You may need a computer to play popular MOBA (multiplayer online battle arena) titles like League of Legends or DotA, but the genre is starting to make inroads on other platforms. The first mobile MOBA of its kind, Heroes of Order & Chaos successfully brings the feel of the genre onto iPhone and iPad without sacrificing too much of what makes the game approach so much fun to begin with.
Heroes plays like your typical MOBA and pits two teams of either three or five heroes against each other. Each team has defensive towers and an endless supply of computer-controlled soldiers at its disposal, so the real strategy lies in leveling up your hero’s abilities and working with your teammates to defeat the enemy’s base, all while ensuring your own stays protected. Experienced players will feel right at home with the game’s robust features, while newcomers can easily get acquainted with tutorials and offline skirmishes.
Moving your character feels seamless, and can be done using a virtual joystick or by tapping the screen. You can also tap enemies to attack them or tap an ability to use it. Switching targets can sometimes get tricky when there are multiple enemies on your small iPhone screen, but minor problems aside, the touch-based controls prove an effective substitute for a mouse and keyboard.
Six free playable characters are available each week, so even though there are 30 in total, you’ll either need to spend real money or save up the gold you make in matches to purchase more. This system is actually quite effective, giving you plenty of time to rent, use, and learn your favorite characters, while ultimately rewarding you with money to buy them permanently. You really don’t need to spend anything to fully enjoy the game, and with each match you play, you'll increase your rank and earn rewards.
Matchmaking does tend to take longer than a few minutes, and there are some lag issues that happen every so often. Furthermore, communicating with your teammates is done through an in-game chat window, but accessing it essentially removes you from the action. Teamwork is key to winning MOBA matches, so this rustic means of communication takes some of the strategy away from the game.
The bottom line. Despite some interface and matchmaking issues, Heroes of Order & Chaos is a fun and accessible pioneer into the world of mobile MOBA.
of 5
iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch running iOS 4.3 or later
Offers the feel of a big MOBA on mobile devices. Impressive selection of characters to choose from. Graphics are sharp and detailed.
Communication is limited to ill-implemented text-based chats. Matches suffer from lag spikes and connection issues. Targeting can get confusing during busy battles.
