Welcome to the Summoner’s Rift!

By Dennis Xu
Published Friday, January 21, 2011

Free to play, multiplayer, game of the year, need I say more?

Developed by Riot Games, League of Leg­ends is one of the hottest new online mul­tiplayer games to hit the world. The game is based on the popular Warcraft 3 custom game: DotA (Defense of the Ancients).

The game pits two teams of three to five players per team against each other in a battle to conquer the land. Players take on the role of summoner and control a single champion to represent themselves in battle.

Each champion has unique abilities and background lore, and can take on various different roles in battle. The champion: “Malphite” for example, is a large rock golem who can be played as a fighter who can hit like a MAC truck, or a tank who can withstand more punishment that a dia­mond wall.

With over sixty champions available and a new one added almost every week, the game guarantees that each match is different.

League of Legends also incorporates an RPG element in offering players a level pro­gression system with bonuses at each level, and a level cap of thirty levels. Players begin at level one and, to avoid an imbalance in the teams, are randomly matched up with, and against, other players of a similar level range. Of course, the option of creating ar­ranged teams with friends is available as well.

Games can last anywhere from 15 minutes in a three vs. three, or 25 minutes in a five vs. five, to well over an hour in either one. The player controlled champions also level up during matches, getting stronger as the game goes on.

With an endless amount of computer con­trolled minions to kill, a large map to tra­verse, and a constant fear of an ambush, League of Legends will keep you thoroughly entertained from start to end. It’s a perfect way to spend the weekends.

That is, after first finishing your homework of course.

For more information, guides, story infor­mation, or to just try the game yourself, check out www.leagueoflegends.com.