Arena of Valor
- December 19, 2017
- Level Infinite
- 2h median play time
"Arena of Valor" is a strategy game with a good plot and plenty of humor, featuring fantastic gameplay, perfect visuals, and a catchy soundtrack. However, the game involves lots of grinding and bugs, and is occasionally marred by annoying ads. Despite its flaws, "Arena of Valor" aims to be "The Arena for Everyone," offering accessible and engaging gameplay to all.
Reviews
- The game features a diverse roster of heroes with unique abilities, making gameplay enjoyable and varied.
- Graphics and animations are visually appealing, enhancing the overall gaming experience.
- The game is generally easy to pick up for new players, with a smooth learning curve.
- The matchmaking system is flawed, often pairing inexperienced players with highly skilled opponents, leading to unbalanced games.
- The report system is overly punitive, allowing players to report others for minor infractions, which can unfairly impact credibility scores.
- Frequent connectivity issues and lag during matches can disrupt gameplay, causing frustration among players.
- graphics1,088 mentions
- 55 % positive mentions
- 35 % neutral mentions
- 10 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with many players praising the overall visual quality and character designs, describing them as "amazing" and "console-like." However, numerous users express dissatisfaction with graphical performance, citing issues such as low resolution, lag, and cartoonish aesthetics compared to competitors like Mobile Legends. Overall, while some players appreciate the graphics, there is a strong consensus that improvements are needed to enhance the gaming experience.
“Great next-gen graphics, smooth controls, and a vast array of characters and add-ons make this online brawler a must-have, and it's free too!”
“The graphics are colorful and bursting with life; the characters, from small furries to goliath demons, are charming in their own right, and the mechanics feel fluid and clean.”
“The graphics and design are so intricate and beautiful; the voices are so smooth and make the characters feel so real.”
“The graphics are horrible, y'all just copied Mobile Legends voice.”
“Graphics are currently broken with this new update, game will spaz out and glitch, making it very difficult to play.”
“The graphics of the game are poor.”
- gameplay519 mentions
- 57 % positive mentions
- 35 % neutral mentions
- 8 % negative mentions
The gameplay of the game has received mixed reviews, with many players praising its fast-paced and enjoyable mechanics, smooth controls, and impressive graphics. However, issues such as lag, unbalanced heroes, and poor matchmaking have been frequently mentioned, leading to frustrations among users. Overall, while the core gameplay is considered solid and engaging, there are significant areas for improvement, particularly in balancing and connectivity.
“The pace of the game combined with the polished gameplay is unparalleled on the mobile platform.”
“The gameplay is phenomenal as always and my progress was finally retrieved, so thank you!”
“Gameplay is my favorite amongst the mobile MOBAs, but please fix inviting of friends.”
“First of the gameplay is the worst I've ever seen in a MOBA apart from laggy controls, the skills sometimes don't respond, and heroes need serious balancing.”
“The most unbalanced MOBA game I have ever played, there are heroes that take no damage and there are heroes that instantly kill you even if they have a tank build. Basically, 95% of the heroes are useless, and 99% of the time you get teammates that have no idea where they are or what they are supposed to do.”
“Gameplay balance is also non-existent, the fact that crowd control skills can last as long as 5 seconds makes this game an absolute nightmare to play.”
- stability128 mentions
- 2 % positive mentions
- 2 % neutral mentions
- 96 % negative mentions
The game's stability is a significant concern among users, with frequent reports of freezing, crashing, and unresponsiveness during gameplay and login. Many players experience issues such as being locked out of matches, lag spikes, and penalties for disconnections caused by these glitches. While some users find the game enjoyable overall, the persistent technical problems detract from the experience and hinder gameplay.
“I came late to this party, but this game runs great and is very well done.”
“Not buggy, runs smooth.”
“Just started playing, but so far no forced ads, no glitches or bugs.”
“The main issue I have with this game is when queuing up for ranked or playing it for that matter, the game freezes, locks you out, and goes unresponsive.”
“Overall I like the game, my only issue is the sudden freezing screen of death where the game freezes around 1 to 60 seconds or even more, mostly due to high ping but it also sometimes happens in low ping where I am unable to move my hero or attack and the enemy easily kills me.”
