Does Blizzard’s new MOBA hold up against the competition?

Find out in Den of Geek’s review!

To put it frankly, they all sort of mimicLeague of LegendsandDotA 2.

Youll have your laning phases and your team fights.

Your goofy-looking minions and your towers that like to shoot you when youre feeling ballsy.

The concept of last-hitting can seem foreign to someone totally new to MOBAs.

Even quickly reading the tooltips for a new champion can be frustrating mid-match.

MOBA matches move fast.

Once you start playing with actual players, youre expected to keep upeven if youre new.

HotS does away with a lot of the complexities we see in other MOBAs.

Theres no last-hitting inHotS.

EXP is even shared across your entire group no matter who gets the kills.

There are no in-match items to buy.

These talent choices are generally rather easy to understand, as are the tooltips.

As someone who isnt a MOBA pro by any means, I found this ease of access surprisingly refreshing.

At the same time, matches inHotSoften seem a little predictable.

With shared EXP and no last-hitting, its a little difficult to feel like a real hero inHotS.

Every hero progresses and levels the same whether theyre a support class or assassin class.

Theres also an out-of-match leveling system for every hero.

Leveling up favorite heroes grants you additional talent choices, skin choices, gold, and profile avatars.

This sort of takes the place ofLoLs rune/mastery system, but its not nearly as complex.

Less planning and theorycrafting is needed.

It also makes it a little too simple arguably.

Part of the enjoyment ofLoLs system is the buildup factor.

Dont Stay in Your Lane

Maps are handled completely different inHotS.

InLoL, your standard map doesnt often change and the objectives wont change at all.

Timing a major enemy push right after an objective is won can make a huge difference.

The fact that each of the maps feature unique objectives is both good and bad.

The objectives also sort of take the place ofLoLs jungler role.

Heroes of the Storms map objectives are a cool concept in theory.

A team can weigh the pros and cons of going after objectives or farming lanes.

Its sometimes worthwhile to forego the objectives altogether or try and surprise the enemy.

Paying attention to the map and who goes where is integral, as is communication, of course.

Theres also more diversity between matches when the maps are chosen at random.

Its fun to tower dive as your teams tank.

Its less fun watching a golem do it for you.

The difficulty range works well to help teach new players how to play without overwhelming them.

Hero balance, so far, has been rather up and down during the games beta phases.

It feels a little too homogenized at times.

Some of the talent choices are a little lacking in comparison to the item tables inLoL.

Woo, that skillshot now slows enemies.

It doesnt feel more powerful.

It doesnt look more powerful.

But boy, does it slow.

ultimate] is position-dependent).

Graphically, the game looks gorgeous and doesnt disappoint in that regard.

And yes, Ill admit itits really fun being able to play as Diablo or Arthas.

A game packed with iconic, playable characters is certainly nifty.

This works with skins, too.

Some heroes are affordable, but others will cost you a fair chunk of gold and/or real cash.

check that to do the tutorials, too, as these reward gold.

By being smart about daily quests, the prices of heroes dont seem ridiculously high.

A MOBA for Non-MOBA Fans

HotSdoes a lot of things right.

Its strongest points are its objective-based maps, its high accessibility, and its iconic, lore-based hero roster.

Its weakest points are the multiple leveling systems.

The systems are unique, but they just dont have enough to offer in comparison to most MOBA item/rune/mastery/etc.

systemsespecially for veteran players.

Rating:

3 out of 5