Gamplay: 4.0
Characters: 3.8
Setting: 3.0
Overall: 4.0
Yes, I have been enraptured by the phenom that is known as League of Legends, which has recently usurped WoW as the most played PC game. This RTS affair allows a player to take control of a champion, commanding them around as one would dictate a soldier in advance wars. You are paired with 4 other live players to systematically destroy the turrets and infrastructure of the enemies' base, while simultaneously defending your base from 5 other champions who are trying to do the same to your base. What it can make for is a frantic 45 minute rush to level up your champion, using ploys and feints to take that slight lead that will allow you to come out on top in the end. Clearly this game was successful, but why it's so successful is a harder question to answer. The answer lies with the well executed system that can cater to both new and experienced players.
The New Player's experience
League of Legends is a game that is easily accessible to new players. Ironically enough, I'd suggest that new players forgo the tutorial system and just jump right into a PvP game. When you begin your first match, you start within the heart of your base with the item shop directly next to you. The shop even tells you recommended builds (item selections) for your character that are helpful for beginners (completely useless when facing more experienced players). The mechanics of the game are incredibly simple as well. Right click to move your character and left click to do specific spells. A player is introduced with the choice of picking a spell in the very beginning, forcing any sensible player to read through all the spells a champion can cast. Eventually you'll gain access to all 4 spells, making the need to read through all of them invaluable. Also, the fact that these four spells remain constant as you level up, make it so that new players don't ever feel overwhelmed. As you continue to get more experienced you'll be turned to new tactics, but you can always be assured that everything will go into bolstering your ability to use those 4 spells.
Experienced Players' feast
Experienced players need two things to find a game worthwhile: considerable power increases and knowledge based skill. Luckily, League of Legends delivers on both of these fronts. As you go up levels in the game you are given "mastery points" that mimics the talent tree in World of Warcraft. Levels are earned simply through playing. Mastery points can be reset at any time, allowing you to cater your advantages to the particular champion you want to use (i.e. if you're using a magic dps type like Veigar, using your mastery to improve mana regeneration would significantly improve your performance in the game). When it comes to knowledge based skill, tactics and strategy can be the difference between a W and a crushing last minute defeat. Beginners tend to charge into enemy territory just to find themselves decimated at the unforgiving hands of the turret. More experienced players know: which characters should go on what lane, which champions do best against other champions, what stats need to be buffed through armor and when is the appropriate time to gank, push and so forth. If all of that stuff sounds foreign to you, don't worry. Playing through PVP will give you the opportunity to meet plenty of experienced players that will be more than willing to explain strategy to you. Experienced players do this because it helps give them the best chance to win the match.
Cool Shit
But everything I described above is pretty much the "how to guide" for these kind of games. Nobody wants a game that doesn't both cater to experienced and new players. League of Legends is awesome because of the sheer amount of cool shit they put into it. I'm going to list it for ya because I don't see anyway to logically weave it into a paragraph
- Purchasable content necessary for gameplay can be earned through gameplay
- 100 different champions to choose from
- These champions are cycled, giving you a chance to play them before you buy them
- Awesome Skins for your champion
- Those awesome youtube videos that make the game seem like a sporting event
- The ping system that allows you to verbalize and annoy the shit out of your teammates
- The secret to eternal life
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| Gotta love this little guy (Veigar) |
Seriously, this is a fun game. Try it out. It's free. If you're afraid that it'll be too addicting then I suggest you prohibit playing it during the school year. Otherwise, I'll take the mid with you any day.
For anyone who wants to add me as a friend my username is: Ablindleader. Feel free to add me, just be sure to tell me you read the blog .
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