Heroes of Newerth is a repackaging of the popular Defense of the Ancients (DotA) game that MMO players have always enjoyed. But what is its difference from its predecessor and what purpose does its creators serve in creating a totally new game like this? Check out this review to determine why.
About the Game
While it is true that the popular Defense of the Ancients (DotA) custom map for Warcraft 3 still maintains a massive following, the limitations of the seven-year-old Warcraft 3 engine cannot be denied. Thus, the potential for fresh and new DotA-like games are exceptional. California based developer S2 Games capitalized on this idea with Heroes of Newerth.
But what is in MMO game? What actually defines and separates it from other PC based games of its kind? Is it merely a repackaging of games we've already known, or does it really have a reason to stand on its own. For more insights about this, check out this article defining What An MMO Is. However, regardles of what you call Heroes of Newerth does tend to have a style of its own, similar to older games like DoTA or even Warcraft games.
Currently in its beta phase, Heroes of Newerth or HoN for short is heavily based on the intensely popular WC3 custom map. Unlike other games which have only slightly emulated the DotA-style gameplay, HoN significantly mimics several of DotA's main characteristics, from almost carbon-copy map layouts to directly transferring heroes. The game is basically DotA with a brand new look, with its own distinct and unique characteristics of course, such as new heroes and items.
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Rating 
Just like DotA, the game has two opposing factions that fight each other during each game. While DotA has the Sentinel and the Scourge which are based on Warcraft lore, HoN has the Legion battling with the Hellbourne, based on the lore of Savage, an earlier S2 game. Each faction gives players a a huge variety of heroes to choose from. Just like DotA, the heroes in HoN are categorized into three groups: Strength, Agility, and Intelligence. As of patch 1.5, there are currently 28 heroes for the Legion and 27 heroes for the Hellbourne. And again, like DotA, each hero has 4 unique skills. The default mode of gameplay in HoN is basically that of DotA: to control your hero and push lanes while destroying creeps, towers, and enemy heroes, and to eventually destroy the opposing faction's main stronghold.
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HoN currently has four maps to choose from: Forests of Caldavar, Darkwood Vale, Watchtower and a one-lane map for testing purposes. Tower, creep and shop locations in the Forests of Caldavar are almost identical to the DotA map, thus making it the most popular map for players. Items, as well as their gold cost and bonuses, are heavily based on DotA as well. So don't be surprised to see your good old Battlefury or Mask of Madness (Runed Axe and Elder parasite in HoN, respectively). Neutral boss creeps are also included. DotA's Roshan is a King Kong like monster in HoN called Kongor. The Watchtower map also boasts two new neutral bosses.