoN: 8.5/10
SotIS: 7/10
BC: 7/10
DotA: 8/10

I would greatly appreciate followers; and please comment on your own opinions; such because they are opinions you may still be able to overturn my opinion in your favor.

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