Summary
The Alpha Lab for the upcomingLeague of Legendsfighting game has come and gone, but hopes for2XKOremain high. This closed beta test impressed many players, but also was helpful in informing Riot Games and developer Radiant Entertainment of some things that could be improved before2XKO’s proper launch. Simple inputs may permeate every part of thisLoL2v2 fighter, but it’s just as fast and frenetic as its genre implies, and carefully managing the casual accessibility and competitive appeal of2XKOwill only be the first of many challenges this title will have to face.
Fortunately,2XKOhas proven capable of meeting those challenges so far. At least in terms of casual interest,2XKOhas done a stellar job oftranslatingLeague of Legends’ diverse Championsinto a 2D fighting game form. Of the six confirmed characters so far, as well as glimpses of Jinx in trailers, everyone looks to be in peak form, with alternate skins promising to add even more flair in the future. Everyone’s iconic kits have also been translated fromLeague of Legendsin smart and faithful ways, but one of the best examples of this also calls into question how certain other Champions could be realized in2XKO.
How Braum is 2XKO’s Greatest Success Yet
Hailing from the frigid north of the Freljord, the shield-bearing folk hero Braum has a smile as big as his muscles, and just as many fans in the universe of Runeterra as out of it. Shield characters are a fairly common archetype in competitive games, ranging fromOverwatch’s Reinhardt to the classic Big Shield Gardna in the original run ofYu-Gi-Oh, but they are a lot rarer in fighting games. Characters with Braum’s physique are typicallypigeonholed into being grapplers, likeStreet Fighter’s Zangief, but2XKOwasn’t content with sticking to the norm.
Braum’s Jump From League of Legends To 2XKO Builds Hope
Braum is a fully realized tank converted into fighting game form, boasting the ability to block for his partner while also deploying his own game plan and mechanics. In this way, he’s like a supercharged version of his originaltank support role fromLeague of Legends, and this can only mean good things for2XKO’s future. There are plenty of support or tanking-focused big-body Champions like Thresh, Alistar, or Blitzcrank that have varied kits, but an unclear way of translating into a fighting game.2XKOhas proven that it has a place for atypical fighters like these, but there’s still another majorLoLarchetype with an unclear fate.
What 2XKO’s Handling of Tanks Means For Other Classes
Tanks and other up-close support Champions may translate to2XKOin natural ways that work in a new genre while retaining their original identities, but it’s too soon to say if the same applies to enchanters. Marksmen and other long-ranged fighters are already a big question mark hanging over2XKO’s head, seeing asAhri and the presumed Jinx could fill2XKO’s launchwith enough zoning tools to fill a roster. There’s a lot ofLeague of LegendsChampions with guns, traps, or magic, and while there is enough variety among them to cherry-pick the best fits for2XKO, the same can’t necessarily be said for enchanters.
LoL’s Enchanters Risk Being Homogenous In 2XKO
As amajor role inLeague of Legends, and also host to several iconic characters, including some better-known Champions like Sona, Soraka, and Lulu, enchanters can’t be left out of2XKO. However, Radiant Entertainment will need to think hard about how to adapt these folks, as there are few more obvious roles that this group can fill than projectile or trap-based zoners that also have one or two partner-buffing abilities. Adapting Champions like Braum, Illaoi, and Ekko have been some of2XKO’s greatest successes so far, but the biggest challenges in doingLeague of Legendsjustice may still lie ahead.
