101852 World of Warcraft - Neoseeker - Hardware and Games Reviews Index

Product Details

Description:

World of Warcraft didn't invent the online role-playing genre, but it certainly benefits from the missteps of other titles that have come before. A mind-boggling array of improvements in graphics, gameplay, networking, and interface--really every category--makes this game the crown prince of the genre, a great starting place for newbies, and a challenge to any other MMORPG currently in the works.

Quick Glance

Game Genre: Strategy Game

Compatible OS: PC, Mac

ESRB Rating: T (Teen)

Media Format: CD-ROM

Summary

Product Title: 101852 World of Warcraft

Manufacturer: 101852

Power Score: 4.4 | 35 Reviews

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Product Reviews (15)

Absolutely addicting

Strengths: Widely varied, beutiful scenery; A plethora of creatures and NPCs to interact with(and battle!); A seemingly endless number of quests; One account, up to 8 characters per server....and so on and so on

Weakness: If you're on the Horde side you can't communicate with alliance and vice versa, so once one of them kills you for no reason at all, and they will, you can't curse them out in a way they'll understand.

First, a comment on a review above: The graphics aren't great?! Hogwash. Maybe you're computer can't handle the graphics this game is capable of. My wife plays also and her computer had an analog vid card, while mine has DVI output. I can see her screen from where I sit while we play and what I see is much more appealing than what she sees. If you want the game to look great, step up your system to a decent card with DVI. The scenery I see is absolutely gorgeous. I can even look through the ocean water from above and see the sunken treasure ships below the gently cascading and glistening waves, which my wife can't on her computer. All she can see is the water's opaque surface. At least, that's all she can see until I upgrade her machine because she wants the good graphics too.

Obviously, I think a lot of the graphics. Someone else complained about tedious travel, though. And to that I say, Hogwash! Travel starts out slowly for a new character, but that's to be expected. You have to earn your way through things. There are many windriders in this game, at different towns and outposts. Once you find one and 'speak' to them, you have found a new flight path. You can pay a small fee and ride a creature like a gryphon, a giant bat, a giant eagle or a wyvern to someplace you need to go and have already been to. But you don't get this for free, you have to run there once. Of course, some classes gain faster travel forms than normal running. The druids and shamans can transform into fast running animals. Also, once a character hits level 40, which does take some time, they can learn a riding skill and buy a mount, which is much faster than normal running and is even faster than the animal travel forms. There is even large public transit built in-ferry ships and zeppelins to take you across the ocean, travelling between the continents. Travel isn't tedious in this game, one just needs to put in some time to make it less slow.

The important thing: Gameplay. It is horribly and ridiculously addicting. If you have any sort of interest in online MMORPGs or in sword and sorcery type games, you will love WoW. With 8 different classes to play, per side, and 9 classes overall(each side has once class the other side doesn't), the variety of things you can do is fantastic. Appearances customize depending on the equipment you wear for a unique look. Character customization at the start is pretty good-not the ultimate(SWG had the best character customization I've seen yet). I can't say enough good things..but if you REALLY hate PvP, do NOT join a PvP server. There are safe places to be even there, but eventually you'll have to go into contested territory where you're open game to higher level jerks who love preying on lower level characters who don't have a prayer against them. I did hate PvP, but those jerks on the alliance side got me so angry, I now enjoy jumping in with my Horde buddies and getting my revenge on the alliance. Paybacks!

Overall, it's a lot of fun. Join in, find a good guild to help you out(remember to help others when you become able)and seek adventure!

By anonymous; - Oct 12, 2005

Ultima Online started it (MMORPGs)...

Strengths: You can play this game solo or in groups--something unusual in many of the new MMORPGs. There are over 2,000 quests!

Weakness: They have a lag problem. Strangely, this happens in areas that are hardly populated as much as it does in the large gathering areas.

Ultima Online started it (MMORPGs) and set the standard pretty high for others to follow. However, its outdated graphics and very old game engine are causing many loyal fans (like me) to look for an alternative. I didn't like EQ. DAoC, the latest version, is pretty good. I really enjoyed SWG--but WoW is now top of the pile. There are over 2,000 quests--and they are varied, interesting and often...
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By TerryC - Jan 5, 2005

GREATEST MMORPG TO BE FOOLISHLY DESTROYED WEEKLY BY THE DEVELOPERS!!!

Strengths: This game is totally addictive and "should have been" the last game you'd ever buy:-)

Weakness: Customer Service is a "totally unaccountable, non-existant, rubber stamp joke" and sadly the game designers change the rules/guidelines without reason (or accountability to you) every tuesday??? :-(

I personally had 10 totally Different Characters at once in this game; 5 on the Alliance side(Good Guys) and 5 on the Horde side(Bad Guys)... some all the way up to 45th level! All of them were months of time devoted to each one, because I played them the hardest way known in this game; totally solo! This was a passion for me that was crushed little by little with every Tuesday's updates! Sadly...
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By wadeduck58 - Jun 10, 2007

World of Warcraft

Strengths: Interesting game play, different areas to explore, combat amazing, PvP potental nearly unlimited

Weakness: Horriable Customer Support, Game Play Issues, Server Lag Issues, Patching Issues, Many Bugs (after 2 years), Dishonest Player Base, Dishonest and Deciving Company Policies, Over Charged Fees

I have been playing World of Warcraft since release and I have fun with it but that is becauase I have a open mind about bugs and how every MMO is a constant work in progress. World of Warcraft should not have been released when it was it was one of the worst releases in MMO history, great sales wise but programming was horrable and uncompleted, servers crashed frequently, GM support was non...
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By GenSphinx - Jan 2, 2007

Fun till you hit the cap but then its drudgery

Strengths: Graphics are nice and crisp (stylized like cartoons though). Solo and duo is very possible up till you hit the level cap. PvP has some point. Lots of quests at lower levels.

Weakness: Quests are very simple and mindless. Once you hit max level the only thing left is PvP and infinite Instance runs for a small chance at good items in groups of 10 to 40 people. Too time intensive.

I played this game in beta. I played it from release. I maxed out a few characters (both horde and alliance) on a two different servers. I played horde on a pvp server (StormReaver). What I love: The early game is lots of fun. You can play it solo or in a group of up to five people. I love that in PvP factions can not chat at each other so there is no trash talking that ruins so much PvP in other...
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By PieceOfShoe - Dec 1, 2005

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