“Game freezes and crashes often, so I have stopped playing it for now.”
- optimization89 mentions
- 28 % positive mentions
- 48 % neutral mentions
- 24 % negative mentions
The game's optimization has received mixed reviews, with many players reporting significant performance issues, including lag and stuttering, especially on lower-end devices. While some users praise the graphics and gameplay experience, they highlight that the game often requires a powerful device to run smoothly, and frequent updates can exacerbate these issues. Overall, there is a strong consensus that the game needs substantial optimization improvements to enhance performance across a wider range of devices.
“The item building and character optimization are top-notch.”
“The graphics are simple, so the game plays smoothly, with minimal performance issues on low-end devices.”
“Best optimization, best MOBA.”
“The game has performance issues and has had them for as long as I've played, no matter the device or settings.”
“After every update, the game is unplayable for a week due to terrible game optimization of the new updates.”
“The game is not optimized for all devices and can't be played in HD 60fps with devices that run HD 60fps in other games.”
- monetization68 mentions
- 9 % positive mentions
- 26 % neutral mentions
- 65 % negative mentions
The monetization aspect of the game has received mixed reviews, with many players noting an abundance of in-app purchases and microtransactions that can feel forced or overpriced. While some users appreciate the lack of intrusive ads and the ability to play without spending money, others criticize the game for being pay-to-win and for introducing new heroes that seem designed for cash grabs. Overall, while the game can be enjoyed for free, the monetization strategies and the balance of character offerings have raised concerns among the player base.
“It's not really pay-to-win because you get a lot of free fighters and there are no ads.”
“Straight up League of Legends on the phone, no pressure to make in-game purchases; you're given all you need as you play or can grind to get new characters.”
“Lots of monetization but can totally be played for free.”
“The only problems that I have are the fact that there is barely any character balancing, horrible server connection at times (50%) with great Wi-Fi or phone connection, and overpriced microtransactions.”
“However, you should be aware of its faults, overabundance of microtransactions, and long waiting times before going in; otherwise, you may end up disappointed.”
“This game is unbalanced trash and just a cash grab.”
- story58 mentions
- 21 % positive mentions
- 74 % neutral mentions
- 5 % negative mentions
The game's story and character creation have received praise for their depth and creativity, with players appreciating the unique lore and design of the heroes. However, many users have reported significant bugs and issues with quest progression, which detracts from the overall experience and leaves players frustrated. There is a strong desire for a dedicated story mode to enhance gameplay and provide a more engaging narrative experience.
“They have done a superb job with story and character creation.”
“The heroes' in-depth lore, unique voices, and the 'secret AOV language' make them unique.”
“Love that the production team gave importance to the storyline of the heroes.”
“The quest would not load on the 8th day, the event shop disappeared, essentially half the event was useless or changed.”
“Codex quests are terrible, stop forcing players to play ranked games or other match modes.”
“So short story game is complete trash; a down syndrome monkey can be a pro. You deal with constant feeders or AFKs. The only way to enjoy it is if you pay for champions.”
- music35 mentions
- 26 % positive mentions
- 66 % neutral mentions
- 9 % negative mentions
Overall, player feedback on the music in the game is mixed. Many users express a strong desire for background music during battles and in the lobby, citing its importance for immersion and excitement, while others appreciate the existing music but note issues with it cutting out or not functioning properly. Improvements to the soundtrack and consistent audio experience are frequently requested to enhance the overall gameplay experience.
“The music is amazing.”
“I love the way the game is set, the graphics, the gameplay, the heroic music in the background.”
“Best music, nice graphics and effects.”
“The music in the map and the dialogs are just a letdown.”
“This game requires some improvements in battlefields, background music, and graphics.”
“If you want to get bored, this game is for you. The background music is so boring that you will feel sleepy while you are in the lobby, and the announcer's voice is bad.”
- humor27 mentions
- 85 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 15 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is a mixed bag, with players finding enjoyment in its cartoonish style and funny moments, especially when playing with friends. However, frustrations arise from server issues, toxic behavior, and unbalanced matchmaking, which detracts from the overall fun. While some players appreciate the lighthearted aspects, others express disappointment over the negative experiences that overshadow the humor.
