Dota 2 is a game that evokes strong emotions in both beginners and experienced players. It impresses with its gameplay, but at the same time, it can test our patience. Let's try to figure out why we love and sometimes hate our favourite game so much.

Why do we love Dota 2?

Gameplay depth
Dota 2 is known for its complexity and variety of strategies. Each game is unique due to the many combinations of heroes, items, and tactics. Players can choose different roles, positions, and strategies depending on the situation on the battlefield, making each game unpredictable and exciting. The depth of the gameplay lies not only in the choice of heroes, but also in understanding the game mechanics, the correct use of abilities and items, and the ability to adapt to the dynamics of the battle.

A variety of heroes
The game has over 120 heroes, each with their own unique abilities and playstyle. This allows each player to find their favourite character. In addition, the heroes are divided into different roles, such as support, lane, offline, and mid, which adds depth to strategic planning and teamwork. Players can choose heroes that suit their individual preferences and playstyle, as well as take into account synergies and counter-peaks when building a team. Constant updates to the game add new heroes and balance existing ones, which ensures dynamic and fresh gameplay.

Distribution model
The game is free to download and play, making it accessible to a wide audience. The game is monetised through the sale of cosmetic items, such as character skins, couriers, and other accessories that do not affect the game balance but allow players to personalise their experience.

Constant updates Valve regularly releases updates, adding new heroes, items, and bug fixes. This maintains interest in the game and allows it to evolve. In addition, Valve often holds seasonal events and special events that bring new challenges and rewards.

Team play
Collaboration with teammates is a key element of the game, which makes it especially attractive to those who love team spirit and strategy. Success in the game depends on effective communication, coordination, and the distribution of roles among team members.

Modifications and the community
The Dota 2 community creates a lot of modifications and content, including new game modes, maps, and cosmetic items. In addition, players have the opportunity to create and share their own game modes through the Steam Workshop, which adds variety and creativity to the game.

Visuals
The game has stunning graphics and animations that make every match vivid and exciting. The design of the characters, their abilities, and the environment in the game are made with great attention to detail, which contributes to a deep immersion in the world of Dota 2.

Esports
Dota 2 is an important part of eSports. Professional players and teams compete in various tournaments with huge prize pools. This creates opportunities for players to make a career out of what they love. The largest tournament, The International, attracts millions of viewers each year and sets records for prize pools.

Deep lore
Each character has its own story and personality, which adds an extra layer of depth and intrigue to the game. The developers are constantly expanding and deepening the game's lore, integrating new events and characters into the overall plot.

High level of competition
Dota 2 is a very competitive game that attracts players who want to improve their skills and reach new heights. Rating matches and the MMR (Matchmaking Rating) system encourage players to constantly improve their level of play and compete with the best of the best.

Why we hate Dota 2

Toxic community
Unfortunately, Dota 2 is known for its toxic environment, where players can face insults and negativity. Valve is working to reduce the level of toxicity by introducing systems of punishment and rewards, but the problem still remains.

Difficulty for beginnersThe high entry threshold makes the game difficult for newcomers, which can lead to frustration. Many mechanics, strategies, and characters take time to learn, and new players may feel overwhelmed.

Time
Each game can last from 30 minutes to an hour or more, which requires a significant time commitment. This can be a problem for players who cannot dedicate a lot of time to a single match. Long game sessions can be inconvenient for those who have a limited schedule or want to play only short sessions. In addition, long matches can affect the overall pace of the game, where players may feel tired, which reduces their concentration and performance. If a match drags on, it can also increase the likelihood of conflicts or decrease motivation among players.

Hero balance
Some heroes can be too strong or too weak, which upsets the balance of the game and can cause frustration. This can lead to the dominance of certain heroes or, conversely, to the lack of popularity of others, which affects the variety of game strategies and reduces the interest in the game.

Dependence on the team
Success in Dota 2 often depends on the actions of teammates, and one bad player can ruin the whole game. This can lead to frustration and loss of interest in the game. A player's experience can vary significantly depending on who they are teamed with. If one or more teammates play inefficiently or violate strategic plans, this can significantly affect the outcome of the match. Also, it is often the case that in the case of a weak team, players can start blaming each other, which can lead to a toxic atmosphere and further deterioration of teamwork. In the case of a lack of coordination or poor role playing, even highly skilled players can feel powerless and frustrated, which in turn can reduce their interest in the game and affect their overall enjoyment of the process.

Randomness of matches
The player matching system does not always provide balanced teams, which can lead to unpleasant games. Random factors can significantly affect the outcome of a match, which sometimes makes the game unfair.

Small number of updates
Valve releases updates for the game at regular intervals and sometimes the waiting period for an update is a long period, which makes players feel that nothing is happening in the game. This can lead to a situation where the game feels stagnant and players may lose interest due to the lack of new mechanics, characters, or items. A recent example is Crownfall stage 3, which was postponed for unknown reasons, albeit not for long.

Crashes and bugs
Despite constant updates, the game can still have technical problems that spoil the experience. Crashes, bugs, and connection issues can ruin the game and cause frustration. Often, these technical issues can cause you to lose progress in matches, lose balance, or even disconnect from the game completely during important moments. Resolving technical issues can be a lengthy process, and sometimes players are forced to wait for bugs to be fixed, which can significantly affect the quality of the game. Despite the best efforts of developers, some bugs can be difficult to identify and fix, adding to the overall frustration level of players. Technical issues can also have a different impact on different systems and hardware configurations, making them difficult to fix.

Paid cosmetic items
Although the game is free to play, many cosmetic items are sold for real money, which can cause dissatisfaction among players. Some players believe that the monetisation system is too aggressive.

Addiction
The game is so addictive that it can cause gambling addiction, which negatively affects the player's real life. Players can spend too much time playing the game, neglecting other important aspects of life.

Conclusion

Dota 2 is a unique and complex game that evokes a wide range of emotions in its players. Its depth of gameplay, diversity of characters, and distribution model attract thousands of new players and keep the interest of experienced ones. Updates and an active eSports scene keep the game dynamic and competitive, making it fun and exciting.

However, as with any complex system, there are aspects that can negatively impact the gaming experience. A toxic community, difficulty for newcomers, long matches, irregular updates, technical issues, team dependency, and hero balance issues can create frustration and reduce overall enjoyment. Crashes and bugs, a lack of updates, and aggressive monetisation are also aspects that can drive players away.

Despite these shortcomings, Dota 2 continues to be one of the most significant and influential games in the video game world. Its unique features and constant evolution ensure its place among the best games that attract both newcomers and veterans. Players who are ready to cope with challenges and shortcomings can find endless opportunities for development and fun in Dota 2.