I hate this game! It is a time vampire of frustrating proportions. My anger level shoots through the roof and I find myself yelling at the screen half the time . . . and yet, I cannot stop playing it. Indeed, DOTA 2 is one of the most competitive, wild and just downright fun experiences you can have in gaming today.
DOTA 2 (Short for Defense of the Ancients) is a competitive, free-to-play multiplayer team game. In 5v5 matches, you compete with other players for fun, for rank and, for a select group, world championships with prizes. The goal is to break through your enemy’s defenses and destroy their Ancient at the center of their base. Picking from a selection of heroes, you buy items, harvest gold, and seek to obliterate the opposing team’s heroes and towers in a war of attrition towards their Ancient.
There is so much to like about DOTA 2. With so many heroes to choose from and items to mix and match, as well as various modes that even allow you to pick random abilities, creating hilariously overpowered builds, the game has unbelievable value. It is a game that requires good strategy, tactics, and an emphasis on location. Knowing where the enemy is, and is going, is paramount to achieving a successful outcome. Teamwork is the name of the game. Some will carry the game, while others support. A well balanced, well coordinated team will almost always triumph. Many of my losses have come precisely because there was no coordination or emphasis on tactical awareness. Cowboys, this game is not for. You either work together or lose together.
The one flaw in this, though, is the very nature of DOTA 2 itself. It needs a team of actual people who can coordinate together. Folks, that is rare enough in real life. So much of the time is spent waiting until the game can find enough players, then you have to hope that no one drops or abandons. Even with penalties against the latter, it happens more often than it should. More so, within the game itself you will find all kinds of issues in broken heroes, language barriers, teammates who refuse to coordinate, and frankly, like any competitive game, there is a lot of trash talk and things taken way too seriously. Finally, the learning curve is daunting to say the least. I have played over 200 games so far and have just now gotten my feet on the ground. Patience is expected here.
Beyond the game is a vast array of customization and purchase/sell options. Most of the items are cosmetic and offer no significant gameplay advantage. It is a very lucrative market, though. You can make money off DOTA 2. I have not, but I am well aware of people who have. However, do not read this and quit your day job.
DOTA 2 offers a lot. It is a game that makes you think. It is a game that tests your patience and your blood pressure. It allows you to either shine or falter as a team player. At the very least, even when you lose, it offers you the chance to say “I did the best I could with what I had to work with.” It may be a time vampire, but certainly, players can expect to eventually bite back.
