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A free to play MOBA where two teams of five duke it out against each other

A free to play MOBA where two teams of five duke it out against each other

Vote: (783 votes)

Program license: Free

Developer: Riot Games

Version: 12.15

Works under: Windows

Vote:

Program license

(783 votes)

Free

Developer

Version

Riot Games

12.15

Works under:

Windows

Pros

  • Extremely big list of characters
  • Network play is loaded with other people
  • Numerous upgrades
  • Multiple game modes

Cons

  • Limited number of maps
  • Controls could be more intuitive
  • High system requirements

League of Legends is a massive multiplayer online game that puts players right in the middle of a chaotic battle arena. It's essentially a continuation of a fan-made mod for another game. This unique aspect of its development has allowed League to break out of the stereotypes associated with these kinds of games and embrace an off-beat sense of humor you don't normally find in the world of online gaming.

Many players are going to be attracted to the game primarily because of the vast array of creative characters they can pick to be in the game. There are nearly 150 different ones to choose from, and the developers are constantly rolling out new options on a regular basis. The game has several different ways to divvy up these characters, which can make it easier for newcomers to find a favorite based on their own personal style.

The biggest difference between them is the type of damage that a champion deals. Certain champions utilize physical attacks that are often devastating to magicians but are resisted by those who wear armor. Magic users are resistant to sorcery, but they're in turn weak against a physical onslaught. Gamers are going to have to use more strategic thinking to overcome these weaknesses than people would have normally needed in these kinds of games.

Riot classified champions into one of several different categories. The most common are Attack Damage Carriers, which are sometimes called Marksman. They deal physical damage over time. You're also likely to run into a large number of mages. If you ever hear someone talk about an ability power character, then they're actually talking about a mage who has the ability to cast extremely destructive spells.

Slayers are champions who are fast enough to kill a champion very quickly. Players usually have to get into melee range if they want to use one, which makes for a very interesting style of gameplay. That being said, all of the game's slayer characters have fairly weak defensive stats once someone gets close enough to take them on so anyone who wants to select one has got to be quick.

Standard tank characters, like those found in most battle arena games, are quickly becoming popular with those who come over from another title. Fighters are also starting to attract more of a following, though it's still rare to see people employing them at the highest level. That being said, you're likely to run into more and more masters of these dangerous characters.

Controller characters are perhaps the most unique, though they're also among the most difficult to play effectively. All champions with the controller flag have skills that are meant to aid the rest of their team. They're a lot like the support characters you might find in other games, but with some pretty important differences. Players that use a controller character can often buff their allies or debuff the opposing team. They're also able to provide healing and disable single targets whenever they run into certain situations.

While there are technically four maps to choose from when playing League of Legends, in practice you're only allowed to select two of these. The other two were once more commonly used by those engaging in certain types of network play, but the game has generally locked players out of them in most circumstances. Gamers will generally find themselves instead in the Summoner's Rift.

This is by far the most popular map for League players. It provides enough space for two different teams of five players, who are working together to destroy an enemy building known as a Nexus. Each Nexus is guarded by an opposing team who can man a variety of defensive structures that include a collection of turrets as well as towers.

Every structure is capable of spawning non-player combatants known as minions, who are able to advance toward an opposing base along three predetermined paths. When they finally do get into a base, they can start to cause damage to enemy structures and limit another team's ability to provide much in the way of offense.

Players are constantly competing against one another to see how can advance more these waves into their opposing bases. The three different paths they take form a bottom, top and middle lane. Between these lanes lies a series of neutral areas that are generally referred to as the jungle, which is split into four quadrants. There's a small river that divides the map, though you'll find that it doesn't really impede your progress the way you'd think it would. Every champion can wade through it and they move just as fast as they do on dry land, so it's more of window dressing than anything.

All of these lanes also includes an inhibitor that players can attack after a team has destroyed the turrets that guard it. By destroying this additional structure, players can be sure that their allies Nexus will start spawning more powerful minions that provide a sizable buff to those around them. Inhibitors respawn after around five minutes of wall-clock time.

A number of the objectives on this map are neutral, so they're not going to attack champions who just happen to pass by. You're able to attack them if you want to get a reward at the cost of making your objectives harder, however. Jungle monsters, for instance, are neutral and usually won't do anything if you just walk passed them. They provide players with extra gold and XP points if you take them out, however. These monsters are by far the most common neutral objectives you're going to find.

