amazon Warlords of Draenor reviews
Blizzard has really shown that they are working hard to continue to help World of WarCraft hold the top spot, a monument in the online gaming world. Although the number of players has decreased relative, World of WarCraft still owns more than 8 million monthly accounts.
About the new version of Warlords of Draenor, players will be exploring a vast Draenor world where the Orc race has just been invaded and destroyed by the Burning Legion.
The world of Warlords of Draenor is built in an open way for players to explore freely. Instead of leading the players to follow boring missions like fighting monsters, picking up items, moving from A to B like many other online titles, the new version of Warlords of Draenor directly takes you on big battles, where the players are free to float and experience as if they were part of that fight.
In addition, the open world also gives players the freedom to move, explore the world in the Warlords of Draenor. The achievement system also allows gamers to perform tasks with increasing difficulty, while enjoying new cutscenes to better understand the storyline in the game.
In particular, in the new Warlords of Draenor, the difficulty levels of the Dungeons, Heroic Dungeons and Raids have been pushed up a lot. Players can reach max level 100 quite quickly, but after that, they will have to train skills, control character, strengths, weakness of the Boss to be able to defeat them.
In addition, teamwork skills are also essential if you want to beat the hard copy, and this makes World of WarCraft a much more “hardcore” game, rather than a ” Casual “as the two recent releases are Cataclysm or Mist of Pandaria.
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World of Warcraft: Warlords of Draenor Expansion – PC/Mac Buy it now
World of Warcraft: Warlords of Draenor Collector’s Edition – PC/Mac Buy it now
Story and Setting
“Warlords of Draenor” offers a rich and engaging narrative that immerses players in a world of heroism and conflict. The story begins with Garrosh Hellscream, the former Warchief of the Horde, escaping from his trial in Pandaria with the aid of a rogue bronze dragon, Kairozdormu. They travel back in time to an alternate Draenor, where Garrosh prevents the orcish clans from drinking the blood of the demon Mannoroth, thus averting their corruption into the fel orcs. Instead, he unites them into the Iron Horde, a technologically advanced army bent on conquering Azeroth through the Dark Portal.
Players, acting as commanders of their respective factions (Alliance or Horde), are sent through the Dark Portal to stop the Iron Horde. The narrative unfolds across several zones in Draenor, each dominated by a different orcish clan and their warlord. Key figures from WoW lore, such as Grommash Hellscream, Durotan, and Ner’zhul, play pivotal roles in the storyline, providing fans with a nostalgic and thrilling journey through orcish history.
The setting of Draenor is beautifully crafted, showcasing the planet in its prime before its transformation into Outland. Each zone has a distinct visual and thematic identity, from the icy wastes of Frostfire Ridge to the lush jungles of Gorgrond and the mystical forests of Shadowmoon Valley. This vibrant world serves as a compelling backdrop for the epic story, blending familiar elements with fresh twists.
Gameplay Mechanics
“Warlords of Draenor” introduced several new gameplay mechanics and changes that significantly impacted the WoW experience.
Garrisons
One of the most notable additions was the garrison system, a personal base of operations for each player. Garrisons allowed players to build and upgrade various buildings, recruit followers, and send them on missions for rewards. This feature added a layer of strategic gameplay, as players could customize their garrison to suit their playstyle, whether focusing on crafting, gathering resources, or combat missions. The garrison also served as a hub for daily activities and quests, making it an integral part of the player’s journey through Draenor.
Character Boosts
“Warlords of Draenor” introduced the character boost feature, allowing players to instantly level a character to level 90, the starting level for the expansion. This was particularly appealing for new players or those looking to quickly jump into the new content without the grind of leveling through previous expansions. The boost came with a set of appropriate gear and a brief tutorial to get players acquainted with their class abilities.
Stat Squish and Ability Pruning
To address the growing complexity and inflation of player stats, Blizzard implemented a “stat squish” in this expansion. This reduced the numerical values of health, damage, and other stats to more manageable levels, making it easier for players to understand their character’s power relative to enemies. Additionally, ability pruning was introduced to streamline classes by removing redundant or less-used abilities, resulting in a more focused and balanced gameplay experience.
New Character Models
A major visual overhaul was carried out with the introduction of updated character models for the original races of WoW. These new models featured higher polygon counts, improved animations, and more detailed textures, bringing the game’s aging graphics up to modern standards while retaining the distinctive style that fans loved.
Zones and Questing
Draenor consists of several unique zones, each with its own storylines, aesthetics, and challenges. The zones include:
Frostfire Ridge
Home to the Frostwolf Clan, Frostfire Ridge is a harsh, icy landscape filled with rugged mountains and volcanic activity. The zone’s storyline revolves around the Frostwolves’ struggle against the encroaching Thunderlord Clan and their uneasy alliance with the Horde players.
