Riot has released some amazing cinematics over the years. Starting with the trailer for League of Legends: Clash of Fates , Riot has consistently put out some of the best quality videos for a game that barely has any story, with a huge variety of art styles. Before writing this, I watched every single one of them, starting with “A Twist of Fate” and going all the way to the newest Aurelion Sol reveal, “The Star Forget Returns.” Here are my top four League cinematics in no particular order: I love them all equally – except for “Trials of the Poro.”
“Curse of The Sad Mummy”
“Every child in Valoran has heard the tale before,” but League players got to hear this song about Amumu for the first time in January 2015. It’s the tale of a mummy - who may be yordle or a person - and his quest to find acceptance in the world. The music builds up slow and melodramatic, culminating in an epic outburst of mummy anguish. The song is beautiful on its own, but the video Riot created has some of the deepest imagery created for League of Legends . The forests and villages he travels through are filled with wonder and even small Easter eggs. The boat he rides in is actually Helmet Bro , a character that gets killed in a few other League cinematics and in a few ability icons.
“A New Dawn”
This was the first time I ever felt that League characters had personalities and stories to tell. Katarina is an assassin willing to go all in to get a kill, Leona will protect her friends at any cost, and Draven is Draven - until he gets mauled by a Rengar. When you play League , what the characters say is mostly irrelevant. Veigar might show me no mercy if the tables are turned, but when’s that going to happen? In “A New Dawn” we see relationships formed in blood, and oaths kept. Also, Graves has his cigar - which is of utmost importance.
“The Pledge - Kalista”
November 2014 gave players the first look at League of Legends ’s resident hopping ghost. Champion teasers help the community get hyped for a new character and help us understand where they come from. The video shows a man being killed in cold blood, and using his last breath to summon the spirit of vengeance, Kalista. She heeds his call, arriving in a burst of smoke. A bond is made, and can’t be broken until the deal is done, killing the murderer. That’s why Kalista bonds to her support in the actual game, something nobody would know without this video. Though it may not be as flashy as Ekko’s, it’s my favorite because it captures how scary Kalista is.
“Get Jinxed”
The catchiest tune on the list, “Get Jinxed” was released in October 2013, and has become League of Legends’ most popular song. It was written and performed by Djerv, a heavy metal band from Norway. The catchy tune has been played at every major League of Legends event and has over 46 million views on YouTube. The video has Jinx, League ’s resident troublemaker causing as much mayhem throughout Piltover as one blue-haired girl can accomplish. If I want to show someone who has never played League why I love the game so much, I show them this video. It’s catchy and great to watch, even if you don’t have any context. Watching a monkey with lipstick is always enjoyable.
Is your favorite on the list? Tell us in the comments!
