PC Games Collection: Review_World of Warcraft: Wrath of the Lich King

Review_World of Warcraft: Wrath of the Lich King

"Blizzard turns a great game into one for the ages!"

Introduction:

Hey gaming fans, yes Pikachu1918 is back with another game review here, and in this case it's the highly anticipated Wrath of the Lich King, and expansion pack to that killer game World of Warcraft by the fine folks at Blizzard. Just to be upfront here, this review is based on the 3.0.2 patched edition. I note this, since Blizzard has added new content via patches later on, and they MIGHT change things which run contrary to what's in this review. Generally Blizzard doesn't do a 180, but better safe than sorry.

Now, just in case you've missed the commercials or the real time strategy games this title is based on. Here is a recap for anyone new to the franchise. This game takes place several years after Warcraft III. You create a character for either the Horde or the Alliance, and you go adventuring as you would in a role playing game. Except instead of you being alone, this being an MMORPG you play online. You'll do quests, and such to gain experience, gear, gold, and reputation. Generally I find the social aspects of the game are more addictive than the in game mechanics, or perpetual greed affect.

Story: 10/10

Blizzard did things right with this expansion pack, and introducing players to the new content when it came to an actual story line. Since in the Burning Crusade, the transition was poorly done. You were fighting the undead and other evils all over Azeorth, and then suddenly you're being shipped off to Outlands without any real connections between the two points, except you were being asked to go there by someone.

In Wrath of the Lich King, for about a month before hand players were given a refresher course into where we were two years ago. The Burning Crusade promoted allot of short stories that rarely connected with each other lore wise. Now the quests and the events around you make sense. Since now you can see both the big picture, in sense of world events, to the small scale where it's your own character doing his/her best to save the world.

Just to give you an example on how things have changed when it comes to the story content of the game, before you'd hit maybe a 5 to 10 quests in a chain, at most. I've been hitting different areas of Northrend since launch day, and there are some quests with 15-20 quests in a chain. We're seeing in game movies with graphics & sound which are of a higher level than the usual in game ones. I don't think World of Warcraft has ever had this before, when your character doesn't play an active role. Besides that we're seeing more quests focused on the recent past, so we know what we're going to deal with in the near future.

Graphics: 9/10
Wrath of the Lich King represents the first REAL over haul of the World of Warcraft graphics engine, since the original game launched. Since the first one was a bit cheap, and wasn't aging well. I am proud to say that the work done was well worth it. Since now even some of the older areas which used to have a cartoonish feel to it, now feel more respectable with a deep color palette in use, no increase in background activity, but maybe that's for the future.

When it comes to Northrend, this is what World of Warcraft should've been four years ago. I'm a mountain biker, which means I have more than a passing acquaintance to what woods feel like. Some areas I felt could've been lifted from the trails I ride. Don't get me wrong, there isn't any mud being sprayed about, or bugs hitting your character if s/he rides too fast. However, it has a more realistic feel to it, the cliffs that have multiple faces, there are tree stumps, fallen logs, ground cover that looks more convincing, and it's a combination of these things that help enhance the realism of this part of Azeroth that Blizzard hasn't been able to achieve before.

Gameplay: 8/10

Wrath of the Lich King adds some much needed fresh air to the actual game mechanics. There are three major changes which are worth noting. The first being you can actually use a “war machine” to fire various weapons at other players, building, and vehicles. The second is the introduction of the HERO class, and the third being how much easier it is to solo quest as either a healer or a tank. Which before has been very difficult, and discouraged people from playing those class at the ideal specs for those roles in instances.

The war machines were something I think everyone wanted from day #1. However, the computing power, and internet speed weren't there to support it at the time. They've taken some things from popular first person shooters here, since a vehicle can carry 3-5 people. Which means you might not be the driver, but instead defending it, or using it to advance to the front lines. The reason you'll be using it to advance is since unless a sniper is working on the other team, the machine takes the hit, not the player. The interface is smooth and simple enough that short of being an idiot, you'll know what you're doing, and where you're going. You'll face a steeper learning curve in regards to actually choosing the right machine for the PvP situation you're in.

When it comes to the HERO class, Blizzard is very reasonable. One HERO per realm per account, and after you've done X achievements to earn it. This isn't a FAQ so don't expect me to give it away how to do it. The real axe I've got to grind is how easy it is to make a Death Knight. Don't get me wrong, it's a great class and something which is great to add to the game. However, on launch day, less than 12 hours after launch I'm seeing countless Death Knights running around. I feel that by using the word, “Hero” to define this class. It should've been harder to create a character of this class then it presently is.

Just to close this part off, I know one of the older complaints was, “I don't want to grind X rep for X goodie”. Well, Blizzard has removed that problem in SOME instances. However, there is a trade off, if the item is the exception to the rule stated above, expect to pay more for it. They also made it easier for you to grind certain reputations while wearing the right tabard in an instance at level 80. These are SOME of many good changes Blizzard has made in WOLTK.

Sound: 7.5/10

I believe if you've screwed up the basic sound affects in a game, you've got serious problems. Blizzard hasn't changed a thing with the sound affects in the older parts of the game. They've touched a bit up on the music in different areas. All the music for the respective parts of Northrend sound like the music you'd expect from a fantasy based game like this. Which is great, except it tends to get old after a while, since you're going to be spending HOURS in some areas, and the music isn't that long when it comes to time to complete a piece. I would gamble with you down to my last gold piece, you will turn the in game music off after a while, since the Blizzard doesn't really try to change it up, unless you leave an area.

Replay: 10/10

With World of Warcraft there are a few kinds of players, some like myself prefer to explore over grinding, there are Role Players, and guys who want the goodies and only the goodies. Yes, it's possible to hit L80 within 3 days from an L70 character. However, most people don't have the time, orreal life stamina for this. I'd give this expansion a good 5-10 month shelf life, just coming out of the box. This is before new gear, new instances, new areas are added via patches from Blizzard. I mean common you can level upwards of 50 characters to L80. I think that's going to take some time, and just to be clear. My estimates on shelf life are based on ONE character doing everything.

FINAL CALL!

Yup, we're back in the final call bunker. Where you've either read the entire review or you've scrolled down here because you've seen my reviews, and know I have this section where I summarize everything into one lined question, which is. “DO I BUY THIS GAME?”, and the word is, “YES!” This isn't a fan boy yes, or a yes because you own the core game and the first expansion, this is a yes based on applying the hardest standards I could to the game.

I understand how some players left World of Warcraft after the Burning Crusade, and how we felt a bit ripped off at the end. How, it seemed that we had two separate worlds that weren't remotely connected. In Wrath of the Lich King, Blizzard used the watch word innovation, to help reinvent this game in a good way. Improved graphics, innovative game play changes, improved customer service, improved connectivity between the major cities and to Northrend. From Outlands to a Capital city and back took 20-40 minutes, without portals. Now there are means of going straight from Northrend to a Capital, so maybe a 10-20 minutes for a round trip.

I've never seen myself as one to tow the “Fan boy line”, I try to be fair, and critical of any title I do a review on. This game is worth the $50 you need to pay to go to the new content; it's one of those expansions that turns a great game into an exceptional one. Blizzard has set a new bar with Wrath of the Lich King. I've run out of words of praise for this title. Well, this is Pikachu1918 signing off, and reminding you, “NO take my candle!”