Francis of PlayDotA on HoN vs LoL

Francis of PlayDotA.com talks about Heroes of Newerth vs League of Legends

Francis reviews 2 DotA based games.

Here's the statement from Francis:
Because of the hype that HoN and LoL are receiving, I checked them both out; by that I meant playing each of the two for a whole day continuously, cycling through different heroes, examining the maps and environment, the items, and the gameplay overall.

My conclusion? I like HoN better. Here are my points:

The Graphics
I like HoN's graphics over LoL simply because it has that awesome gorey Savage feel. LoL is too... comical. Cartoonish. HoN features really nice terrain textures, specifically on the Legion side (Sentinel on DotA), where the green landscape, the trees, the grass, and the craggy grounds project into your eyes as one beautiful picture. LoL, again, looks cartoonish on the terrains. The heroes also look awesome on HoN, I like how the DotA characters were remade. Skills are awesome... and the exploding bloody death of creeps tops it all up. The tower attacks and the buildings themselves are visually pleasing as well. And, the ending scenes where the main buildings are destroyed, HoN wins by far.

The Sound
I have no qualms regarding the voice characterization, although there's another thing where HoN wins over LoL -- the voice over. LoL's voice over is characterized by a soft female voice (pretty bad for such a high-action game), whereas HoN is characterized by a techno male voice, much like that on Mortal Kombat (FATALITY!!!). Again, HoN wins.

The Gameplay
A lot of people dislike HoN because the gameplay, the heroes, the items, and almost everything is directly ripped from DotA. I believe otherwise. The 'DotA rip' is what exactly makes me like HoN. See, I won't have to adapt to a different kind of gameplay. For the heroes, I just find the equivalent of my fave DotA ones. For the items, pretty much the same. There's not huge difference in gameplay, and it's very enjoyable. There's the deny system, the item drop, and the stash -- things I didn't find in LoL.

The Game
Let me talk about the download. The LoL installer weighs around 500MB, whereas HoN weighs only around 275MB. Plus, LoL takes another 500MB to update, whereas HoN only takes 16MB! A huge difference in bandwidth consumption and time. From this alone, my heart goes to HoN.

Points I didn't like about HoN:
- The game connection system. There are a lot of instances where I can't connect to a game without any provided reason, and with a good ping. LoL automatically does a matchmaking service where I am automatically teamed with people who are predictable on my same gaming level.
- There are spells that lag up. Maybe they're too graphics heavy, since take for example Slither's ultimate (Venomancer in DotA) -- it reduces by FPS by about 5-10 upon cast. I dunno why. It does that even with texture filtering off.

More on the Heroes of Newerth vs League of Legends DBG genre rivalry:

Gameplay:
I read on LoL's website that it's supposed to be an active, fast-paced game. This means that creeps are easy to kill, cooldowns are less, and manapools are higher. Still, I like HoN better, because it has the total WarCrarft+DotA feel. Like you said, LoL has a unique gameplay and graphics style, but that uniqueness is still (imho) topped by the HoN's graphics.

Laggy spells:
I double checked, and saw that I was on Anisotropic Filtering x2, and my resolution was on 1600x900 (yes, I'm on a 20'' widescreen). All I did was lower the texture filtering to Bilenear, and boom! FPS runs as smooth as ever.

HoN Game Connections:
I've re-read HoN's website and wow, I never realized that HoN was on a client-to-server netcode, but I think LoL is on a client-to-client setup. This means that the entire game won't lag with all the players when one of them is on a poor connection.

Heroes of Newerth First Impressions

Heroes of Newerth Initial Impressions done by kody

Notes by kody:
When S2 Games contacted me a few months ago to try out their new game -- Heroes of Newerth -- I didn't have the heart to tell them I'd been playing already for at least three weeks, maybe longer. As a fan of Savage and Savage 2, I followed Heroes of Newerth's Facebook page very early on and managed to get into the first round of Facebook fan invites. I've since immensely enjoyed the game and am happy to finally be able to tell everyone about it as a member of the media.

