I recently started playing War of Warcraft, (WOW), mainly as a way to pass the time but it has become a bit of a habit each day. I decided I needed a break, (well actually my trial subscription has run out and I am waiting for the full game to turn up, lol), so I thought I'd write a review of it instead.
For those of you that haven't heard of World of Warcraft it is a MMORG, (massively mult-player online role-playing game), that seems to have achieved an unpresedented following through-out the world. WOW is fantasy based with elves, gnomes, orcs and dwarves as well as some more unusual races like Drainai and Taurans. The world that you play in in WOW is HUGE and the game is fairly free-roaming. The quests are level based so you need to complete them in order to some extent but within each area and each level you can do them in any order you wish.
The huge world is one of the games downfalls for me; I tend to spend ages running from one area to the other rather than actually 'playing' the game. It is also this same vast universe that makes the game so addictive and so much fun. the
scenery is beautiful and at times breath-taking. the graphics aren't the most amazing graphics in the world but they are still great and the stylised look is distinctive and adds to the feel of the game. Once you've played the game you will be able to spot WOW items from a mile away because the graphics are so distinctive.
To give you an idea of the game-play I will try to briefly outline the game but please forgive me if I wander into the realms of a game guide, it is so hard to be succint about a complicated game.
You get to make your own chatacter including how they look, (you get a small selection of faces, hair styles and colours, skin colours and markings), their class, (what they do), like preists, mages, rogues, warriors etc, and their race, (mentioned above). Oh and you also have to choose a side from the "Alliance", (the good guys), and the "Horde", (the bad guys). Lot's of people, (my Dad and Brother included), would get in a tizzy about the good and bad comment above but it's fact, whether you prefer the darkside or the lightside is another matter altogether.
Where you start in the game depends on your race but you will get a very pretty opening sequence to introduce you to the game from the point of view of your chosen race. You will have to run round taling to NPCs, (non-player characters), who have gold exclamation marks above their heads to get given quests. All the starting quests are much the same and generally require you slaying a certain amount of some beast or another, (there is always a good reason like over-population, a terrible illness etc), collecting certain herbs, or fish or meat and delivering something from one place to another. Once the starter quests are over there is much more variation although after a while the quests do seem to be fairly routine and much of a muchness.
Your character can learn two main professions which make the most sense taken in pairs like herbalism, (which allows you to collect herbs), and alchemy, (which lets you make potions from the herbs you collect), or mining, (allowing you to collect ore), and engineering, (which allows you to turn that ore into useful items). This is a good way to earn money in game and money is always in short supply on WOW. You also get to learn background skills like fishing, first aid and cooking. I kind of like stood fishing or cooking in game, its strangely relaxing performing meanial tasks in a fantasy setting, (shame I don't feel that way about the ironing). There is also something fairly addictive about running round collecting the items you need.
As you gain experience, (from killing enemies, completing quests and discovering new areas), you will go up levels which gives you more health and mana, (what you use to cast spells), and your stats like strength etc will go up too. Levelling up is also strangly addictive and I seem to avoid doing things, (like eating, sleeping or using the loo), until I go up that level or finish that quest. They have tried to help here by providing a clock and a calander in game to remind you of your real life!
There are achievements you can earn in the game like 'tastes like chicken' which requires you to eat 50 different types of food and things like catching 50 fish etc. I don't think these have any effect on the game other than giving you something to work towards.
Now not only is WOW amazingly addictive, (to the stage where people need help to stop playing and face reality), but it's also fairly expensive. The game costs around £9.99 depending where you buy it, (Amazon is cheaper), which seems good value but you also have to pay a monthly fee, (a 60 day pre-paid card costs £16.28 from Amazon), which is a pain but I suppose they need to pay for the servers etc and the undoubtable huge staff needed to run and devlop such a huge game. There are also expansion packs too, (Burning Crusades, £6.99 on Amazon and Wrath of the Lich King, £17.96 on Amazon), which adds to the expense but which are essential to reach that all important level 80 status.
If you have enough willpower, (or no life), then WOW is a great way to while away your spare time but too many people seem to take it too seriously and then it isn't fun anymore.
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Product Description Product Description World of Warcraft is a massive multi-player, ... more
online role-playing game set in the Warcraft universe. In it, thousands of players will be able to adventure together with a new, in-depth perspective on familiar lan...
Postage & Packaging: £1.94 Availability: Usually dispatched within 1-2 business days...
World of Warcraft is a massive multi-player, online role-playing game set in the Warcraft ... more
universe. In it, thousands of players will be able to adventure together with a new, in-depth perspective on familiar lands, former battlefields and heroes fro...
Postage & Packaging: £1.94 Availability: Usually dispatched within 1-2 business days...
World of Warcraft is a massive multi-player, online role-playing game set in the Warcraft ... more
universe. In it, thousands of players will be able to adventure together with a new, in-depth perspective on familiar lands, former battlefields and heroes fro...
Postage & Packaging: free Super Saver Delivery Availability: Usually dispatched within 24 hours...
Advantages: Truly epic, huge game world, rich and vibrant community, tonnes to do, utterly astounding. Disadvantages: Subscription based (£8.99 per month).
Advantages: Vast world to discover, Meet and interact with thousands of players. Disadvantages: Somewhat outdated graphics, gameplay can be monotonous at times. Requires alot of time and dedication.
cherokeexp 05.06.2007 (05.06.2007)
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Review of World of Warcraft (PC)
Advantages: Amazing effects, an amazing story line and so much to do! Disadvantages: Takes forever to download, need internet connection, little hard at first
goku1st 03.02.2008 (03.02.2008)
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful
Review of World of Warcraft (PC)
Advantages: Beautiful music, stunning graphics and amazing gameplay Disadvantages: Potentially addictive, requires alot of downloading, can only play online
pnbrady 18.04.2007 (18.04.2007)
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful
Review of World of Warcraft (PC)
Advantages: Truly epic, huge game world, rich and vibrant community, tonnes to do, utterly astounding. Disadvantages: Subscription based (£8.99 per month).
Aug 5th, 2009
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