“It's sad and frustrating to see, but also hilarious watching them play so horribly... I guess AOV is over?”
“Rather than darker voice like Dota (which are more suitable to play inside a dark room with computer/laptop), MLBB has more funny/childish/cartoonish vibes; it's more suitable to play outside on the move.”
“This game is hilariously fun and addicting!”
“Match matching is horrible, paired with all the clueless players in the world or very often paired with bots; that's not funny either way.”
“It's not funny to play with all bots.”
“It's not funny to get punished for being AFK when the server was so bad I couldn't move and my network is good.”
- character development27 mentions
- 70 % positive mentions
- 19 % neutral mentions
- 11 % negative mentions
Overall, the reviews highlight that while the character designs in the game are consistently praised for their creativity and visual appeal, there is a notable desire for deeper character development and backstories. Players appreciate the engaging aesthetics but express a wish for more narrative depth and balance in character skins across the roster.
“Keep up the good work and would love to see some more character development, back stories for each skin possibly/equal skin amounts for all characters, not just popular ones, or new characters instead of 6 skins and new ones for several.”
“This game is great... but need more character development.. 🖤”
“Aov is better in more ways: character design, gameplay, skill system.”
“Keep up the good work and would love to see some more character development, backstories for each skin possibly, equal skin amounts for all characters not just popular ones, or new characters instead of 6 skins and new ones for several.”
“Completely broken now with an emphasis on the character design instead of gameplay.”
“It's monetization system, gameplay, character design, ability to improve with time is far better than most of the games even after the MOBA category.”
- grinding24 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Overall, players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and time-consuming, particularly when it comes to unlocking new characters and resources. While some appreciate the free access to heroes and the enjoyable gameplay, many express frustration over the high costs and extensive time investment required to achieve meaningful rewards. Additionally, issues with lag and server connectivity further exacerbate the grinding experience, leading to a mixed reception regarding this aspect of the game.
“To grindy, too many resources required to obtain things. Not to mention it's filled with pay-to-play elements, as it's a free MOBA. All your achievements are filled with meaningless and small rewards that you have to accumulate constantly just to get one thing at a time.”
“Arduin, Natalya, Paine, and the cost of the heroes juxtaposed with how little coins you get makes playing and getting heroes extremely tedious. I'm not sure what the devs think, but spending months grinding coins for a single champion is not at all fun; it's what killed my interest in the game.”
“Enjoyable, but hero prices are very expensive, which makes the fun turn into a tedious grind more often than not.”
- atmosphere5 mentions
- 40 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 60 % negative mentions
The atmosphere in the game is polarizing; while some players appreciate the beautiful graphics and atmospheric sounds, others criticize it for fostering a competitive environment that feels pay-to-win and unhealthy. Overall, the atmosphere is seen as toxic by some, detracting from the overall experience.
“I love the atmosphere of competition.”
“Very beautiful graphics and atmospheric sounds.”
“All to create an atmosphere of pay-to-win necessity for overpowered characters just to win a single match.”
“1 star because of the unhealthy atmosphere.”
“Better off with mobile legends; at least you get entertainment with the toxic atmosphere.”
- replayability5 mentions
- 60 % positive mentions
- -20 % neutral mentions
- 60 % negative mentions
Players express a desire for enhanced replayability through features like character customization and additional playable modes. While some characters are seen as underwhelming, the overall fun factor and potential for future content keep players engaged and eager for more.
“And lots of fun and replayability.”
“I would give 5 stars if only other modes were playable.”
“5 out of 5! Can't wait for more playable characters and crossover characters as well.”
“Maybe even a simple stats customization system for heroes would add to the replayability.”
“A handful of characters are playable; the rest are underrated or useless, with only their looks being appealing.”
“I would give 5 stars if only there were more playable modes.”
- emotional3 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Users express frustration with the game's controls, highlighting issues such as unresponsive wheel controls and erratic character movement, which detracts from their emotional engagement and enjoyment of the game. The lack of server options for Australia/New Zealand further exacerbates their dissatisfaction.