Do you love classic top-down RPGs? Do you miss the heroes from Warcraft 3? Then you’ll definitely love Defender of the Ancient 2 (DotA 2).
DotA is a unique gaming phenomenon, born from the World Editor map editor. Warcraft 3 introduced some role-playing elements to standard strategy games – in addition to standard units, heroes with individual stats, spells, and inventory items were added. This risky experiment was successful. But the fan-made Warcraft 3 expansion, DotA, went even further – those same role-playing elements took center stage, and base and unit management were transferred to the computer. This created a unique new gameplay mechanic.
Game mechanics
DotA 2 is played in individual games lasting 40-60 minutes. Two teams of five players face off against each other, always in the same arena. In one corner is the Radiant base, in the other the Dire stronghold. The bases are connected by three corridors: top, middle, and bottom. Regular units constantly run along these corridors, from both sides, causing carnage in the central area. Both bases are fortified with guard towers that destroy enemies, so regular units alone can never win this battle. The entire action is controlled by the computer.
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Players control only their heroes—unique units capable of leveling up, learning spells, and using artifacts. Their goal is to upgrade their heroes to the point where they can turn the tide of the global battle. With the support of their heroes, regular units will eventually be able to destroy defensive towers. The ultimate goal of each game is to destroy the enemy’s main base.
The objectives are simple and straightforward, but the challenge is compounded by the enemy’s presence, which also involves heroes, who also assist their own troops. Ultimately, DotA 2’s gameplay boils down to team battles between heroes against the backdrop of massive battles between regular troops. To win, you need to: actively use hero abilities and spells, choose the right items in the shop for a specific hero type, kill enemy heroes, and promptly remove your own hero from a tough fight. But most importantly, you need to work together with your allies. Without coordinated teamwork, victory is almost impossible.
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Game world
DotA 2’s plot tells the story of yet another banal clash between the forces of good and evil. Moreover, the methods of struggle on both sides are completely identical, so the division into “good” and “evil” is purely decorative. More is required from a multiplayer game’s plot.
The cast is a different matter. Most of the heroes are slightly modified versions of classic Warcraft 3 heroes. Their altered appearances don’t hide their true essence. They’re still the same Arthas, Muradins, Jains, Lich Kings, Farseers, Blade Masters, Demons, Ilidians, Thorens, Nagas, and Alchemists. There are some unique contributions from the creators, but the best thing about DotA 2 is its direct legacy from the legendary strategy game Warcraft 3.
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Heroes
There are currently 102 heroes in DotA 2. Each has a set of four spells (some heroes have more, but you can still only use four spell types per game). You can choose any hero for both the “good” and “evil” sides. Just getting to know all the characters would take over 70 hours of play. But that’s not a big deal. For beginners, there’s a special mode where you can choose from just 20 basic heroes.
The total number of heroes is divided into three large groups based on their primary stat: melee warriors (strength); archers, marksmen, and assassins (agility); and mages, sorcerers, and wizards (intelligence). Warriors attack ferociously from the front, snipers shoot from afar, assassins use invisibility and set ambushes, and wizards shower regular warriors with spells, weakening or strengthening them. With such a variety, it’s easy to find a character to suit your taste and playstyle.
By killing enemy warriors and heroes, we gain experience, which increases our hero’s level. Upon reaching a new level, we can learn or enhance one of our spells at our discretion. There are three standard spells and one ultimate, which is very powerful but has a long cooldown. It is their spell selection that differentiates each hero.
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Items, artifacts
In addition to distributing skills and spells, to effectively develop your hero, you’ll also need to constantly purchase new items from stores. These can range from commonly used health and mana bottles to various swords, chainmail, boots, gloves, and helmets.
Some items can be combined with each other using recipes, transforming them into a single, more useful artifact. Performing this type of alchemy during combat is expensive, so artifacts stack automatically if you immediately pay the cost of the enhanced item.
Each base has one standard shop. There are also two secret shops located closer to the center of the map where you can buy unique items.
Frequent purchases don’t require you to constantly run to the store. A specially trained donkey can bring your purchases. Everything is so automated that you won’t have to worry about interrupting the battle for a second.
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Game system
Every single battle in DotA 2 is not only a fun pastime but also another step toward global success. After completing a match, you earn experience points toward your global profile. Experience is awarded not for the final victory, but for the number of enemy hero kills.
The game meticulously tracks a wide variety of statistics. Replays of all battles are recorded on the server and can be viewed at any time.
Championships are often held among the best players, and regular players can participate as spectators. You can follow the games live or watch particularly successful matches as replays.
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Cost, trade
DotA 2 is currently the most popular game on Steam. 400,000 people play DotA daily, and the total number of registered accounts is 6,500,000. This is largely due to the game being completely free. To start playing, all you need is an activated Steam profile.
(To activate your Steam profile, you need to register and make at least one purchase on the service. The cheapest option is to buy an old game for $1 during the next sale. After that, you’ll be able to play all free games and demos on Steam.)
The developers are certainly trying to make money from their game. They use the online browser game model: you can play for free, but paying gives you an advantage over regular players. This model is implemented very delicately. Real money can be used to purchase character costumes and new game design styles that don’t affect gameplay in any way. There are very few items purchasable for real money that could unbalance the balance between free players and those who pay for donations, and their effect is practically negligible.
All items available in the store can also be obtained in-game. Obtained items can be traded with other players. This feature isn’t yet fully implemented, but this should improve in future patches.
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Gaming audience
The entire DotA 2 player base is divided into a dozen servers around the world. Russia has its own dedicated server, and players can also comfortably play on the “Western European” and “Eastern European” servers.
Historically, DotA 2 players have included many lazy schoolchildren who waste all their free time playing online games. Their rude manners and poor literacy can ruin the entire gaming experience. But the creators of DotA 2 solved this problem in a timely manner: all inappropriately behaving players are punished and exiled to a kind of gaming “hell,” where they can only compete with each other, without access to normal players. By playing and communicating politely, you will never encounter inappropriate players. And for a perfect game, it’s best to find a stable team. Team cohesion and teamwork can even allow you to compete for championship titles in official tournaments.
Defender of the Ancient 2 has already attracted 6,500,000 players worldwide. There’s something about it that keeps you coming back again and again. Other similar Dota games are just pathetic clones that borrow ideas from the original. But DotA 2 is the official sequel from the creators of the original. Give this masterpiece a try.