HoN game engine with impressive visual effects

At this point you're probably asking "what is Heroes of Newerth?" Imagine the scene from Transformers when Bumblebee -- originally a raggedy old Camaro -- scans the new-look, hip Camaro and transforms into that. Now apply this same ideaology to Defense of the Ancients -- a massively popular Warcraft III mod -- and Heroes of Newerth is born.

It's pure, unadulterated Defense of the Ancients without all of the barriers brought on by the game concept being played in Warcraft III. It has a slick graphics engine, a UI and controls optimized for the gameplay, built-in voice chat, and a host of features designed to support the DBG (DotA Based Game) genre including automated matchmaking, stat tracking, player ratings, and a lot more.

Be a Hero of Newerth
In Heroes of Newerth you play one of 48 (the current count) "heroes" on RTS-style maps with support for 1-vs-1 all the way up to 5-vs-5, with the possibility to create varrying team-vs-team maps using the game's map editor. The heroes are broken up into three categories: Agility, Intellect and Strength. This is based on the primary attribute of your hero and typically will give you an idea of what your hero is going to do, how they'll scale, etc.

Agility heroes are typically considered the "carry" heroes -- those that become incredibly strong later in the game and essentially carry the team to victory. They usually rely heavily on auto attack damage, though some do have abilities that are very strong even late in the game.

Intellect heroes are usually "spell casters" that operate off of a focus on their ability damage over pure auto attack damage. You'll also find a lot of the support heroes in this pool that offer heals, crowd control, team buffs, etc.

Finally you have strength heroes. These heroes are usually seen as the tanks for the team; the team battle initiators who will engage enemies first to pick up the focus off of the weaker heroes on the team. They typically have the largest health pools later in the game, the highest armor, etc. Some are capable of being a "carry," though.

Note that in some cases, the primary attribute doesn't necessarily dictate your role. Two intellect heroes immediately come to mind; Zephyr is a melee intellect hero that can become an incredibly strong tank late game, and Blacksmith is a melee intellect hero as well. While he still focuses primarily on his spells over auto attack damage, it's an example of the attributes not always being a clear indicator of what your hero does.

Progressing Your Hero
You level up your hero by killing creeps -- either enemy or "neutral" -- or by participating in the killing of enemy heroes. Gaining levels grants you skill points as well as increasing the overall power of your hero by a pre-determined amount based on the hero you've selected to play. You have four skills to invest those points in, or a fifth option which will raise your attributes by the same amounts as if you gained a level.

While you don't have to get the killing blow on creeps or heroes to gain experience, you will need to land the killing blow for gold; though there is a mechanic which provides a small amount of gold to players who participate in the killing of a hero. Still, "last hitting" -- as it's called by DotA players -- is a core mechanic of the gameplay and is where most of your gold will come from. This gold allows you to buy items for your hero that range from potions that replenish health or mana, those that provide attribute bonuses, and even some that provide effects similar to skills heroes have.

Knowing the best items for your chosen hero is key in the success of not only you, but your team as a whole.

There's No "I" In Team
Yeah, yeah... there's "me" if you get semantical about it. At its core, Heroes of Newerth is a team game, and this shines through later on in the game when you're less focused on leveling up your hero in "lanes" and more focused on going around smashing the other team to bits.

The primary goal is to destroy the other team's shrine, and to do this you must first destroy towers in at least one of the three lanes. There are also barracks at the ends of the lanes within an enemy's base. Destroying these barracks -- melee and ranged -- will spawn stronger creeps of that type for your team within that lane. Once you've destroyed all of the major structures a team has -- towers and barracks -- your team will receive "mega creeps" which are extremely powerful, and usually signal the end of the game.

