By David Curry on September 25, 2014 at 4:41pm
S2 Games, creators of "Heroes of Newerth" ("HoN") decided to create another MOBA called "Strife." Currently in open beta, "Strife" has received a lot of media attention due to S2 Games' promotional campaign.
Multiplayer online battle arena (MOBA) games have become incredibly popular on PC, with the rise of "League of Legends" and "DoTA 2." "Strife" looks to change the formula by dumbing down some of the core mechanics in MOBAs and reducing the level of entry needed for new players.
"Strife:" MOBA 2.0?
If there is anyone who has learned about toxic communities and hardcore MOBA elements, it is S2 Games. "Heroes of Newerth" is known for having a hardcore community, even if the eSports scene never kicked off, alongside a rather steep learning curve, unlike "League of Legends" or "Heroes of the Storm."
"Heroes of the Storm" is a relevant example when comparing "Strife," because both developers want the same thing: more team-play and team orientated advantages, alongside removing some of the toxic aspects of the game. "Strife" has been going since alpha and recently hit early beta, and the formula seems to be working.
We are not going to say "Strife" is a huge change in the MOBA scene, but S2 Games has made more than a clone of "DoTA 2" or "LoL," which is more than we can say for some. It also provides some new ideas, like a smaller hero pool, smaller amount of items, no "lane specific" heroes, and shared gold between lanes, making a support's life easier.
Heroes in "Strife" actually have a few interesting abilities. There are a few heroes like Caprice, Ray, and Vermillion who look similar to characters in other MOBAs, but others like Harrower, Moxie, and Ace offer a new character experience. The abilities scale in the same way as "LoL" and "DoTA 2" where players get to choose between Q, W, and E for the first five levels, and then at level six thechoose their ultimate, R.
"Strife" offers recommended items and auto level-ups, making it easier for new players to get the hang of a certain hero. Having locked and unlocked camera options is another nice feature for players who prefer choice. Key rebinding is useful for ex-"LoL" and "DoTA 2" players, as "Strife" offers a few changes.
In the Game
There is lane meta, currently two mid in order to gain control of Cindara and Baldir, even though it is not strictly enforced. Players can duo top or bottom and sometimes triple mid to gain full control of the rather wide lane. This might become more complex or more centered on one specific meta depending on your level.
Matches normally last a good half an hour. Depending on the level of the team, fights might occur around the two large neutral mobs, Cindara and Baldir. Players can add armor to their inhibitors, making them harder to destroy. Towers are quite hard-hitting, and it is easy for players to hide under their tower, but three-man dives can be quite devastating depending on the champion.
One player cannot snowball the entire game. Even at 10 kills, a player is not incredibly strong compared to someone with zero. Gold items are not as effective as they are in other MOBAs, allowing the team losing to make smart objective decisions to get back in the game. Pets are a replacement for summoners, allowing players to choose between health regen, mana regen, and cleanse at the start.
The Next Big MOBA?
We are not 100 percent on "Strife." While it has some entertaining elements, it lacks a real reason to put in +100 hours. For anyone invested in "LoL," "DoTA 2," or another MOBA, it might be best to miss "Strife," but if you are looking to try your first MOBA or perhaps want something more casual, "Strife" is a good option, alongside new games like "Dawngate" and "Magica: Wizard Wars."
One of the biggest advantages "Strife" has over any MOBA is the design of the client. The in-game art style might be questionable, but the client and the UI is perfect. S2 Games needs to work on more interesting characters and perhaps introduce some more mechanics to the game to get more experienced MOBA players involved.
