Could World of Warcraft really be the best MMO out there? Is the fact that there are over 12.5 million subscribers to date a definite sign of it being a masterpiece? WoW, as many call it for short, has become the newest addiction for many people and I wondered why for about 4 months after it came out then I entered the World of Warcraft.
When you start the game it’s hard to know what it will be like at higher levels because around level 10 the game takes a turn for the better. Up till level 10 the game seems dull and boring doing quests to gain a level here and there. Then when you hit level 10 and receive your first talent point you realize how customizable your character development is going to be. From then on you continue leveling and exploring till you hit level 60… then the game begins. Don’t be fooled, a lot of people believe once you hit the max level of a game the game is over then you shelf it right? For WoW, even after you hit 60 there is so much to do in the game that it is almost overwhelming. Each character can choose up to 2 professions from the 9 in the game and they include blacksmithing, herbalism, alchemy, engineering, mining, skinning, tailoring, leatherworking, and enchanting. Each of the skills can be leveled up to 5x your current level (maxing them out at 300). Every action you do such as mining a copper vein will usually give you a 1 point increase to that particular profession. Players can also opt to grind faction to receive special powerful rewards for reaching a high standing with a given faction. There is also large scale 40 vs. 40 PVP combat and rewards for earning honor by killing members of the opposing faction. Then last but not least players that are in larger guilds can go on raids.
A Raid is anywhere from 10 to 40 people and are private dungeons known as instances. These instances require teamwork and organization to complete. Blizzard has made many scripted occurrences in the dungeons and voice over work for some of the bosses. I have had the most fun in the game running the end game raids mostly because of the detail and difficulty of the instances which really adds to the feeling of accomplishment when the raid defeats a boss which before starting seemed as if it was an impossible feat. Because of the large amount of freedom in the game and constant updates from Blizzard the replay value is extremely high.
The graphics in WoW are an acquired taste. When I started I hated them but as I played the game more I found them refreshing and in many cases breathtaking. The art style is unique and really complements the game play. The music in the game is amazing and flows with the mood of the scenery and the battle sounds are top notch with every detail of combat down to the clanking of a sword against metal armor compared to the sound of a weapon hitting leather or cloth armor.
World of Warcraft’s interface is so simple that I know of at least one seven year old that has a character in the game. The interface features simple drag and drop hot bars that are lockable, and allow the player to simple click on the skill/spell that they want to use. On top of that interacting with the world only requires using your right mouse button and arrow keys to move around (or WASD). The combat system is very free form and it allows for movement to be a big factor in combat as well. The only annoying aspect of combat is if you’re casting a spell that requires the enemy to be in front of you and the enemy walks through you (yes through you) it cancels the spell and tells you the target is not in front of you anymore. This seems to be a very common strategy when dealing with casters in the game. Other than this minor complaint about the combat system the combat is fast, tense, and exciting; making for thrilling PVP combat.
Final Verdict
Blizzard has been known for making masterpieces such as Starcraft, and Diablo. This was Blizzard’s first venture into the MMO universe, and they succeeded in making one of the easiest and most intuitive games to date. World of Warcraft is a roleplaying game that runs through the usual leveling gambit going up to level 60 and then keeps going full steam ahead. This game is a must buy for anyone who has ever played and enjoyed a MMO.
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Being a citizen of Azeroth for more than 6 years, I can say that it set a new bar in mmorpg’s. A high one, few have yet to hurdle. “) I would still rate this game 10 out of 10.