Blizzpagewatch: Day 5

by Eliah Hecht May 17th 2007 at 9:38AM

In what is sure to be today's least surprising news, Blizzard.com has been updated again, this time to feature Warcraft III. One more day to go (WoW), and then all this furious pondering can rest for a bit. War3 maintains the dubious distinction of being my least favorite of the major Blizz games. I don't think that's a popular stance, but in my opinion, it took the formula that made War2 so fun and pleasant, and destroyed it through massive overcomplication. I can never manage to get more than halfway into the second campaign before I quit playing, and I've tried several times. This is sad, since I'd really like to finish the game so I'd have more of a lore background, although Know Your Lore is filling in a lot of gaps for me. What do you folks think of Blizzard's most recent RTS?

Tags: blizzard, blizzpagewatch, rumor, speculation, war3, warcraft, warcraft 3, world of warcraft, wow, wwi

Filed under: Analysis / Opinion, Events, Blizzard

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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

FadedReality May 17th 2007 9:58AM

I think someone who plays WoW finding War3 overly complicated is hilarious ;)

I personally love the game but to each his own.

Avander May 17th 2007 10:09AM

I don't know if anyone else has noticed this yet, but the background has been changing since this has started.

On today's if you look to the left it looks as though there is a moon with some vegitation in front of it and a figure of some kind.

Cool stuff.

Rainwizard May 17th 2007 10:10AM

Ok...you don't like War3?

Someone bring out a log, some rope, lots of firewood and a torch please.

RogueJedi86 May 17th 2007 10:10AM

In retrospect, Warcraft 3 felt a lot more like a WoW 0.5, with a bit of inspiration from SC. It seems like 70-80% of the content in WoW was introduced in WC3. Before WC3, the Night Elves weren't even really part of the picture, but WoW and the current Lore says they were in 99% of everything that ever happened, despite their first appearance being in WC3. In WC1 and WC2, it was the High Elves. That's just one example.

Eliah Hecht May 17th 2007 10:10AM

Avander: Ah, I hadn't noticed that. Looking back though it seems that there's one background image per game world -- War3 and War1/2 share the same background, as do D1 and D2.

BoBoTheChimp May 17th 2007 10:13AM

I loved WC3. Such a great game. I especially liked the Tower Defense mod which has spawned a gillion free-webgame clones.

On a completely off-topic and random note:
To hell with you Bungie! Making me have to put off playing Halo 3 Beta until today!

Kahja May 17th 2007 10:30AM

One of the better RTS's our there.

Personally I liked it. Right now I'm playing Supreme Commander to fill my RTS needs. It's pretty sweet too. By the same guy that made TA years back.

Jon W. May 17th 2007 11:09AM

Avender-

I believe the background image is actually a screen capture from one of the videos u see at the start of W3. I think it is the one with the Knight and orc fighting then a Infernal crashes on them.

The diablo ones look to be captures of one of the devil guys... Bal something, its been a while since i have played Diablo 1 or 2.

The W1 and W2 image im honestly not sure, but i think it follows the same sort of screen capture.

James May 17th 2007 11:12AM

If you never finished the game you really owe it to your self to find the "one-shot" everything cheat and play it through to the end. Great story, and some great cut scenes. I usually go back every year or so and reinstall and cheat my way through just for the story. Kinda like reading a book that you've already read before, still fun.

Metaphyzxx May 17th 2007 11:33AM

#9 got it right, cuz it's worth it just for the story.

However, I will agree, the gameplay was somewhat tedious, and almost makes the story not worth it. Probably because Starcraft was so perfect, it had a lot to live up to.

Ryan May 17th 2007 11:51AM

If Starcraft 2 does nothing more than put a space marine skin on this game, it'll be a resounding success imo.

BloodySkull May 17th 2007 12:47PM

RTS = teh suck

Seamus May 17th 2007 1:49PM

I personally don't like Hero characters, I think it really detracts from the RTS genre as a whole. I would much prefer Starcrafts use of "hero's" where there abilities were nice, but definately not needed to progress throughout the game. WC3 makes them much more central and much more neccessary which is disappointing to say the least.

I have a feeling that SC2, if that is what is announced, is going to be a game I don't like because of hero characters again sadly. Too many RTS companies are adding them and they are just not very enjoyable for me and for plenty of people I know...though I do know some that enjoy them.

Killraine May 17th 2007 2:03PM

I agree with 13, either make an RTS or an RPG not a sick mix of both. Although, I did like that WC3 spawned DoTA (basically seperating the RPG part) and Tower D games. Many hours of fun.

Genius Jones May 17th 2007 2:08PM

It's easy. If you loved Starcraft you're going to be bored silly with HeroCraft, cough, WarCraft III. I hate that game. Nobody really plays WC3 anyway, do they? Everyone I know is playing DOTA, which is a completely different game.

Taun May 17th 2007 2:27PM

If you hate hero characters all that means is you suck at micro managing. I'm sorry your 900 hydralisk strat doesnt work anymore.

Hookjaw May 17th 2007 2:42PM

I played WC3 in the beta, but then got bored, mainly because I didn't like dealing with heroes. Three years later, looking for a fun game to play on my Mac, I gave it another chance, and enjoyed it a lot more. I liked the storyline and the cut scenes, especially Arthas's story. When Fronzen Throne came out, I had a little crush on Kael'Thas - I loved clicking on him to hear him say "I feel something...edgy".

WC3 made me want to play WoW - I didn' thave a desire to before. I also liked how they gave you WoW training, especially in Frozen Throne, where there were quests and stuff you could do with just one or two characters.

Sirg May 18th 2007 2:25AM

Before Blizzard introduced "special units", RTS games were quite repetitive. Special units were part even of the first Warcraft game, Orcs & Humans. There was a mission of saving Anduin Lothar from the Dead Mines, and play with him on the way back, and there was an other about killing Medivth in his tower. Orcs had their special units too. Then Warcraft 2 featured "heroes", like Uther Lightbringer, Turalyon, Danath and others. I think Starcraft developed the concept even further, only to be refined in Warcraft 3.
Dune 2 was the 1st RTS, a classic. But it featured repetitive battles, the only difference being the new units added each mission, and complexity. The story was quite minimal. But Warcraft makes the RTS story and lore driven - YOU - the player, take part in shaping Azeroth's history and lore, which I find to be great. Of course, Warcraft 3 isn't a game for those people skiping cinematics and ingame dialogues :P
Warcraft 3 is a great game, a great RTS. I loved the drama of Arthas, the good paladin that turns evil, so evil that his actions will reshape the whole history of Azeroth.