"Warcraft III" 
Blizzard
Reviewed by Jerry
Edited by Melanie
"Warcraft III: Reign of Chaos" has finally hit the shelves. Was it worth the long wait? Our answer: a resounding YES. We played for hours on end before we could pull ourselves away long enough to write this review!
On first impression, it was clear that this game was more involved than its predecessor. However, Blizzard has done a masterful job in balancing complexity versus playability. Veterans of "Warcraft II" will fall into the groove with little guidance, as the interface is very similar. Those new to the world of Warcraft need not worry, as the in-game tutorials are excellent and will have the novice player comfortable in no time.
The new 3D environment, vivid spell effects, and wonderful sound really add to the atmosphere of the game. More games should balance flashiness with game play like this one.
"Warcraft III" sees the return of the Humans and Orcs, as well as two additional races, the Night Elves and the Undead. Each race has an array of unique, well-balanced and original units. For example, the Undead Meat Wagon can deliver corpses from your graveyard to the battlefield to be used by Necromancers and Ghouls, or can be used as a powerful siege weapon, hurling corpses at enemy structures. Night Elf buildings possess the ability to uproot, allowing them to assist in the defense of your base. The Orcs can research Spiked Barricades, giving all Orc structures the ability to inflict reverse damage back to attacking melee units. The Humans are the only race that can assign more than one worker to the construction or repair of a structure, allowing them to build much faster than the other three races.
Blizzard has also added a bit of role-playing to the game, with the introduction of heroes. Heroes are far more powerful than the other units, and gain experience during battle. Experience increases their strength, agility and intelligence as well as skill points. Skill points are used to learn newer and more powerful spells. Learning to cultivate and use heroes is key to both the single and multiplayer missions.
The single-player storyline is entertaining and captivating, without being too long. You're drawn in quickly, and engaged to the end. Each of the four campaigns gives you control of a different race, increasing in difficulty as you progress. The result is a game that remains challenging and fun without being overly frustrating.
Of course, the multiplayer aspects of the game are the meat and potatoes of "Warcraft III," and Blizzard has done a stellar job of it. Like "Warcraft II," a strict population maximum limits your army size. Although this may seem a hindrance, it actually works, by ensuring you get the maximum out of your units, and requiring more strategy than a typical RTS.
Blizzard has also introduced "upkeep" into the game, where large armies require additional recurring resources to support it. Deciding between a large force and a small, more efficient force becomes increasingly important. As mentioned above, heroes play an integral role in multiplayer games. Each player can summon up to three heroes to fight for them. A strong hero can easily turn the tide of a battle, let alone three. The large maps are filled with bad guys, allowing you to build up experience for your heroes before going into battle with an opponent. In addition to all this, there are also neutral buildings, such as the Goblin Merchants, where you can purchase potions, spells, and more.
The action is constant and never boring. You're constantly devising and implementing your strategy, building up your base, improving base defenses, researching creature improvements, building up your hero, scouting the map, etc.
It's been a while since we've enjoyed a game as much as we enjoyed "Warcraft III," and we think you will, too! We give it a "Must Buy" rating.
If you like Warcraft III, you might also enjoy:
Red Alert 2
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