Dota 2 [Review]

[Aznganxter]

Game Title: Dota 2
Platform(s): PC and Mac
Release Date(s): TBA 2012
Genre(s): Action-RTS / DotA / MOBA
Publisher: Valve
Developer: IceFrog and Valve
ESRB/PEGI Rating: TBA
Price: TBA (Most likely F2P)(Currently in beta stages)

Trailer:


About the game: Dota 2 is an upcoming action real-time strategy fantasy strategy video game being developed by Valve Corporation and the stand-alone sequel to the popular Defense of the Ancients mod for Warcraft III: Reign of Chaos and The Frozen Throne.

Gameplay: Dota 2 is an ActionRTS game developed by Valve and IceFrog (Developer of the Original DotA). It follows the original DotA concept while adding a few minor tweaks that was limited by the previous game, due to the fact it was a mod on Warcraft III. DotA 2 borrows "Levels" and "EXP" which is fairly seen in RPG games, but also combines RTS elements into the game, the top down player perspective is seen in most RTS games.

The gameplay follows any other ActionRTS(Moba), you control a single powerful unit called a hero, which posses several powerful spells and your goal is to destroy the enemies base (Ancient Fortress). You are on either one of the two sides "Radiant" or "Dire". On the journey there are a serious of obstacles, periodically a wave of AI controlled units (creeps) will spawn on both sides (your side and enemy) and fight each other. You "Hero" have to destroy these "creeps" and as you land the finishing blow you gain "Gold". The Gold can be used to purchase certain items to aid your "Hero" and make your hero more powerful. Thus making destroying the enemy "Ancient Fortress" easier.

The "Ancient Fortresses" are governered by 3 paths (Lanes) connected to the "Ancient Fortress", on the "Lanes" there are power "Towers" equally distanced guarding the "Ancient Fortress". When the enemy "creeps" are killed your team's "creeps" with attack the enemy's "tower", thus pushing towards the "Ancient Fortress".

Due to the fact that Dota 2 and other ActionRTS games are so team-oriented you have to coordinate with your team in order to achieve victory. You have to cooperate with your team makes and gang up (Gank) to kill certain enemy player controlled "heroes". When a "hero" dies (unit you and other players control) you lose "Gold" and have to wait a certain time to respawn. Making the enemy team push towards your "Ancient Fortress" easier.

Graphics: Dota 2 has good graphics for an ActionRTS. It has a cartoony art style too it, like Valves previous titles "Team Fortress 2" and Riot Games's "League of Legends". Valve pays very close attention to detail, they have added ambient creatures in the river,grass and etc(butterflies flying around and frogs hoping around near the river). They have also added "Injured Animations" most other games of the same genre don't come close to this much attention to detail.

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=us0NZr_-vlU

Sound Effects: The sound in Dota 2 is amazing, from the voice acting to the background music. It is simply amazing. Valve has out done themselves in the sound compartment, making each hero sound unique and what there personality suggests they sound like. This couldn't be done in DotA 1 as it was a simple mod for Warcraft III. They have hired well known and talented voice actors such "Jen Taylor" the voice actor of Valve's Left 4 Dead "Zoey and Bungie's Halo series "Cortana". The heroes make remark to certain aspects of life and comments on internet memes, such as Kukka saying "I said good Day Sir". This goofy humor makes the game that much more fun.

 

https://knowyourmeme.com/memes/you-ge...e-good-day-sir

Conclusion: Dota 2 combines RTS and RPG elements this unique game is very team based and rewards good teamwork. Because of the unique gameplay, great graphics and amazing sound i find Dota 2 very fun. It is unique and different from other cliche genre and thats why i enjoy it. Its different!

Pros and Cons:

Pros:
*Great unique multiplayer gameplay
*Good graphics
*Relies heavily on teamwork and encourages teamwork
*Updated weekly
*Low-Medium system requirements
*Decent community (These genres are very community based, most other games of the same genre have horrible communites.)
*A lot of different server regions (Brazil, US East, US West, Singapore and etc.)
*Fun with friends
*No hackers as hero locations and etc, are server sided.

