If Mageseeker had got it right with an intriguing story and a well-chosen combat, CONVERGENCE: A League of Legends Story is that arrow that divides the previous one in two and splits the objective in half like in the movies. Despite launching just over a month apart, it almost seems that the developers of this new title have decided to intervene in the criticisms made of the previous work to give fans of League of Legends, or those in love with Arcane, a truly unforgettable experience.
riot forge, the Riot Games imprint designed to create a series of externally developed spin-offs that expand on the visuals of League of Legends, and double stud games They hit the mark because they managed to produce a really solid platformer, with a clear sense of progression, a simple but intriguing story and a decidedly charismatic protagonist: Ekko. The LoL time traveler will accompany you among the rooftops and sewers of Zaun, the underground city that lives in the shadow of Piltover, to thwart a plot that has to do with those same crystals around which the plot of Arcane revolves.
In this Review of CONVERGENCE: A League of Legends Story We will tell you about the very classic mechanics available in combat and exploration in this game and how, thanks to a well-developed universe and a layered narrative, this title can be considered Riot Forge's most successful experiment so far.
Jump, double jump and rewind time
CONVERGENCE: A League of Legends story will give you access to all the most classic skills of 2D platform games: jump, double jump, run, wall walk, Railgrind and Walljump. . What makes this game unique and nostalgic at the same time is the possibility of rewind time at any time, both during combat and during platforming. This ability immediately took us back to the days of Prince of Persia and the Sands of Time and reminded us how much less frustrating video games can be simply by being able to try again without having to restart from a checkpoint. The loadouts you have available are limited, but the resources needed to fill your reserves can be found quite easily on the game's maps.
Exploration is particularly satisfying because it's almost never punishing, and there are rare moments where a particular section will force you to use a specific skill. As in Hollow Knight, then, abilities such as double jumping or the ability to briefly walk on walls are used to unlock certain sections of the map until you have received them as a reward for the natural progression of the story. It's a little frustrating at first, but we understand the stylistic choice because it's a good way to mix a linear narrative with an almost open-world design.
Layered combat
The other activity that will occupy most of your time, along with exploration, is fight which is easy to learn and becomes increasingly multifaceted as the campaign progresses. The primary weapon remains Ekko's greatsword throughout the game, with the main changes coming in the form of scouting abilities that can also be used to damage enemies in some way. The ability to teleport, for example, in combat is transformed into an attack capable of breaking enemy shields, the power to move large objects with the force of the Zero Engine (the device that allows Ekko to travel in time), then It becomes a repulsor that scares away opponents.
To these tools you can add techniques that can be learned in exchange for in-game currency that can be obtained by breaking objects scattered throughout the levels. We recommend that you learn to parry as soon as possible because it is essential to stun some of the stronger enemies that you will encounter from the third level. As an additional layer of customization, Ekko can build gadgets which translate into passive modifiers that add effects to your abilities and improve them. Each of these takes up a certain number of slots based on their effectiveness, but by defeating bosses, Ekko can increase the number of slots available to him. These powerful enemies are mostly well done, even if one of them appears virtually identical three times, but in a different costume. However, when the other League of Legends champions act as final enemies, the battles are simply incredible. We won't give away any spoilers, but two iconic champions from Zaun and Piltover will make you sweat in multi-phase battles, each with different attacks.
A map that evolves with you
One of the aspects that left us most satisfied with CONVERGENCE: A League of Legends Story is the artistic direction. He Style halfway between cartoons and comics. Both the settings and the movies are very consistent with the atmosphere of light that can be felt in this video game. He Dubbing to Spanish It is very well done and perfectly conveys the exaggerated personalities of the villains and protagonists. The level design, then, evolves very well along with the new skills that are unlocked, always having a brief introductory section that explains a new mechanic before mixing it with the flow of exploration and combat. The most visually satisfying part, then, are the backgrounds of the platforming sections. Here the Double Stallion artists really outdid themselves and managed to convey very well and in their style that decadent but richly decorated atmosphere that Arcane accustomed us to for Zaun and Piltover.
In terms of progression, then, we appreciate the choice to imagine the different sections of the map almost as linear levels which, however, once the mission is over, can always be revisited to try to obtain the game's numerous collectibles. There is no trace of recoil, the story never requires you to retrace your steps in a completed level, but it is at the player's discretion. Collectibles are different and have two main ways of being obtained: the first through mini platform challenges with a chest at the end, the second through dedicated sections of the map that contain a relatively difficult exploration challenge chasing a robot or a tough fight with 3 or 4 groups of enemies one after another.
the only default The lack of variety in the enemies is evident in this game, which, with the exception of some elite units, are not very varied throughout the game. The problem is that as the opposing faction changes, it becomes clear that most of the basic enemies are the same as the previous faction, with a slightly different color scheme and a bit more health. It's a shame, but it's no obstacle to enjoying the mechanics and the beautiful settings.
Conclusions
Tested version PC with Windows digital delivery Steam, playstation store, Xbox Store, Nintendo eShop Price 29,99 € Holygamerz.com 8.0 Readers (4) 6.5 your voteCONVERGENCE: A League of Legends Story is a great platformer with a light and intriguing story, layered combat, and satisfying exploration mechanics. The most obvious flaw is the lack of variety in enemies, but otherwise the title holds up very well, especially thanks to the ability to turn back time, which eliminates tons of frustration both in platforming and in battles with the most difficult bosses. Riot Forge has now perfected a recipe that works: take one or more LoL champions and explore their history with a single-player adventure that doesn't invent anything new from a game design standpoint but adapts what's been done well in last. to the rich history of Runeterra. League of Legends fans will find dozens of quotes to understand and Arcane fans will be able to reconnect with those iconic characters and settings that made them fall in love with the series. The final piece of the puzzle to this game's success, then, is that even those who are completely new to the world of LoL will find themselves looking at a playably solid and narratively effective experience. and that it requires no prerequisites in terms of history.
PRO
- Fun and easy to follow story.
- Layered combat
- Beautiful to look at and satisfying to explore.
AGAINST
- Little variety in enemy units.
- Some graphical bug that makes the command icons disappear
