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Why has Raid: Shadow Legends become so popular?

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Jemimah Stanley
Why has Raid: Shadow Legends become so popular?

Why has Raid: Shadow Legends become so popular?

Raid: Shadow Legends has become a sensation in 2020. It often appears in trending sections of YouTube, and many popular streamers have weighed in with their opinions on the game. Why is this the case?. Let’s start with the basics: Raid is a mobile game that sees users summon high fantasy champions and battle their way through the vast world of Teleria. On the surface Raid: Shadow Legends might seem like any other mobile RPG game but look deeper, and you will see why the game has become so popular.

Firstly, the game offers 13 unique factions, each with different types of warriors – from Sorcerers to the Undead. Plus, the game comes with a PvP arena which allows players to test themselves against each other. This can be a rewarding way to practice your skills and climb the leader board. Another outstanding feature of the game is the visuals which capture the fantasy genre perfectly; epic environments, 3D rendered champions, and modern animations give the game a great look.

The story revolves around typical fantasy tropes. The Dark Lord Siroth controls Teleria, and the player controls an ancient warrior who must battle his way across the land and ultimately defeat Siroth.

Raid: Shadow Legends has come under some criticism for a perceived abundance of advertising. Many online reviews have commented on this and it has led to the game becoming popular amongst YouTubers, who have been sponsored by the developers. The in-game advertising is also noticeable as you play however, it is far from game-breaking, and in some people’s opinion is a small price to pay for a free to play game. The frequent in-game adverts and microtransactions are the main downfalls of the game has led so some harsh reviews. The game currently sits as a User score of 2.2 on Metacritic. Another common criticism of the game is the user interface which becomes awkward at times (particularly during rune management).

The trailer of the game (see above) captures the overall styles of the game very well. As mentioned earlier, the graphics of the game are a strong point. Many reviewers have praised the dark atmosphere the game is able to create, and the number of unique attack animations and environment effects.

When it comes to gameplay, Raid: Shadow Legends is better than most Gacha RPGs. The developers have added skill trees for champions which boil down to the standard Offense, Support and Defence skill trees. The game is challenging, but an enjoyable experience, even for beginners. At times you may be required to rely on grinding to build XP and collect runes to progress, but the game features an autoplay system to make this process easier.

The various Champions the game features are unique and change the gameplay experience greatly. My pick is always Kael of the Dark Elves, who makes the early stages of the game much easier – though I would always add others to the team as the game progresses. The complexity of the in-game mechanics can be overwhelming at first. For example, there are gears which boost the attributes of your champions and particular gears are better suited to specific heroes. Additionally, you can upgrade your gears and unlock new perks for them. Team composition plays a role in the game (like most RPGs) and the game can be unforgiving to bad teams, so make sure you think about this.

That concludes the answer to “why has Raid: Shadow Legend become so popular?”. Partly down to a cult or meme status due to online reviews and an extensive advertising campaign, and partly down to a great game which adds something new to the Mobile RPG scene. Raid is a great game, and I’d highly recommend you to check it out.

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Jemimah Stanley
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