Cons:
*Teamwork oriented game means arguments will occur
*HUGE learning curve (EXTREMELY hard to learn and pick up)
*Beginner unfriendly

Score:
Presentation: 9.5
Gameplay: 9.0
Graphics: 10
Sound: 8.5
Lasting Appeal: 8.5
Overall Score: 9.1

 

DotA 2 Minimum System Requirements:

* OS: Windows® 7 / Vista / Vista64 / XP
* Processor: Pentium 4 3.0GHz
* Memory: 1 GB for XP / 2GB for Vista
* Graphics: DirectX 9 compatible video card with 128 MB, Shader model 2.0. ATI X800, NVidia 6600 or better
* Hard Drive: At least 2.5 GB of free space
* Sound: DirectX 9.0c compatible sound card

 

DotA 2 Recommended System Requirements:

* OS: Windows® 7 / Vista / Vista64 / XP
* Processor: Intel core 2 duo 2.4GHz
* Memory: 1 GB for XP / 2GB for Vista
* Graphics: DirectX 9 compatible video card with Shader model 3.0. NVidia 7600, ATI X1600 or better
* Hard Drive: At least 2.5 GB of free space
* Sound: DirectX 9.0c compatible sound card

[Insane]

*HUGE learning curve (EXTREMELY hard to learn and pick up)
*Beginner unfriendly

Ideally why I ragequit the game before it started.
They need a complete tutorial for people who haven't touched these types of games before or the first Dota.

[Aznganxter]

Ideally why I ragequit the game before it started.
They need a complete tutorial for people who haven't touched these types of games before or the first Dota.

Im pretty sure on release of Dota 2, Valve will have a good reliable tutorial, I mean its Valve...

[Insane]

Im pretty sure on release of Dota 2, Valve will have a good reliable tutorial, I mean its Valve...

I mean I guess you can't expect them to put a tutorial in the Beta

[[MPGH]Ghost]

"*HUGE learning curve (EXTREMELY hard to learn and pick up)"
Ill have to disagree on the extremely hard to learn part.
It's quite simple if you READ what things do.

[Aznganxter]

"*HUGE learning curve (EXTREMELY hard to learn and pick up)"
Ill have to disagree on the extremely hard to learn part.
It's quite simple if you READ what things do.

It is extremely hard for people just getting into the Dota genre. Other genre like Shooters and Actions are straight forward, like shoot that guy or skill a monster to get a level and etc. Even Tobi Wan an respected Dota 1 and Dota 2 commentator said it is probably one of the hardest games to learn, I'm sure we can trust an respected commentators word.

[[MPGH]Ghost]

It is extremely hard for people just getting into the Dota genre. Other genre like Shooters and Actions are straight forward, like shoot that guy or skill a monster to get a level and etc. Even Tobi Wan an respected Dota 1 and Dota 2 commentator said it is probably one of the hardest games to learn, I'm sure we can trust an respected commentators word.

Well i personally dont find it very hard, nor did i find it hard to learn.

[Extractional]

Well i personally dont find it very hard, nor did i find it hard to learn.

Some people don't like to read the subtitles/story plot so it might be hard to people.

[VanitySK]

i got lost just starting the game.. says you own it off the bat but doesnt let you play.... luckily my friend gave me a key but that learning curve... i gave up after dieing twice :/

[Empire]

-_- thanks for not really providing an opinion.

[PokemonCraft]

well pretty addictive if you have friends to play together with mic

[koci00]

do i need a steam to play dota 2 or it's free?

[Cataclypse]

do i need a steam to play dota 2 or it's free?

Yes you need a Steam account and it is free.

[saqib31]

LoL i tried to play this game was perfect until i pressed tutorial after the loading i saw nothing expect my hero and only sound my intel 82945g can't run that game i better stick with LoL.