League of Legends

Gameplay

League of Legends is the first production from Riot Games Studios. It is an online team action-RPG, where you have to fight against other players within a confined arena - resembling maps from typical real-time strategy games. Thus, it uses a solution similar to the one known from Demigod or Defense of the Ancients.

Two teams (three- or five-person, depending on the map) face each other on the arenas. Prior to each game, you choose a hero for yourself from a selection of over a hundred characters. Along with advancing to higher experience levels you gain powerful abilities unique to each hero. During the match you gain gold necessary to purchase items that ultimately shape the nature of the controlled character. Moreover, before the game you can choose two skills from the pool of abilities available for each character. The character statistics are also influenced by specializations and runes selected before each game. One game usually lasts about 45 minutes in 5v5 mode and about half an hour in 3v3.

Game modes

Subsequent updates added other game modes. The first one is Dominion, a counterpart for domination mode from MOBA mechanics. This one is clearly more dynamic and unpredictable than the classic skirmishes, and one game lasts 15-20 minutes. Another game mode is called ARAM (All Random All Mid). It is set on Howling Abyss map, and the teams consist of five heroes who fight one another on just one alley. This kind of game is very dynamic, focuses on group fights and usually takes about 20 minutes.

Although League of Legends is primarily focused on online battles, the developers have also prepared a single-player mode, where you face advanced AI. However, this rather serves as training before fighting against living opponents. That way or another, the game itself can find you a partner with similar skills. In addition, your achievements are constantly being tracked and saved in ranks.