BERLIN: It’s all about teamwork in 2XKO, the latest game from League of Legends developer Riot Games.
It aims to shake up the fighting game genre and makes players choose two characters for their battles, rather than just one as is usually the case.
At first glance, 2XKO looks like a standard fighting game: two characters face off in a two-dimensional arena and battle it out until one character’s health bar is depleted. We know this concept from games such as Street Fighter or Tekken, to name but two.
Characters from 'League of Legends'
However, in 2XKO, there are usually two fighters on each side, all of whom are characters from the world of League of Legends.
Players can swap out their fighters at any time during a round, which they can use tactically to their advantage.
That means you can significantly extend combo attacks with a clever substitution. Or you can use a special ability, brought into the fight quickly, to interrupt the opponent’s attacks.
That’s important, because if you’ve really mastered your characters, a well-timed sequence of attacks can easily whittle away two-thirds of the opponent’s health bar.
Co-op mode for newcomers too
A major highlight of this game is its co-op mode, where two players control a team together. This works in the form of online "two-on-two" matches, which can also be a good way to introduce newcomers to the game, even those unfamiliar with the genre.
2XKO is free to play. As with its other games, Riot generates revenue through skins, which can be unlocked or purchased for real money. Furthermore, not all of the initial 12 characters are available at the start. You can also buy or unlock them using in-game currency earned through gameplay.
The game is available on PC, Xbox Series X/S and PlayStation 5. On PC, the use of Riot’s anti-cheat software, Vanguard, is mandatory. The USK has rated the game for ages 12 and up. – dpa
