Publisher: Blizzard Entertainment
Ages: teens & up
Parental
Advisory:
Strategic battle
After playing out a game, an expansion pack can add improvements and experiences that breath new life into a beloved title. This is the case with Blizzard Entertainment's Warcraft III: The Frozen Throne, a fantastic expansion that makes a great real-time strategy game even better, and is a must have for Warcraft III fans.
Frozen Throne provides gamers with a new chapter in the Warcraft saga that is as in-depth as that in the original game and offers challenging, entertaining and varied gameplay. In the single-player campaign, players revisit the war-torn world of Azeroth. Several months have passed since Archimonde and the Burning Legion were defeated at the battle of Mount Hyjal, and a new threat is rising throughout the land.
The evil Lich King Ner'zhul has been imprisoned inside the Icecrown glacier, deep within the arctic continent of Northrend. Although the former Orc Shaman lacks physical form, his soul lives on, seeking a means to escape his icy prison. As the saga continues, it is revealed that both the Night Elf renegade, Illidan, and the traitorous Death Knight, Arthas seek the Icecrown glacier and its mysterious powers. To save all of Azeroth from the forces of darkness, players must traverse uncharted lands and battle new enemies while uncovering the schemes of the evil beings.
The expansion offer four single-player campaigns, including a bonus RPG-style mini-campaign. The comprehensive program also offers four new race-specific heroes, each with a complementary set of powerful spells and abilities; two new units per race, three new tilesets, featuring new lands to explore and new creeps and critters; player-built shops, equipped with items designed for each race; and five neutral heroes that players may recruit to strengthen their armies-each with unique spells and abilities.
There are new neutral buildings that provide players with additional units, and new magical items and modes of transportation; expanded multi-player options over Battle.net, including clan and tournament support that greatly improve multi-gamer play; new multi-player maps; and an enhanced world editor that lets players create and connect their own custom campaigns, complete with cut-scenes and voiceovers. The expansion also offers several improvements to the game that include early defense structures that prevent the enemy from rushing a player early; difficulty levels for skirmishes and more.
Of course, as a real-time strategy game, Warcraft III: The Frozen Throne, as does the original Warcraft III, features lots of violent battles. But the battles require lots of strategy and thought on the part of players, which makes the games appropriate for older kids who want edgy, challenging fare.
For fans of Warcraft III, the Warcraft III: The Frozen Throne expansion is a must have. It's hard to imagine that Blizzard could start with such a great game and make it even better. But they have. Don't miss this one.
8/6/03 www.daytrum.com Editorial Staff
