League Of Legends, classically known as “LOL” has been a widely played title for over a decade; and now, the developers intend to take it up a notch by giving enthusiasts a mobile version. Surprisingly, the mobile-friendly version is not a complete replica of the original; instead, Riot games made an almost new version of the game that promises the same immersion and authentic league experience that existed in the original. Undoubtedly, giving the latest iteration a run brought back the intimidating memories of the complex quirks and rules that hunted us for years on the PC version. However, the new system ensures that even novices would master it within a few minutes. 

In terms of core game elements, the two versions are identical as you still have to run across a three-lane map with four other players playing against another team of five players. The jungle creatures are also very much alive, and choosing unique character abilities survived the transformation. On the other hand, the noticeable difference circles around the lesser time it takes to reach the enemy’s base due to the smaller map. Since its release for iOS and Android in March 2021, the continuous and positive reception gives fans the hope of having the title on console very soon. 

The Race For The “Nexus”

The developers retained the gameplay of the original PC iteration. However, there are still some subtle changes due to mobile compatibility issues. Typically, a session consists of five players playing against one another. Each set of five players form a team, but each player must choose a unique character. The first team to demolish the “nexus” wins the session. However, reaching this “nexus” requires the team to take down some turrets. These turrets serve as protective structures or barriers within the game universe. 

The developers tried to create a replica of the original game, but due to some obvious mobile compatibility issues, there were some gameplay modifications. The most noticeable adaptation is the map size reduction which formerly took almost forty-five minutes to travel.  You can gain more rewards faster, and the time to reclaim character health has been considerably reduced. 

A very crucial part of the gameplay is the excellent tutorial series that eases the game for novices. The guide shows the significance of every map landmark and why you should unleash hell on any monster. As a bonus, you can also pull up the guide and give yourself a crash course during the game. The PC purchases didn’t come with this version but there’s still plenty of in-game rewards. 

Sixty Champions And One Goal 

The normal five against five-mode comes from the original design and plays wonderfully well on mobile phones. Playing in this mode requires you to choose a champion based on the player stats that you prefer. Other players also choose their preferred character and skin. 

In this mobile version, there’s now an additional ARAM mode that lacks the dragon quest and allows the game to choose a random champion. Only about sixty “champions” made it to this version out of over one hundred and fifty that came with the PC. However, you can purchase more champions as you play or simply unlock them as you progress. 

Overall, even though the publishers released the game as a free item, it still presents an enjoyable title for any authentic enthusiast.

Bossy Colors And Animations

Typically, one would expect that the PC version should have a more bossy, classy, and colorful appearance. However, it is surprising to reveal that the mobile iteration outshines its predecessor in some places. The noticeable graphical representations include the unique animated introduction for the characters. When you click on any of the champions, you’ll notice the unique skin as you rate their abilities. 

The developers also did an excellent job with hardware compatibility. The PC version had no spectacular specifications or requirements. So does the new iteration, as it plays smoothly on most iPhones with a mature appeal. However, some users have reported a few crashes and start screen hangs. 

Take Control The Easy Way 

This is where the real challenge of transforming a decade-long PC game into a mobile-friendly version lies. However, the developers did an excellent job by providing touchscreen controls. These controls, though sometimes unresponsive, contain a joystick for directional movement and attack buttons. 

There’s also a button to take you back to base whenever you want and another that brings up the map. I particularly found the automatic attack buttons useful as they allowed me to focus on taking down monsters and walls while moving around.  However, the wider your device screen, the better you’ll enjoy the controls. 

Playing on devices like tablets will give you more room to breathe and allow you to see the game universe at a wider angle. In terms of control glitches, I suffered a few. The most noticeable is the unresponsive joystick that could pull you back to base accidentally several times. Apart from this, you will easily enjoy your time slaying dragons and capturing the Nexus. 

From the control design, I always get this feeling that the developers were trying to find a middle course between supplying useful gameplay information on the screen and providing versatile controls. 

Verdict

Wild rift came at a good time and with a good intention. The onboarding is excellent, and the developers’ intent on making a game that guarantees the immersion and originality of its predecessor is very clear. The noticeable differences in the reduced game time and small map also make it work better on a mobile platform. Besides, a very crucial positive is the in-game tutorial that gives novices a guide of the monsters and map positions. With these numerous positives, it’s almost surprising that it took this long to make a mobile version of this household game. Riot games can only take this as a win and build on the momentum for more mobile-friendly titles.