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6.5

Mixed or average reviews- based on 11934 Ratings

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  1. Oct 30, 2013
    10
    I hated this game at first and I understand why so many people say that it's bad. The community is awful, (yeah so is LoL), sometimes the match is an hour long (wish they put in a surrender option), and above all, losers get rare to legendary items while the winners get treasure chests or nothing. But giving it a low score because of its graphics or soundtrack or "DOTA copied Ashe andI hated this game at first and I understand why so many people say that it's bad. The community is awful, (yeah so is LoL), sometimes the match is an hour long (wish they put in a surrender option), and above all, losers get rare to legendary items while the winners get treasure chests or nothing. But giving it a low score because of its graphics or soundtrack or "DOTA copied Ashe and named her Drow" is a terrible reason to not give Dota a chance. .

    Now the reason why I started LOVING this game is because I didn't give up like so many others. In order to truly appreciate Dota, go find people, your friends if you have any, and start your training in a party. If you don't want trolls then just avoid them on your friend's list. If you want to LEARN and still play in a fixed champion camera (which I don't recommend), then you can still do so.

    Trust me when I say, LoL limits your ability to learn as a gamer. You can't freely choose your champion, so that's a downer. You can't play in a party if you’re like level 5 and the other person is level 30 (Trust me; you can't do nothing to the opponent except harass). Also, I see this in many LoL gamers, once you get too comfortable with a character and decide to stick to it, you start to forget what makes a game both difficult and rewarding. That is why Dota is so deep and immerse. You have to learn to adapt quickly and pay attention to your surroundings because dying hurts...like a lot (you lose money. MAN I NEEDED THAT!). You have to constantly change your character based on the situation, and since they didn't put in the surrender option, the game literally tells you to NEVER GIVE UP and FIGHT!
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  2. Oct 30, 2013
    8
    This is a great game! My only problem with it would be the community it has. It has a horrible community full of people who think they are better than everyone else, and constantly yell at you for messing up once. I play with friends though, so this really isn't a problem for me. Even if I'm in a game with teammates, I just ignore them and enjoy the game!
  3. Oct 30, 2013
    6
    Not the greatest game of all time, but probably the most legit MOBA out there, a hundred times deeper and smarter than League of Legends. The community is still horrible, mainly composed by lobotomized fanboys and but beside this, the game has hours of fun to offer.
    If you are into the online gaming, DotA 2 may be an interesting game to play.
    6/10 because not my kind of game, but a MOBA
    Not the greatest game of all time, but probably the most legit MOBA out there, a hundred times deeper and smarter than League of Legends. The community is still horrible, mainly composed by lobotomized fanboys and but beside this, the game has hours of fun to offer.
    If you are into the online gaming, DotA 2 may be an interesting game to play.
    6/10 because not my kind of game, but a MOBA player would probably give it a 8-9.
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  4. Oct 29, 2013
    10
    I'm not good at these type of games, but I know people who love these type of games will worship this game. I don't see anything wrong with this, it's how a game should be.
  5. Oct 27, 2013
    0
    Great pvp, with great champions. Great team play, game play. There's around 100 champions, for newbies, medium and advanced. If u don't know which champion is good for u just go single draft and i know that u will find something good. 10/10
  6. Oct 27, 2013
    10
    Best free-to-play to date. This game is the very best of team-playing pvp games. Unlike other similar moba's, this one has a great pay-module, where you only pay for cosmetics; AND the cosmetics are minor details (actually quite cool), so you recognize the hero you are fighting against. This game has the depth of Heroes of Newerth, but at a steadier phase, making it more accessible toBest free-to-play to date. This game is the very best of team-playing pvp games. Unlike other similar moba's, this one has a great pay-module, where you only pay for cosmetics; AND the cosmetics are minor details (actually quite cool), so you recognize the hero you are fighting against. This game has the depth of Heroes of Newerth, but at a steadier phase, making it more accessible to newcomers, yet still rewarding to veterans. Great game, 10/10 Expand
  7. Oct 25, 2013
    10
    Everything the original DotA was and more! Valve has done a great job and with each update the game gets better and better! While this game does a tougher entry level for new players, it is worth giving a shot!
  8. Oct 23, 2013
    10
    Dota 2 is probably the best PVP RTS game that i have EVER played. It's original, you can't get bored, you can play with friends or without them, you have a pool of heroes each with a different game strategy and you can equip them with sets that you can buy or receive by a random drop, it's not easy so you have to be good to really be good, you cant just be good at one character for eachDota 2 is probably the best PVP RTS game that i have EVER played. It's original, you can't get bored, you can play with friends or without them, you have a pool of heroes each with a different game strategy and you can equip them with sets that you can buy or receive by a random drop, it's not easy so you have to be good to really be good, you cant just be good at one character for each game is a different game. Its complex and fun to play, which is all i like in a on-line multiplayer game. For that, I score 10. Expand
  9. Oct 23, 2013
    10
    What about this game is that this game is the symbol of an era, of the specific decade among gaming history. DotA 1 was only a map, and when War3 gets too old there's concerns about this game that people may give it up some time in the future, and the glory of DotA will be finally forgotten. However, after Valve's taken their hands on it, they have renewed the masterpiece, and taken it toWhat about this game is that this game is the symbol of an era, of the specific decade among gaming history. DotA 1 was only a map, and when War3 gets too old there's concerns about this game that people may give it up some time in the future, and the glory of DotA will be finally forgotten. However, after Valve's taken their hands on it, they have renewed the masterpiece, and taken it to a new level. They have kept every single thing that's original in DotA1, every single tree, every skill, every hero, finest details, so that when old players get to play DotA2, they find it all new but all familiar. They know where they could hide in the forests, they know where the wards could be placed, etc. etc. Heroes change their posture upon injured, and if you are hit by the QOP's dagger you could see a dagger stuck on the hero's butt. Details like that could cost me days talking about! If the only thing they haven't restored, it's got to be the hero models, which are actually impossible to restore because of the copy rights.

