Heroes of Newerth is the next step for the RTS community. Developed by S2 Games, they have based the game on the famous Warcraft Mod, DOTA. Heroes of Newerth had a very high benchmark to overcome and I am confident to say they have exceeded the benchmark by miles.
For only a small $30, HoN takes DOTA to the next level by creating a whole new engine with new unique heroes, new matchmaking system and even SDK editor.
Starting with an open beta, Heroes of Newerth had its problems. Duplicate accounts and a lot of spammers was very evident. With the beta over, the real users have stayed, and the community is improving.
Heroes of Newerth isn't for the soft gamer. HoN can promise you a violent and hardcore gaming experience, with pro gamers everywhere, so be expecting some abuse with your first few games. S2 Games have provided a tutorial feature which takes you through the basics, which is recommended for all newcomers, especially for games with no DOTA experience.
Being based around a selection of heroes, teams go up against each other with there picked heroes. All heroes start with the same amount of gold and even the same level. Depending on the map, each hero goes to its section that the team organizes itself.
The aim is simple but the process is hard. In simple words, first team to destroy the other teams camp wins. But your not alone. You have an army of small creatures backing you up in your fights.
The graphic side of the game is very nice. With the client only being 300mb, the graphics excel for its size ratio. Playable on a MAC/PC/Linux, S2 Games have made the amazing game universal. Having widescreen support as well, S2 Games has covered most of the PC Gaming Market.
A drawback S2 Games hasn't focused on has to be the sound effects. While there is improvement with new heroes, the sound isn't satisfactory. The sounds remind me of simple effect loops found in free programs such as Garageband, but with every new patch, improvements are very evident.
S2 Games have provided the community with awesome competitions with huge prizes such as the global $40,000 tournament with clans from all of the world coming together in a crazy and hardcore match.
While a lot of improvements are required, S2 Games has successfully taken a legendary game and has made it even better. With the community increasing everyday and averaging around 25,000 people online 24/7, this game looks like it will be around for a while.
Heroes of Newerth has provided me with an experience I will never forget, and the improvements everyday are making my experience even better.
Heroes of Newerth is receiving its final content update in the latest patch
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