Shadowmoon Valley
A serene and mystical region, Shadowmoon Valley is the starting zone for Alliance players. It features lush forests, serene waterways, and the draenei city of Karabor. The storyline focuses on the draenei’s efforts to defend their homeland from the Shadowmoon Clan and their dark sorcery.
Gorgrond
Gorgrond is a diverse zone featuring both dense jungles and arid wastelands. The zone’s narrative is split between the Alliance and Horde, with each faction facing unique challenges related to the local flora and fauna, as well as the threat posed by the Blackrock Clan.
Talador
Talador is a central zone with a mix of verdant forests and ancient draenei ruins. The story here involves the defense of Shattrath City from the invading Iron Horde, as well as dealing with internal conflicts among the draenei.
Spires of Arak
A rugged and mountainous region, the Spires of Arak are home to the bird-like Arakkoa. The zone’s storyline explores the Arakkoa’s history, their struggle against the cursed Sethekk, and the player’s efforts to ally with the Arakkoa outcasts.
Nagrand
A nostalgic favorite from “The Burning Crusade,” Nagrand returns with a mix of rolling plains and floating islands. The storyline here focuses on the player’s confrontation with the Warsong Clan and their leader, Grommash Hellscream.
Each zone in Draenor offers a variety of quests, including traditional kill-and-collect quests, more dynamic and engaging story-driven quests, and bonus objectives that provide additional rewards for completing specific tasks in an area. The questing experience is designed to be more fluid and immersive, with fewer filler quests and more emphasis on storytelling.
Dungeons and Raids
“Warlords of Draenor” introduced several new dungeons and raids, each with its own unique challenges and themes.
Dungeons
The expansion launched with a total of eight dungeons, offering content for players of various levels and difficulties:
- Bloodmaul Slag Mines: Set in Frostfire Ridge, this dungeon has players battling through an ogre mine filled with dangerous creatures and deadly traps.
- Iron Docks: Located in Gorgrond, the Iron Docks are a key staging ground for the Iron Horde’s naval operations, and players must thwart their plans.
- Auchindoun: In Talador, Auchindoun is a draenei holy site under siege by the Shadow Council, and players must defend it from demonic forces.
- Skyreach: Set in the Spires of Arak, Skyreach is the capital of the Arakkoa, where players face the high arakkoa and their sun-powered technology.
- The Everbloom: A dungeon in Gorgrond where players confront the threat of the Botani, plant-like beings intent on spreading their influence.
- Grimrail Depot: A unique dungeon set on a moving train in Gorgrond, where players must stop a weapon shipment from reaching the Iron Horde.
- Shadowmoon Burial Grounds: In Shadowmoon Valley, this dungeon has players fighting through a series of crypts to stop the Shadowmoon Clan’s dark rituals.
- Upper Blackrock Spire: A revamped version of the classic dungeon, where players battle the Blackrock Clan and their allies.
Raids
“Warlords of Draenor” launched with two primary raids and added more content through patches:
- Highmaul: The first raid of the expansion, set in Nagrand, where players face the ogres of Highmaul and their leader, Imperator Mar’gok.
- Blackrock Foundry: Located in Gorgrond, this raid is the heart of the Iron Horde’s war machine, featuring encounters with key figures like Blackhand.
Subsequent patches added more raids, such as Hellfire Citadel in Tanaan Jungle, where players confront Archimonde and the Burning Legion’s forces.
Visual and Audio Design
“Warlords of Draenor” represents a significant step forward in WoW’s visual and audio design. The updated character models brought new life to the game’s avatars, making them more expressive and detailed while preserving their iconic look. The zones of Draenor are beautifully crafted, with stunning landscapes, dynamic lighting, and intricate environmental details that make each area feel alive and immersive.
The expansion’s music and sound design are equally impressive. The soundtrack, composed by Russell Brower, Neal Acree, and others, features epic orchestral pieces that enhance the game’s atmosphere and underscore key moments in the storyline. The ambient sounds, voice acting, and combat effects are all meticulously crafted to provide a rich auditory experience that complements the visual storytelling.
Conclusion
“Warlords of Draenor” was a bold and ambitious expansion that sought to innovate and revitalize “World of Warcraft.” It succeeded in many areas, offering a compelling story, stunning visuals, and significant gameplay improvements. However, it also faced challenges, particularly with the implementation of the garrison system and the lack of content updates.
Despite its flaws, “Warlords of Draenor” remains a memorable chapter in the history of “World of Warcraft.” It provided a foundation for future expansions to build upon and demonstrated Blizzard’s willingness to take risks and evolve their game. For both its highs and lows, “Warlords of Draenor” is a testament to the enduring legacy and ever-evolving nature of “World of Warcraft.”