    DotA's mechanism, no offence, is very complex to every single new player, and is very hard to master. It doesn't matter how clever you are, but you are certainly almost 100% gonna play like a fool in the first few games. My suggestion is that you play the tutorial, which is the easiest way to learn the game fast. The matchmaking system means you are not likely to be playing against someone who has won 100 times in the first few games in your life (although they could be someone who has already mastered DotA1), so do not take it too seriously. The system allows you to ban all the massages from other players, and if there is someone offending you, he could always be reported. I admit that the community is a bit like chaos right now, because of the sudden increment of players. New players only searching for fun won't be adoring this game even after months, because DotA is no fun if you don't know the rules and tricks. I say those because there are certain large amount of players who know nothing about the game itself, but only cursing and offending other players. Why do I value this community? Because DotA is a community-based game. Every game is 5v5, so that people will hear each other, and know each other. It's not like Battlefield 3 in which there are 32 people in a team and you have no idea who is the rookie. If the DotA community sucks, then the gaming experience sucks, then everything sucks. It is just this simple.

    Like every other game. DotA is not for everyone. Its most reasonable price means it could be played by everyone, but it's just a game and have its own fan base. If you don't like it, you can delete the game and play what you like for losing absolutely nothing. But if you liked it, I guarantee this is still the best choice for you.
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  10. Oct 23, 2013
    10
    This is currently the best moba game on the market.The game play is the same as the original dota-and all games that copied it,Not to name any names.The balance is amazing thanks to Icefrog and it is constantly being updated with patches.Not that it is important but the graphics in this game are much better than all other moba's combined.
  11. Oct 22, 2013
    10
    I respect those people who do not like DotA 2, BUT if you rate this game down because you do not like this game, then you are retarded. You only rate a game if you really played the game before, NOT because you don't like it.

    Steep learning curve? Yes. 'Pros' who will call you noob on your first game? Yes. Can't take all of these? Go away. We need real gamers who are determined to
    I respect those people who do not like DotA 2, BUT if you rate this game down because you do not like this game, then you are retarded. You only rate a game if you really played the game before, NOT because you don't like it.