It's not necessarily required to destroy all of the towers a team has; in some matches you'll be able to manage a victory by only clearing out one lane and going for the team's shrine. However, in close matches or against very organized teams, it's usually in your best interest to take out more than one lane since it will not only make your creeps stronger, but also keep them busy defending their base more than anything else.

Final Thoughts on HoN
To save you from being crushed by The Great Wall of Text, I'll cut this article off for now. The game is very fun, especially if you're a competitive player, and is well worth the one-time $30 fee planned for the game. S2 Games has done a remarkable job of managing the beta for the game, and listens to feedback constantly, so once this game finally releases in Q4 2009 it will be a sure hit for Defense of the Ancients fans and new players alike.

Over the next few weeks I'll be writing up more in-depth impressions articles, as well as those meant for players new to the DBG genre to help introduce you to the mechanics of Heroes of Newerth.

Add Heroes of Newerth on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/heroesofnewerth

Heroes of Newerth - DotA Reborn!

All hardcore DotA gamers have gotten crazy for this DotA based games. It's everything awesome about Defense of the Ancients (DotA), but with the Warcraft 3 limitations removed! (better graphics,netcode and features too)

Anybody else enjoying or looking forward to this awesome Dota based game?

Frequently Asked Questions:

What is Heroes of Newerths?
A new DBG in the works from S2 Games.

DBG?
DotA Based Games! Games based on DotA.

What's Defense of the Ancients (DotA)?
A popular map/mod to Warcraft III, and what is considered the start of the DBG genre. Two bases with a series of paths between them. Each is line with defenses and constant waves of AI enemies smashing against each other. Players take roles of epic champions and fight to turn the tide and destroy the other base.

What is S2 Games?
An independent game company recreating Defense of the Ancients on an independent engine.

Is HoN a strategy game? A MMO?
Neither, although with elements of each. You only control one character unlike most strategy games, although in a similar style of control.

HoN?
HoN = Heroes of Newerth
hon = short for honey

Release Date?
To be announced

Price? Monthly Fee?
30 dollars and that's it. No monthly fees. Great bargain for a well polished game.

Are there any other DBG's?
Yes, but who cares, HoN is the best! *cough* In addition to HoN and DotA, there is also Demigod (really might want to avoid that one) and LoL (League of Legends). HoN is being developed as a better clone of DotA, while LoL is trying new stuff out in the DBG genre.

How do I get into the closed beta?
Sign up on their site and play. Alternatively, have a friend in the beta and ask for an invite. You may also get lucky asking for an invite on some internet forums. The DotA forums maybe.

I'm having problems with the game!
Beta boards can help. Remember, this isn't even open beta yet.

Are there clans?
Ofcourse.

Will this run on my computer?
If it runs DotA, it would probably run HoN. Heck it even runs on Linux and Mac.

Is this game addictive and fun?
Ask the hundreds of thousands of gamers in the closed beta.

War of the DotA Genre

DBG (Dota Based Games) is a new gaming genre. It evolved thanks to the most popular Warcraft mod called Defense of the Ancients or "DotA". Also known as DotA genre.

Definition:
In DBGs, the mission is to destroy the opposing team's Base, heavily guarded structures at opposing corners of the map. Players use powerful units known as heroes, and are assisted by allied heroes and AI-controlled fighters called "creeps". As in role-playing games, players level up their hero and use gold to buy equipment during the mission.

Each human player must control one Hero, a powerful unit with unique abilities. In DotA-Allstars, players on each side choose one of over 90 heroes, each with different abilities and tactics. The scenario is highly team-oriented; it is difficult for one player to carry the team to victory alone. Although some heroes can change the outcome single-handedly if played correctly.

Because the game play revolves around strengthening individual heroes, it does not require one to focus on resource management and base-building, as in most traditional real-time strategy games (RTS). Killing computer-controlled or neutral units earns the player experience points. When enough experience is accumulated, the player gains a level. Leveling up improves the hero's toughness and the damage it can inflict, and allows players to upgrade their spells or skills. In addition to accumulating experience, players also manage a single resource, in most cases: gold.

