Well I don't think now is the time for a review. Clearly, the game is not yet finished, given that the game has only two maps at the moment (one in beta phase) and that the Runes gameplay feature is still a "work in progress." Giving it a review right now will be unfair for the developers seeing how this Warcraft DotA clone shows much promise.
It's again downloading updates right now (a VERY good sign) so I can't play this free PC multiplayer strategy game. What with my shift coming up, I might as well sit down and write about my first impressions.
The impressions and download links after the jump.
League of Legends: Clash of Fates is a free-to-play real-time strategy game that is being developed by Riot Games. Part of the dev team are Steve "Guinsoo" Feak and Steve “Pendragon” Mescon, two people who were directly involved in the development of the highly-popular Warcraft: The Frozen Throne mod, DotA.
League of Legends: Clash of Fates is a clone of the original Defense of the Ancients, in it, two teams still defend their base, which are connected by three lanes that are lined with turrets. Just like DotA All-Stars, both bases continuously spawn a steady stream of minions. It is up to you and your team to help these minions destroy the enemies' base.
Whoa, this is turning into a review. Crud. Ok, first impressions:
- Game has a retail version. Did you know that? Yep, it has. Buying the retail version speeds up the process of unlocking the game's various unlockables. Then again, I'm not sure if the retail version comes with all the unlockables unlocked. I have yet to check on this.
- It has an account system. Playing more games grants you "Mastery" points that you can purchase to give whatever Champion you choose infinitesimal boosts like 0.66% Critical, etc. They may not be game-changing benefits, but they sure are handy.
- Yes, your account "levels up."
- No heroes here. Kidding. The game names them as "Champions." You are the "Summoner" of these champions.
- There is also a Rune system. It's not clear to me yet, as I've got to do some reading (IT company work and gaming websites don't mix well lol!), but it looks like you can unlock certain Runes as your account levels up. You can then (I think) choose from your collection which Runes to use for a certain match.
- The audio is awesome.
- Oddly enough, while the audio is awesome, the game makes me feels as if I'm "floating" above it. It's not immersive enough like that of DotA's. With Warcraft, when I walk a character, it really feels like I'm there gallivanting across the hills and dales of the terrain. With this game, I feel detached. I don't know, but there's something lacking that I can't put a finger to. Let's hope they fix this.
The graphics are toony. This could be a good or bad thing depending on your preferences. It's not exactly a bad thing for "grit lovers" though --- at higher video settings, the game really shines. One can just look at all those Youtube League of Legends: Clash of Fates gameplay videos. At lower video settings, it reminds you of those cheapo, free-to-play MMO PC RPG games.
- The game has recipes and items --- this massive collective absolutely swamps, floods, drowns, buries, and obliterates that of DotA. Newbies (wait. Edit: "Fellow newbies.") need not be alarmed however; the game presents suggestion weapon and items for your Champion of choice. Here's more: clicking those items will bring down, recipe trees, enabling you to easily see which items are needed to create them. Expanding on that innovative twist, the developers have even made the recipe trees interactive --- click on the components, and the "Buy" button lights up, giving you the option to immediately buy that item from the tree without going back to the main, relatively labyrinthine "Health-Defense-Critical-Movement" menu.
All in all, this is one of the greatest freeware release the free-to-play world has seen. Warcraft and DotA players, take heed: League of Legends: Clash of Fate is something you need to get into. Even in its WIP state, it's still is awesome.
>>> The download link and an HD trailer of the game can be found HERE
>>> See more downloadable free full version real-time strategy (RTS) games HERE
>>>Click here to read more...
...already killed me twice/And even though the cold from your eyes makes me freeze/all the time....