    Steep learning curve? Yes. 'Pros' who will call you noob on your first game? Yes. Can't take all of these? Go away. We need real gamers who are determined to master this game, so we can spar with more quality players. There is no game community in the world that will say 'oh nevermind.. I don't care if you make mistake.' Suck it up AND THEN you will learn. Respect is EARNED. Even veterans will make mistakes when trying out new heroes, and they will be flamed too, so why spare the newbies?

    DotA 2's growth is amazing. Just take a look at the tournaments. We have the biggest prize pool in e-sports history, and it will increase every year for sure. That says a lot about this game. People pay for it. People earn a living from it, not only from playing, but by casting it too. We have awesome casters like TobiWan, LD, Merlini and much more. They will make tournament games much enjoyable to watch as they already are.

    As for the gameplay, I'm sure many other reviews had mentioned about it, so I would not waste your time here. Hop on the train, if you have what it takes. WE WANT YOU.
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  12. Oct 21, 2013
    10
    Best MOBA by far. There are still some rough edges and bugs, but still a lot better and balanced gameplay than LoL or HoN.
    Game's visuals are great, gameplay is balanced and stable, strategies are virtually endless and there are always new tricks and tactics to play with or against. With occasional releases of new heroes and rare appearances of new in-game items, the gameplay remains
    Best MOBA by far. There are still some rough edges and bugs, but still a lot better and balanced gameplay than LoL or HoN.
    Game's visuals are great, gameplay is balanced and stable, strategies are virtually endless and there are always new tricks and tactics to play with or against. With occasional releases of new heroes and rare appearances of new in-game items, the gameplay remains interesting. The servers are also good and multiple servers are available, with new servers constantly being added, to cover the entire globe with good pings.
    The game is also officially available on LAN which makes it especially interesting for players who cannot benefit the most from online servers (you don't get any Dota2 player experience or cosmetic item drops if you play on LAN).
    The game is free to play, besides for purely cosmetic items which do not affect the gameplay in any way. Dota2 is not a pay-to-win style game.
    Besides Windows, it runs on Linux (Ubuntu) as well. This means that you have to pay NOTHING besides the hardware and bandwidth costs to play this game. That's definitely next level of free-to-play in the gaming industry.
    The cosmetic items are regulated very well for quality control and players can get random cosmetic item drops at the end of matches or each Dota2 level upgrade (which is different from in-game hero level upgrade)
    DotaTV, or the spectator mode, is great. It allows viewing the game from player perspective, event based automated camera, free camera or any caster's camera. DotaTV also supports in game casting with full audio commentary. The tournaments get great coverage and casters are good too. AND you get additional cosmetic item drop chance while spectating a tournament game (which have rather high community market value)
    All in all, a great game. Definitely a 10/10 in MOBA and also in free to play games.
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  13. Oct 21, 2013
    1
    DOTA II has a horrible Community that makes the game far less enjoyable than it could be. New players are turned away because of this and older players have a worse time leading to further negativity towards other players.

    The graphics aren't the worst, but they aren't that good. For a game that thrives on detailed team-play and champion strategies it stunts the potential. The only
    DOTA II has a horrible Community that makes the game far less enjoyable than it could be. New players are turned away because of this and older players have a worse time leading to further negativity towards other players.

    The graphics aren't the worst, but they aren't that good. For a game that thrives on detailed team-play and champion strategies it stunts the potential. The only reason this game could be considered as more difficult than other games in this genre would be the graphics and lingering champion game-play. The graphics make it difficult to see what exactly is going on and doesn't get much easier as you progress. Pretty much every champion has at least one ability that will root/stun/slow ect. for around 5 seconds. When a game has that kind of kill security it doesn't matter if the champions are Balanced.

    I've played many other Game in this genre and besides HoN they were all much more enjoyable than DOTA II. When I first played a game or two It was extremely easy compared to league of legends or other similar games. It may be more difficult to see what's going on but the spells are so overpowered on all the champions that it was easy coming from game that have underpowered spells.