The typical resource gathering is based on a combat-oriented money system; in addition to a small periodic income, heroes earn gold by killing hostile units, base structures, and enemy heroes. Using gold, players buy items to strengthen their hero and gain abilities. Certain items can be combined with recipes to create more powerful items. Buying items that suit one's hero is an important tactical element of the scenario.

Most DotA Based Games (DBGs) offer a variety of game modes, selected by the game host at the beginning of the match. The game modes dictate the difficulty of the scenario, as well as whether people can choose their hero or are assigned one randomly. Many game modes can be combined (for example, an easy difficulty level and a random hero pick), allowing more flexible options.

Two games are currently fighting it out for the supremacy in the DBG genre.

VS.
THE DBG GENRE WARS

CREATORS?
LoL:
LOL's lead designer is Steve "Guinsoo" Feak, the primary developer behind Dota Allstars before Icefrog.

HoN:
The team that brought you Savage and Savage 2, with the blessing of current DOTA developer "Icefrog."

WHAT DIFFERENTIATES IT FROM ICEFROG'S DOTA?
LoL:
The Summoner meta-game, where each match lets you level up a persistent Summoner character. Your Summoner records your win/loss statistics, your Masteries (a WOW-style talent tree that applies passive bonuses in general), your Spells (extra abilities you choose for a match), and Runes (additional bonuses that you outfit for a specific match). Your Summoner also determines when you unlock new Champions.

HoN:
The polish of being a full, stand-alone, and modern game rather than a Warcraft III mod. This is immediately apparent in the gorgeous graphics. Detailed stat tracking, the player's individual PSR (Public Skill Rating), and post-match replay features fuel the highly-competitive atmosphere. DOTA fans will appreciate being able to screen ragequitters out of your game for matchmaking purposes, and reconnection technology where you can easily rejoin a session if your connection accidentally drops.

IN-GAME CHARACTERS
LoL:
There's definitely a zanier and more light-hearted aesthetic going on. One of the first characters revealed was Annie, a girl with an evil teddy bear; along with characters like Gangplank the pirate, Tristana the gun-wielding smurf, and Twitch the spell-casting rat.

HoN:
HON's characters are much more analogous to DOTA ("Voodoo Jester" is just DOTA's "Witch Doctor" translated into HON-ese), and generally more straightforward. Probably the weirdest characters of this straight-talking bunch are either Pollywog priest (a talking frog) or Kraken the mansquid.

LEARNING CURVE?
LoL:
Newbie-friendly, with an abundance of tooltips, and item/build recommendations to ease players in.

HoN:
Fairly steep; prior experience with DOTA plus forum browsing for tactics and builds is necessary.

GAMING COMMUNITY
LoL:
Moderate to hardcore; some players get angry with newbies who don't know what "last hitting" means, while others are helpful. Basically, if you're in a "newbie only" game, there will be less gnashing of teeth compared to the other games.

HoN:
Pretty hardcore and competitive; expect harsh beatdowns and general comments about being a liability on your team or picking a "newb hero" -- even in "newbie only" matches. On the plus side, it's still not quite as harsh as actual DOTA trash-talking.

COST:
LoL:
Free to play, with microtransactions for cosmetic items, and a "collector's edition" that unlocks game content (basically, playable characters) faster.

HoN:
Thirty dollars and that's it. If you pre-order now, you gain things like the ability to taunt (yay, for more trashtalking?), and the chance to invite friends into the current closed beta.

THIS GAME IS GEARED TOWARDS TO?
LoL:
Newbies to the DBG genre who also like to customize their avatars.

HON:
Highly competitive and skilled DOTA players who yearn for modern production values.

So, which game do you think will excel above and beyond it's competition? Maybe you think they'll each have a fair share of the market?

Credits to 1UP for the differentiation of both games. Give them a visit.