Finally Riot Games? – first impressions of the game “Legends of Runeterra”

On the occasion of the October 10th anniversary of League of Legends , Riot Games flooded players with announcements of further productions. One of them is Legends of Runeterra , a card game from the League universe , just available in the open beta. How  does it compare to the iconic Hearthstone or the beloved Gwent ?

 

Difficult beginnings

The League of  play of the third season, which is from some seven years, so it is obvious that I follow Riotu actions and look forward to the next anniversary announcements. Legends of Runeterra  was no exception, even though I don’t really like card games (I  spent a few hours with Hearthstone and  only offered a game of gwent three times with Wild Hunt).

From the outset, Riot strongly encouraged pre-registration, which would ensure early access to the game. The open beta was scheduled for January 24, but registered people were informed that they would be able to play the day before, after 8 p.m. However, all those waiting had to get by with the taste – with the appointed time, the servers collapsed, and then they were not able to recognize the regions of the players. After writing to the Player Support, I got the information that “such interest was not expected”.

Such an unsuccessful start can have a big impact on the reception of the title. Disappointment and frustration must have been experienced by many, after all, the promise of an extra day was not fulfilled in the end. Shouldn’t a developer with records of active online players or the greatest esports events take into account a huge interest in his work? It doesn’t happen for the first time – maybe some of you remember last year’s Clash mode beta .

Welcome to Summoner’s Rift?

Once I was able to launch the game, I was greeted by a completely new soundtrack and refreshed graphics. The interface is clear and reminiscent of mobile games – LoR  will also be available on Android and iOS devices, although currently you can only play the PC version. Perhaps Riot expects more success on these platforms.

The gameplay begins with tutorials based on factions and conflicts known from the lore (such as the well-known Demacia vs Noxus). So we have the main heroes, which are of course champions known from the League (we can have several of them in our deck). Everyone has their own skills and can be promoted. The basic mechanics of the game are presented to us in a very simple way, like the thumbnail arrows on YouTube. Some, such as mana related to the cost of cards or folding, are known from other productions of this type, but some are completely new – for example, we have the ability to block every enemy attack. There are several types of cards, from the mentioned heroes, through typical units, to special spells, e.g. when playing with a deck with Lux. The goal remains the same – to destroy the enemy’s Nexus, dealing damage to him.

The thing that I like the most are the reinterpretations of the heroes well-known to players, as well as the mechanics and graphics associated with them. It is here that the excellent skills of artists, rioters responsible for splash art, phenomenal cinematics and all kinds of graphic design combine with freshness and creativity. I must distinguish the champion promotion animations, which are beautiful and fun, discovering new ones was the greatest fun for me. That’s why I believe that the game is primarily a curiosity for those who have been associated with League of Legends for a long time. Seeing your favorite characters in a different version, introducing their characters, skills (whose animations are great too!) And stories is what this game stands for and can buy players’ hearts. Apart from the appearance, however, it does not stand out from other famous card games.

First blood!

I also tried the PvP gameplay. As befits Riot, we can choose between normal and ranked modes. The opponent was found quickly and the game worked flawlessly (by the way, it weighs only about 250 mb). There is a problem known from normal league matches, where the bronze players play against the diamond players, definitely the better ones. So the gameplay is not even. In LoR Of course, we have a profile, the level of which is increasing (and with this we receive rewards in the form of cards and currency), but I was not able to check the opponent’s profile in any way. Personally, I find it frustrating; repeatedly find a better player with a richer deck and lose. I’m sure the ranking system is the solution, but first I’d like to learn how to play, which turned out to be difficult without the tutorial. The amount of effects, units, passive skills, etc. has become overwhelming – we don’t have enough time to read what a card is doing and to plan a move. It also felt like the game folded for me a few times, taking away from me the opportunity to do anything. The match also seemed long to me, it lacked dynamics (I associate it with waiting for others in hated by meTactical Skirmishes ). In the meantime, we at least have the option of petting Poros or sending emotes.

It is also worth mentioning what the game offers on the menu. We have a choice of several types of games (PvP, PvAI, tutorials). I was interested in the mode called Expeditions , in which absolutely everything is to be unlocked, so that it can be a kind of sandbox. However, it is not free, but fortunately you can pay with any currency in the game (collected during the game and available for purchase). There is of course the ability to browse cards, create and edit decks and customize the look of the board with paid skins. Riot took care not only of the store, but also missions with rewards: daily, weekly and special. The game doesn’t look like pay-to-win, and I think everyone will be able to enjoy it in their own way.

Ace!

After all, Legends of Runeterra  turns out to be a beautiful shell. Perhaps it will work as a travel minder, or a breath from tiring ranked matches. For now, it is primarily a curiosity, a bonus for the League of Legends players , it does not enrich the genre and does not have that “something” that the competition has. The greatest fun is knowing the universe, so its lack may be impossible to jump over for new players. Therefore, I recommend waiting for more news or trying Tactical Skirmishes , which are at least original and have much more interesting mechanics.