    The worst thing About DOTA II would be the Item system that has been Implemented. It's just ridiculous how it's not user friendly at all. This game has such a bad In-Game and Community Experience that players Uninstall it after playing 1-3 matches. The fact that this game was for sale when it had been released and is now free to play should tell you all you need to know about it. I recall having been gifted the game through Steam and then having loads of copies put into my inventory to give to other steam members. It was just sad.
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  14. Oct 21, 2013
    10
    This free game is awesome! The effects, heroes, etc.. are all amazing! I Love playing it with my friends!. This is not just a game. This is a team play, with such coordination with the team, skilled players and Need to put up some strategies to play the game better.
  15. Oct 19, 2013
    10
    Best MOBA created. Lots of characters to master and alot of players to play with. Many different modes just in case you get tired of ALL PICK. There's 2 things about Dota 2 it's completely free and it's developed by VALVe
  16. Oct 19, 2013
    1
    Would you like to get yelled at by angry nerds while playing video games? Then this game is for you. Most hostile gaming community in the world. The players are: Egotistic, egocentric, unsporting, aggressive, hostile, uncaring, mean, mistrusting, immature, callous, apathetic and incredibly pretentious while at every loss prompting everyone inside the current game to "Report player X" ifWould you like to get yelled at by angry nerds while playing video games? Then this game is for you. Most hostile gaming community in the world. The players are: Egotistic, egocentric, unsporting, aggressive, hostile, uncaring, mean, mistrusting, immature, callous, apathetic and incredibly pretentious while at every loss prompting everyone inside the current game to "Report player X" if someone on their team was even remotely new to the game or did any other action not sanctified by them, be it going in what lane you want, not purchasing courier/wards or simply just had an unlucky run/getting cross-classed. Expand
  17. Oct 18, 2013
    10
    Great MOBA game! This game hard for new players, but really interested for gamers with experience. I think that this game like a modern chess. RecommendDOTA 2 for all.
  18. Oct 17, 2013
    10
    Clearly dota 2 is the biggest online game and its a signature PC game. It's impossible to see so much depth and gameplay in other games as dota 2 provides a unique multiplayer experience. Initially it can really tough for noobs but once you get the hang of it dota can be truly intriguing. Every match is different from the other and the game is constantly updated. The store items that canClearly dota 2 is the biggest online game and its a signature PC game. It's impossible to see so much depth and gameplay in other games as dota 2 provides a unique multiplayer experience. Initially it can really tough for noobs but once you get the hang of it dota can be truly intriguing. Every match is different from the other and the game is constantly updated. The store items that can be purchased is purely cosmetic and in no way affects gameplay so its definitely not pay to win. It's a must-play game for any PC gamer Expand
  19. Oct 16, 2013
    10
    At 3000 hours played, it's difficult to make an accurate review when there is no real way to describe the game, any description that involves the word "Moba" should be disregarded.
  20. Oct 16, 2013
    10
    fantastic game with fantastic graphics and game interface! wish it can play with lan games with my friends so we can do some trashtalk.. thumbs up for dota 2!
  21. Oct 16, 2013
    7
    For the 7 hours I played it, I really enjoyed it. It is very well balanced, meaning that a very casual gamer like me still has a chance against a die hard PVP fan, which is always the first thing I search for in a game.
    I also like the 4on4 aspect of the game-not too much, not too little, just enough for 1 person in each lane and a "hunter" as I call it.
    Would easily recommend, as I have
    For the 7 hours I played it, I really enjoyed it. It is very well balanced, meaning that a very casual gamer like me still has a chance against a die hard PVP fan, which is always the first thing I search for in a game.
    I also like the 4on4 aspect of the game-not too much, not too little, just enough for 1 person in each lane and a "hunter" as I call it.
    Would easily recommend, as I have done previously.
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  22. Oct 16, 2013
    10
    Coming from a man who played League, wow. What a change. (I also played DoTA, but only about 200 hours of it) I have over 1000 wins in League of Legends, and when I first started playing this game, I thought it would be easy. Holy was I wrong. Now, 1500 hours into this game, and that ****ty half-ass game they call League light years behind me, I'm loving every second of this game.

