Summary

Release Year: 2015
Genres: MOBA
Platforms: Mac, PC (Microsoft Windows)
Developers: Blizzard Entertainment
Publishers: Blizzard Entertainment

Heroes of the Storm: A MOBA for Blizzard Fans

Heroes of the Storm is a multiplayer online battle arena (MOBA) video game developed and published by Blizzard Entertainment. The game was released for Microsoft Windows and macOS in June 2015. Heroes of the Storm brings together characters (known in the game as heroes) from multiple Blizzard universes, such as Warcraft, StarCraft, and Diablo, and puts them against each other in an arena in a 5 versus 5 battle.

Heroes of the Storm is played on a variety of maps, each with its own unique objectives. The goal of the game is to destroy the enemy team’s core, a structure located in their base. To do this, players must work together to capture objectives, defeat enemy heroes, and push lanes.

Heroes of the Storm features a variety of game modes, including:

Quick Match: A standard 5v5 match with random map selection.
Ranked Play: A competitive mode where players can earn ranks and rewards.
Unranked Draft: A draft mode where players can ban heroes and select their own team compositions.
Co-op: A mode where players can team up against AI-controlled enemies.
Brawl: A rotating game mode with unique rules and objectives.

Heroes of the Storm has been praised for its fast-paced gameplay, diverse roster of heroes, and accessible design. The game has also been criticized for its lack of innovation and its reliance on microtransactions.

Gameplay

Heroes of the Storm is played from a top-down perspective. Players control a single hero and must work together with their team to achieve victory. Heroes have a variety of abilities, including basic attacks, heroic abilities, and talents. Basic attacks are the most basic form of attack and can be used to damage enemy heroes and structures. Heroic abilities are more powerful abilities that can be used to turn the tide of battle. Talents are passive abilities that can be chosen to enhance a hero’s stats or abilities.

Heroes of the Storm is a fast-paced game that requires players to be constantly aware of their surroundings. Players must be able to quickly assess the situation and make decisions about which objectives to capture, which enemies to engage, and how to best use their abilities.

Heroes

There are over 80 heroes to choose from in Heroes of the Storm, each with their own unique abilities and playstyles. Heroes are divided into four roles:

Assassins: Assassins are high-damage dealers who are capable of quickly eliminating enemy heroes.
Bruisers: Bruisers are durable fighters who can deal sustained damage and soak up damage for their team.
Healers: Healers are support heroes who can heal their allies and provide them with buffs.
Supports: Supports are utility heroes who can provide their team with a variety of benefits, such as crowd control, vision, and damage mitigation.

Players can choose to play as any hero they want, but it is important to consider the team composition when selecting a hero. A good team composition will have a mix of heroes from different roles in order to provide a balance of damage, durability, and utility.

Maps

Heroes of the Storm is played on a variety of maps, each with its own unique objectives. The maps are designed to encourage teamwork and objective play. Some of the most popular maps in Heroes of the Storm include:

Battlefield of Eternity: A map with three lanes and a central objective that grants a powerful buff to the team that controls it.
Cursed Hollow: A map with two lanes and a central objective that curses the team that controls it, making them take more damage.
Dragon Shire: A map with three lanes and a central objective that spawns a powerful dragon knight that can be ridden by the team that controls it.
Haunted Mines: A map with two lanes and a central objective that spawns gems that can be turned in for powerful rewards.
Sky Temple: A map with three lanes and a central objective that grants a powerful buff to the team that controls it.

The objectives on each map are designed to encourage teamwork and objective play. Teams that are able to successfully capture and defend objectives will have a significant advantage over their opponents.

Game Modes

Heroes of the Storm features a variety of game modes, each with its own unique rules and objectives. The most popular game modes in Heroes of the Storm include:

Quick Match: A standard 5v5 match with random map selection.
Ranked Play: A competitive mode where players can earn ranks and rewards.
Unranked Draft: A draft mode where players can ban heroes and select their own team compositions.
Co-op: A mode where players can team up against AI-controlled enemies.
Brawl: A rotating game mode with unique rules and objectives.

Quick Match is the most popular game mode in Heroes of the Storm. In Quick Match, players are randomly assigned to a team of five and matched against another team of five. The map is also randomly selected. Ranked Play is a competitive mode where players can earn ranks and rewards. In Ranked Play, players are matched against other players of similar skill level. Unranked Draft is a draft mode where players can ban heroes and select their own team compositions. Unranked Draft is a good way to learn about the different heroes and team compositions in Heroes of the Storm. Co-op is a mode where players can team up against AI-controlled enemies. Co-op is a good way to learn the basics of Heroes of the Storm and to try out different heroes and team compositions. Brawl is a rotating game mode with unique rules and objectives. Brawl is a good way to mix things up and try something new.

Development

Heroes of the Storm was developed by Blizzard Entertainment, the company behind popular games such as World of Warcraft, StarCraft, and Diablo. Heroes of the Storm was first announced at BlizzCon 2013 and entered closed beta in 2014. The game was released for Microsoft Windows and macOS in June 2015.

Heroes of the Storm has been updated regularly since its release with new heroes, maps, and game modes. The game has also been the subject of several balance patches and gameplay changes.

Reception

Heroes of the Storm has received generally positive reviews from critics. The game has been praised for its fast-paced gameplay, diverse roster of heroes, and accessible design. However, the game has also been criticized for its lack of innovation and its reliance on microtransactions.

Despite the mixed reviews, Heroes of the Storm has been a commercial success for Blizzard Entertainment. The game has over 20 million registered players and has generated over $1 billion in revenue.