Taka — One of Vainglory’s 32 Heroes (source: Super Evil Megacorp)

I first heard about Vainglory a few years ago when it was first being released. The trailers for the game seemed promising, albeit overly ambitious. Due perhaps to a lack of imagination, it seemed almost impossible at the time to believe in the Multiplayer Online Battle Arena (MOBA) genre’s implementation into the mobile platform. But now, having waited for the right opportunity, brought about in a feeling of dullness regarding the other games which had so entirely occupied and engrossed me until now, I felt excited and ready for a new experience.

Vainglory is not the first attempt at incorporating the complex MOBA genre into the mobile platform, nor will it be the last. It is however, the first to make this effort boldly and elegantly- borrowing elements from but not ripping off any other game.

The first reason veterans and players who just want a new experience in mobile gaming should play Vainglory is its fine controls. Anyone vaguely familiar with other MOBA titles such as Dota 2 and League of Legends, whether they have personally played those games or watched a friend, are aware of the insane clicking, the perpetual moving of the mouse, and the smashing of the keyboard necessary to succeeding in these games. And so, the controls, what was initially the primary cause of my skepticism, became Vainglory’s main attraction.

In Vainglory, the user interface (UI) constitute the controls. On smaller screens, the UI can feel a bit obtrusive, but in general, the different elements such as the action bar, current items, and communication options are neatly packed away, leaving the center stage clutter free. The way everything is set up can take some time to get used to. Initially they can feel clunky and even frustrating. But this is not enough to ruin the experience, and all the while, it’s easy to see how things will become more enjoyable with practice and repetition.

With time, the controls become intuitive, and if you’re playing a hero you’re confident with, you will begin to select actions and execute abilities without having to look down at your action bar- a feat which will give you a winning edge over your opponent, especially in even fights where the slightest hesitation can alter the outcome of the whole game. Your thumbs (or your index fingers, depending on what kind of device you’re playing on) will naturally fall where they must. The incessant clicking and button smashing is replaced by a flurry of thumbs (or index fingers) working together in what could be described as a tap dance.

(source: Super Evil Megacorp)

The second reason you and your friends should play Vainglory is the social aspect which is made possible by the fact that this is a mobile game, available on both IOS and Android with cross-platform compatibility. This is a tantalizing, and to most PC gamers, an alien notion. Most of us who are exclusively PC gamers, often go only as far as talking to our friends- those who we know are interested at all, about our impressions of a game we just picked up, and if we’re comfortable with our gaming habits, admit to them that this new game was the reason for our absence at the latest barbecue. But rarely do we expect them to buy the game, online and multiplayer though it may be, and play with us. Many of our friends are not gamers at all, and those who are play on consoles like Xbox and PlayStation. We have, for the sake of practicality if nothing else, contented ourselves to playing online games with strangers and bragging about our achievements in single player games on the internet also to strangers. And as supportive as these strangers may be, it’s something else to play games with people we know in real life.

Vainglory is free (though rest assured, there are ways to spend money in-game), and anyone with a smart phone and access to the internet can download and play the game. There is sufficient progression, skill, and cool cosmetics to provide bragging rights and to quench that healthy competitive spirit present between friends. But the true enjoyment lies in friends working together with the aim of crushing other teams banded together with a similar goal. I’ve already brought several friends to Halcyon Fjord, some of whom were completely new to the genre. The game benefits from a helpful tutorial system which introduces first its more generic concepts and gradually finer rules and mechanics to noobies over a relatively long time so as not to overwhelm them.

(Halcyon Fjord- source: Super Evil Megacorp)

The third reason is that the game is continuing to evolve. More and more game companies which in the past shut themselves up and kept aloof toward fans, contemplating feedback in an opaque way and surrounding themselves with an air of mystery, for better or worse have become communicative and to some extend transparent regarding the design process. Super Evil Megacorp, the studio developing Vainglory, has revealed to the community, some if not all its plans about possible upcoming changes and additions to the game. Chiefly, a new mode and with it a new map, which will allow for 5v5 matches. This is important because of the level of strategy and depth that it would bring to the game. And while not exactly desperately needed, is much sought after. Especially by more dedicated players and those who are used to the 5v5 format, a standard in other more well-known MOBAs.

There are major patches that arrive every two or three months which help keep things fresh. These patches often include a new hero while smaller and more frequent patches bring balance changes, tweaks, and new skins for the existing heroes. For me and anyone else already sold on this game, these prospects are exciting and something to look forward to.

Vainglory with its tagline of “MOBA perfected for touch” delivers, but it does however inspire in hard core players something more to be desired. The self-aware fans of Dota and LoL can genuinely admit and not without pleasure that those games, even after thousands of hours of playtime, continue to offer secrets and opportunities for innovation- which help one get over the toxic behavior and attitudes that so envelop these games. Vainglory, in its current state does not offer the same level of depth though it does offer a more positive atmosphere. The karma system and the ability to up-vote and down-vote players post-match which effects their reputation and Glory gain (in-game currency used to purchase heroes and talents) certainly contributes to this. Moreover, a limited player communication system with the absence of in-game chat and voice chat, which is often regarded as a hindrance and a downside does limit the players’ ability to vent their rage on fellow teammates.

Thank you for reading.

You can watch me play games live at: twitch.tv/makemesmirk91