    The
    Coming from a man who played League, wow. What a change. (I also played DoTA, but only about 200 hours of it) I have over 1000 wins in League of Legends, and when I first started playing this game, I thought it would be easy. Holy was I wrong. Now, 1500 hours into this game, and that ****ty half-ass game they call League light years behind me, I'm loving every second of this game.

    The skill level required to play this game is astronomical, but thats why I enjoy it. The pure amount of knowledge youre required to know, and the skill required to play each hero, is off the charts. This game is exclusively skill based. But thats why I love it. For the most part, I know if what Im doing is going to be good or bad, if what Im doing is contributing to the team. If the people Im partied up with are going to do good based on their character choices, lanes, etc. This game, this game just has everything for parties of 5 or less.

    However this game has one downfall (Actually more, but one major one). The skill cap is ludicrously high. This makes it hard to get people into the game, as they have to spend literally hundreds of hours learning to just be "less than average at best". This makes it hard to get friends to join in on the fun, however, if they do, and they stick to it, it is quite possibly one of the most rewarding games out there period.

    Dota 2 is amazing, just prepare yourself for hundreds of hours of learning though!
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  23. Oct 15, 2013
    10
    Okay let me elaborate on my high rating of this game.

    Been around the block: First of all I have been playing these kind of games since the early wc3 DOTA days. Throughout the years I have tried mostly every game within the genre and can't seem to find a game that offers me the same complexity as DOTA, yet this is just a personal preference of mine. The game and it's features: DOTA
    Okay let me elaborate on my high rating of this game.

    Been around the block:
    First of all I have been playing these kind of games since the early wc3 DOTA days. Throughout the years I have tried mostly every game within the genre and can't seem to find a game that offers me the same complexity as DOTA, yet this is just a personal preference of mine.

    The game and it's features:
    DOTA offers a F2P(Free To Play) model unlike any other of it competitors, you open the game and every hero is unlocked and ready for your command, no unlocking anything, so no one have an in-game advantage of any kind. This to me is the only way for a competitive game to present it self.
    If you want a professional player base, why would you limit newcomers to 5-10% of the hero base?
    Further more I'm very pleased with the result of DOTA2, smooth movement, each hero feels unique and original. I've had my beta key since the earlier stage of the game, and there have been bugs to say the least, I would though have to credit valve for their very fast respond time of fixes, and listening to the community and making changes accordingly. Now the game have been released and I can only think back at the process I have seen this game come through. Must admit I'm huge fan of the result.

    NOOB go un-install:
    I'm sincerely sorry for all the new-comers to the game that they have had bad experiences in so many games in a row. But DOTA is an extremely frustrating game you just have to get your head around it, it's like the first time you play counter-strike and misses everything, the game changes character once you start hitting your opponents before they hit you.
    The same goes for DOTA once you you figure out how to manage all the little things, the bigger things starts to make more sense. The high learning curve makes this game the most time consuming game I've ever played, there is always something new to be learned.
    This I understand can be a huge challenge to new-comers and to people that somehow lack the patience to learn the essence of why things goes wrong.
    Luckily I can tell you this; If you keep improving and keep understand how/why things happens, and try to figure out how to avoid the bad things and do more of the good things, you must be willing to learn the mechanics of the game and understand them properly. I have friends who have played this game for years without improving much, the have stopped learning beyond the names of the heroes and their abilities, and they sometimes rage over skype when being out-played by opponents, then i explain to them what happened and why, further more suggestions how to avoid it in the future. Rage will never help you, common sense on the other hand, remember there is a counter to everything and every hero, you just have to figure it out.

