Because the starting of Season 13, it’s secure to say that I’ve fallen out of affection with League of Legends. Regardless of being the sport that acquired me into this trade within the first place, in addition to the one I’ve sunk literal years of my life into, Season 13 left me with a foul style in my mouth. The occasions, Darkish Cosmic Jhin, Redeemed Star Guardian Xayah and Rakan – all issues that left me feeling like Riot didn’t fairly know what its playerbase really needed. Coming into Season 14 my expectations are fairly excessive – and this season’s cinematic has already managed to vault the bar.
‘Nonetheless Right here’ opens with a fallen Tryndamere, struggling, scrabbling for all times within the frozen tundra of the Frejlord. He appears to be like to the digicam, a desperation in his eyes akin solely to the sensation of getting him run you down the whole lot of high lane. That is the place our League of Legends Season 14 story begins.
A change flicks and we’re exterior Demacia, the place the MOBA’s duelling siblings Kayle and Morgana tackle the would possibly of Aatrox. One other minimize and we’re in Ionia, the place a barely older-looking model of the 0/10 king himself, Yasuo, tears by means of wave after wave of assailants. Then, we’re again within the Freljord, the place Tryndamere fights for his life towards Kindred, with the assistance of everybody’s favourite Iceborn warmother, Ashe. It’s fast, it’s snappy, it’s thrilling – it embodies the essence of League of Legends.
However what stood out to me amid the epic fight and dazzling visuals was the selection of champions. Ashe, Kayle, and Morgana all debuted with League again in 2009, with Yasuo and Aatrox becoming a member of the roster in 2013, and Kindred in 2015. These are all previous, iconic champions – a blast from League’s unimaginable previous.
Now don’t get me incorrect, I’m a Senna foremost – I really like a few of Riot’s newer champions as a lot because the Kayles and Morganas. Nonetheless, as of late I’ve discovered myself rising slightly uninterested in – to borrow former TSM professional Marcus ‘Dyrus’ Hill’s phrases – “Disneyland champions.” Whereas Smolder is a monster champion not less than, I really feel like we’re nonetheless in LoL’s brighter ages, after I’d slightly see us step again into the darkness.
And that’s the rationale this cinematic simply hits totally different; it’s a throwback to the times of previous. It’s darkish and it’s moody, not shiny and vibrant. We’ve seen loads of 3D renders of Ok’Sante, Senna, and Seraphine, so seeing these older, grittier champions delivered to life in gorgeous element is admittedly thrilling.
As I instructed Riot’s international PR lead Hanna Woo throughout our personal screening, I’ve mained Morgana since I began taking part in, and seeing her come alive in gorgeous purple majesty triggered one thing in me. It jogged my memory why I fell so head-over-heels in love with this sport. It jogged my memory that these champions are, certainly, Legends, not Disney characters.
However all of this motion, all of this pleasure, is framed by the powerhouse vocals of Forts’ Mary Clare Clemons. ‘Nonetheless Right here’ not solely has a Worlds really feel to it, but it surely reads like a love-letter to the fanbase that’s, certainly, nonetheless right here after fifteen years of League of Legends. It’s hovering, anthemic, and thrilling: it’s acquired the identical really feel as Legends By no means Die and Awaken – it, simply as with the remainder of the cinematic, seems like one thing out of League’s previous.
But I discovered it resonated with me on a barely totally different stage, too. I haven’t performed Morgana shortly, favoring extra meta picks like Senna or Leona over my fallen angel queen. Final evening, after testing out my shiny new Soul Fighter Lux pores and skin, I needed to play Morgana (though the enemy crew banned her, unhappy face). Tonight after I log in, I’ll most likely play Morgana. I even need to strive my previous midlane Kayle shenanigans once more, in addition to Ashe assist. They’re nonetheless right here, as are these rosy recollections.
That, my buddies, is what a cinematic ought to do. It must be a reminder, it ought to make you need to play the sport; make you smile while you keep in mind your first deathless sport on Morgana, or that absolute nightmare you had on Ashe. The Season 14 cinematic is a visit down reminiscence lane in so some ways – it’s the rationale I’m excited to play League of Legends once more.
Not too long ago, I wrote an article entitled “Riot doesn’t know what League of Legends gamers need.” Whereas I can’t say that, based mostly off of a singular cinematic, League of Legends Season 14 goes to be the most effective ever (I’m a World of Warcraft fan, I’ve realized that lesson), it definitely looks like the dev crew is, probably, going again to its roots – one thing we’ve been asking them to do for a while.
So certain, in Season 13 I fell out of affection with League of Legends – I can’t deny it. However the pleasure I felt final evening, and the enjoyable I had leaping again into the sport, jogged my memory why I find it irresistible a lot. If Season 14 continues to offer me these little nostalgic dopamine hits, then I believe we’re in for a great one – my fingers are very, very tightly crossed.