Average Rating: 
Rating:  - A disappointing title under a pretty veneer.
Having been a long-time fan of Blizzard (from WC 1, to SC, to Diablo, to Diablo II, and so on...) I did not hesitate to buy Warcraft III. And I didn't just buy it - I pre-ordered the special collector's edition. It came in a pretty leather box, with a book of Warcraft artwork, a soundtrack, et al.So what was the problem? The game was horrible. Well, no, horrible would be an exaggeration. The graphics were exquisite, the camera can be rotated to grasp any view of any combat, the sounds were well beyond Blizzard's usual technical marvels; all the ingredients were there to make for an amazing game. And yet, it fell short. I'll start by saying that what some of the reviewers here see as a virtue - the focus on a few units - I saw as a horrible flaw. The game starts with a food cap of 90 (obviously a bit lower than SC's food cap of 200). But more than that, Workers/Peons/Etc. are the only unit in the game that costs 1 food; every other unit costs 2 or more. Anything beyond your beginner footmen costs 3+ food each. Besides that, it's rather impossible to become victorious without utilizing the game's Heros. There are three of these for each race, and they come with powers and stats unavailable to other units. They can rise in level (1-10, like a small RPG amidst the RTS), and collect magical items. They cost 5 food each, and they turn the game into a fight between Heroes. Which is cool, if that's what you want, and it Is what I want - in the SINGLE player game, just like I /tolerated/ the fact that I had to carefully tend to all my heroes in the Single-player starcraft and WCII missions. It wouldn't even be a problem if there were the /option/ of raising the food cap, or playing without heroes, but there is no such thing. You're stuck playing the mass-combat RPG disguised as an RTS game. In the multi-player game, I don't want my entire game revolving around tiny squads and their Hero. I like to play an RTS, not an RTS-RPG. An RTS is what I bought WCIII for, and it failed to deliver. This game has truly shaken my faith in Blizzard, and I don't expect to be making any more purchases from them in the foreseeable future.
Rating:  - If you don't play warcraft....start...........NOW
Where to begin? Well, I've played all the warcraft games, including the expansions. This game is the apex of all that real time strategy. Also, it gives you 4 races, including the standard human and orc races. Humans still weak but that's another review :P The graphics are choice for this title; everything is done in 3d which make things look a little more realistic. There is a wide diversity of units which makes it a little more fun to play. The spell effects are dazzling. There is a new feature in this version. I'll call it the "hero system." This is a system in which you are given a single, or sometimes 2 or 3, heros which can be leveled and given powers like in any RPG. Leveling also increases their stats. There are many plot twists within the warcraft world which just makes you want to keep playing until you know everything..........EVERYTHING! All in all, this is a really strong title and I highly recommend this game to anyone who is into fantasy/rpg games or strategy games. Such examples would be Starcraft with the expansion Brood War and also Warcraft 1 and 2.
Rating: - A more than worthy addition to an already strong series...
WarCraft III was certainly a long time coming, but it was well worth the extended wait. Building on the rich and entertaining WarCraft universe, III adds several new gameplay twists, such as hero units and a third and fourth playable race, as well as new backstory elements that add a great deal of depth and character to the Orcish Horde, the real star of the series.Hero units are an amazing addition that truly and dynamically alters the way WarCraft is played. Heroes have the unique ability to level up, acquiring new skills and attributes in the process. The skills can range from ever more powerful defensive and offensive spells and attacks to special auras that enhance the abilities of nearby subordinate units. As the hero grows in power, his attributes also improve, increasing damage, armor, health and mana capacity, and so on. For those that micro-manage their troops, the hero unit is an indispensable tool which can turn the tide of a battle single-handedly. WarCraft III also one-ups StarCraft by including a fourth playable race. Naturally, one might play as the Orcs or Humans, both including several other minor races such as Trolls and Elves respectively, but one might also now choose the Night Elves or the Undead. Both the Night Elves and the Undead play as sort of a combination between the Zerg and the Protoss, with the Undead leaning more heavily toward Zerg-style, and the Night Elves being more like the Protoss. Both are far more powerful than the Orcs and Humans, but much more difficult to master. The truly skilled player who has mastered the art of the Night Elf army is an unholy terror on BattleNet, so watch out. Without giving too much away, suffice it to say that the origin and motivation of the Horde is more thoroughly explained in III, and they are revealed to be a society of more honor and character than originally thought. Through the game, one has a chance to play as all four races, and to see the story progress from the different points of view, but the Orcish campaign is by far the most interesting and rewarding. III also has some shortcomings. It's a bit on the quick side, and the ending is ridiculously vague and unsatisfying (though the end credits readily make up for it,) but these small flaws are not enough to overshadow the sheer brilliance of the game, from graphics and audio excellence to gameplay balance and multiplayer depth. Blizzard has managed to top themself once again, and WarCraft proudly marches on to greater and greater heights.
|