    One does simply not just play good DOTA..
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  24. Oct 14, 2013
    5
    Dota 2 as a game is very well made, however the community is where its hit the hardest. Most of the players are rude, unwelcoming to the newbies and often report them for feeding (intentionally dying to help the enemy) which has numerous consequences. If the community was to be improved, I would gladly give this game a higher score, however as most of the players are insincere I have toDota 2 as a game is very well made, however the community is where its hit the hardest. Most of the players are rude, unwelcoming to the newbies and often report them for feeding (intentionally dying to help the enemy) which has numerous consequences. If the community was to be improved, I would gladly give this game a higher score, however as most of the players are insincere I have to give this game a 5, not bad, but not great either. Expand
  25. Oct 13, 2013
    8
    EXTREMELY addictive, hard, satisfying game.
    The only reason that i didn't give it 10/10 is because there is no rewarding system
    i win a match without the slightest mistake, getting a beyond godlike killstreak and the game gives me a crate. Also, if the enemy team has more than 2 stupid people on their team and never consider the fact that you might be better than them, you're gonna be
    EXTREMELY addictive, hard, satisfying game.
    The only reason that i didn't give it 10/10 is because there is no rewarding system
    i win a match without the slightest mistake, getting a beyond godlike killstreak and the game gives me a crate.
    Also, if the enemy team has more than 2 stupid people on their team and never consider the fact that you might be better than them, you're gonna be stuck in low priority pool for 3 days.
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  26. Oct 12, 2013
    10
    Great game if you like games like LOL or HON, but they seem to bland or simple for you. DOTA 2 provides an extra depth of difficulty and challenge that others do not have.
  27. Oct 11, 2013
    5
    I love the original DOTA because the campaign was great and lots of mods. DOTA 2's graphic is better,though. But the community was the worst nightmare for newbies or even the pros.
  28. Oct 11, 2013
    10
    This Game is EPIC, when you play a long time, you can view the diference to League of Legends; more fun, more playability, is really better that LoL, the best MOBA ever.
  29. Oct 9, 2013
    3
    Repetitive, but that's for some reason what a lot of people like. Although there are indeed dozens of heroes to choose from, in my opinion the game gets... boring. Not only that, but to actually PLAY the game without being called a "feeder" you have to play with bots for a week. And heck, I don't like that! I want to jump in the game immediately and have fun, not get swarmed by objectivesRepetitive, but that's for some reason what a lot of people like. Although there are indeed dozens of heroes to choose from, in my opinion the game gets... boring. Not only that, but to actually PLAY the game without being called a "feeder" you have to play with bots for a week. And heck, I don't like that! I want to jump in the game immediately and have fun, not get swarmed by objectives I have no idea on what to do, or terms I have no idea what they mean. Also, it's just dull... the game takes forever to start in the first place and combat is rather boring. In general, though critics say "superb", I say "whatever". Expand
  30. Oct 8, 2013
    4
    This game is not designed to be successful. It is still designed with the "custom game" mentality of the original: it is not one that seems to even WANT to have a large player base. That said, it is an improved version of the original and fun when things go your way if you stick around long enough.

    Let me elaborate on my statement that it is not designed to be successful: the learning
    This game is not designed to be successful. It is still designed with the "custom game" mentality of the original: it is not one that seems to even WANT to have a large player base. That said, it is an improved version of the original and fun when things go your way if you stick around long enough.

    Let me elaborate on my statement that it is not designed to be successful: the learning curve is steep, and painful, even for those who are very familiar with the genre. Until you are at a high competitive level, once you are down you stay down. There are many champions that are very strong against new players that are not very good at all at higher levels of play very anti-fun mechanics leave you muttering and wishing to give up, which is not an option until your opponents choose to end the game, no matter how far behind you are.

    The lack of protection for new players does allow for more fun and wild champion design, but may not be worth the price. The community remains nearly as toxic as the original, and when you can choose to play a champion that is permanently invisible or can dash across the map and stun you for the entire time it takes to kill you, this isn't surprising.
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Metascore
90

Universal acclaim - based on 33 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 32 out of 33
  2. Negative: 0 out of 33
  1. Aug 15, 2017
    85
    And this dichotomy is perhaps the best descriptor I can attach to Dota 2. It is frequently a game which occupies two opposite spaces simultaneously. It is the best game. It is also the worst game. No game has ever made me as miserable as Dota 2 has. But no game has made me feel so consistently rewarded for my time, and as consistently, wonderfully connected to the friends I play it with.
  2. Feb 19, 2014
    95
    Simply irresistible and addictive as hell.
  3. Games Master UK
    Sep 1, 2013
    90
    Unforgiving from the get-go, but a landmark in competitive multiplayer design. [Oct 2013, p.68]