Baron Nashor, on the other hand, is a powerful neutral enemy who is almost always found on the upper side of the river. He'll spawn after around 20 minutes of wall-clock time, and replace another enemy known as the Rift Hearld. If you're able to kill Baron Nashor, then your team automatically receives a major buff that makes your nearest minions more powerful. Nashor himself will respawn after a few minutes have elapsed, however, so your opposition may get a chance to do the same time.

The Rift Herald is present at the same location whenever Nashor isn't there. If you kill it, then you're able to summon it later on to act as a battering ram whenever you try to take out your enemy's towers. While the Rift Herald wasn't able to respwan for the longest time, the developers finally patched the game so it sometimes will now. If it does, then it only gets one shot at doing so before getting replaced with Baron Nashor.

Once in a while, you'll come across a match that's contested on the Howling Abyss map instead. It's exclusively used for All Random All Mid or ARAM matches, which means that' it's only ever going to host two teams of five champions each. This map features a single narrow line of turrets as well as an inhibitor without any neutral jungle area between the two bases.

Players aren't going to be able to return to their allied base on these maps, which makes them rather challenging since that means they won't be abled to replenish their health or mana levels without getting fragged. In fact, they won't even be able to purchase items unless they're fragged first.

Crystal Scar Dominion maps aren't common any longer, since the developer officially retired them. They also retired Twisted Treeline games, which certainly made some long-time players a little upset. That being said, the core gameplay offers more than enough challenge for most players to dedicate plenty of time to.

Mastering all of those champions is nearly impossible, so most people will probably want to focus on a single one. Getting to the highest level of play will provide plenty of interest itself, so you shouldn't find yourself getting bored anytime soon.

Pros

  • Extremely big list of characters
  • Network play is loaded with other people
  • Numerous upgrades
  • Multiple game modes

Cons

  • Limited number of maps
  • Controls could be more intuitive
  • High system requirements

Pros

  • Detailed, Engaging Content
  • Beginner's Training
  • Updates Frequently

Cons

  • Unpredictable Online Player Behavior
  • Microtransaction 'Rune' System

League of Legends is an online multiplayer video game that pits one group of five players against another in a battle arena setting. The object is to destroy the enemy's base before the other team destroys your own base. It combines elements of role-playing games with real-time strategy games, and the result is action-packed and quick-paced. The game is free to play, and it's surprisingly deep considering the cost.

Other games in this multiplayer online battle arena format, or MOBA, have attempted to keep up with League of Legends, but the game has breached over 40 million players every month, which puts it in benchmark status without a doubt.

The most-played game type in League of Legends is hands down the 5v5 base control mode. This game type includes a single round that lasts for about 40 minutes, and you can't leave the game without it counting as a loss.

One of the most unique features of League of Legends is that it's fairly accessible to new players. This is difficult for this game type that often requires direct in-game experience to know how to react in different scenarios. To combat this problem, League of Legends uses a complex AI system for training, and the matchmaking system ensures players of similar skill are matched against each other.

Communication is a key factor in League of Legends, which makes it one area where teams usually lose a step. Of course, with the high-tension feel of the game, some players lose the ability to efficiently communicate and instead become annoyed or frustrated. It's not uncommon to see people yelling at each other through the text chat system.

One system that feels like a huge flaw in the game is the Rune system. In short, this system allows the player to purchase add-ons for their character that increase strength and other stats. This is all well and good for those who don't mind paying a bit more, but the problem lies with the fact that these super-characters are permitted in the free-to-play matchmaking.

Another slight issue with the game, depending on your point of view, is that it was initially released in 2009 and has yet to see any major graphical update. Character designs and background scenery are also improving, but there are some glaringly obvious disappointments. However, the game is generally pleasant to watch or play from a merely aesthetic standpoint.

It's hard to deny League of Legends the designation of being a classic game. The game perfectly balances role-playing with strategy and action, so each experience is different while maintaining a core of consistency. The content within the game is updated with fair regularity, and while it remains free, you could easily get drawn into spending a lot of your hard-earned real-world currency on the Rune system.

Pros

  • Detailed, Engaging Content
  • Beginner's Training
  • Updates Frequently

Cons

  • Unpredictable Online Player Behavior
  • Microtransaction 'Rune' System