Heroes of Newerth is an incredible game, but the steep learning curve and community may put you off.
HoN has over 100 heroes and a huge array of items to purchase, and so no two games ever feel the same. Each hero takes time a skill to master, but playing effectively is incredibly rewarding. The game is played from a third person perspective typically found in Real Time Strategy games, but the game puts you in control of only your own hero. This would make the game seem incredibly simple - but it is not.
Each of the 100 heroes has a unique set of skills, and each hero has a specific role in the game. Some heroes may focus on supporting their team by helping disable enemies or buffing allies. Some heroes may focus on dealing raw damage. Some heroes may specialise in taking down enemy buildings. And even once you learn a hero's skills, there are still the huge number of items that you could buy on that hero that are effective. The map itself is quite complex, with lots of routes which can be taken to escape enemies or reach places quickly. The AI of the uncontrollable units must also be exploited in order to play effectively. Each hero comes with a helpful guide which outlines a general skill and item build, but this alone is not enough for players who wish to play well. The sheer depth of the game is incredible, and it may takes dozens upon dozens of hours to grasp even the basics. And the community will not help you there.
It is highly recommended to jump into this game with a group of friends, otherwise you're in for a bad time. The game is littered with players that think they're incredibly good at the game, and they have the urge to make sure everyone knows that. If you play badly, you will be harassed by said people. If you play well, you will be harassed by the members of the opposite team who will accuse you of choosing a cheapskate hero or accuse you of cheating. If you make a single mistake, people will attempt to kick you from the team. The best way to stop this is to play in 'noob' lobbies in order to grasp the basics, but even then there are some good players who simply want an easy win who will ruin the experience.
But if given enough time, you will truly begin to appreciate the game. The graphics are very nice, and the special effects that occur in a teamfight are almost overwhelming. Bombs rain from the sky, showers of gold are thrown, lava erupts from the ground and much more. The sound is also very nice, with each hero having a distinct and each attack and spell bringing with it a nice sound effect. The game also has a complete in game store which allows you to purchase things such as hero, hero skins, announcers and much more with either silver coins won from winning games or with gold coins bought with real money. HoN has recently gone free to play, and thus the player base has increased greatly, with a lot more newer players joining, making lower level games much more forgiving if you're new to the game or the genre.
HoN is a very good game, pulled back only by it's sheer cliff of a learning curve and the terrible community. However, investing enough time and effort into learning how to play will ultimately supply you with a rich and rewarding experience. I've spent over 500 hours of time on it, and still are learning some of the finer details - but I would highly recommend it to anyone who craves a deeper multiplayer experience.