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Warcraft III: Reign of Chaos

Robo writes: "Slashdot was lucky enough to get a beta copy of Blizzard's upcoming Warcraft III: Reign of Chaos. So, CmdrTaco and Hemos locked me up inside a closet and forced me to play for the last week. The beta of Warcraft III is impressive, to say the least. Blizzard is going to outdo themselves again when Warcraft III hits the selves in June 2002. Read on for my review."

Warcraft III runs on Windows 95/98/2000/NT and Mac OS. My setup was easy as pie, which was surprising since I run WinXP. And, on a side note, I was running it on a LCD screen and had no problem. Blizzard has an effective video setup that allows you to customize the game to match your hardware by changing the resolution, model detail, animation quality, texture quality, particles, and lights. This is especially helpful if you're running on an older machine and still want your game to run fast. The sound setup even allows you to have Dolby Surround!

I'm always disappointed that Blizzard's betas only let you play multiplayer, but that's life. In multiplayer mode, I found my abilities only let me get about 30 minutes into the game before I was demolished by the hard-core players. Maybe it was me, but Warcraft III seemed to have a faster pace than the previous two releases. The pace is a double-edged sword, because some players like their video games to be fast paced while others like to take their time. I think Warcraft II is somewhere in between Urban Terror and Civilization III. So, until I can take it low and play in a single player campaign mode, I'm counting the days until Blizzard releases Warcraft III 1.0.

Most important, if you're looking forward to the game, be assured: the gameplay is cool. This time you have a choice between four races: Human, Undead, Orc, or Dark Elf. Your race really doesn't matter in multiplayer mode; winning basically comes down to building everything up quickly and creating a massive army with which to crush your opponents. Or in my case, getting crushed.

This is where one of my favorite features comes into play. When enemies are attacking you (or your allies), the map flashes, letting you know that there is a throwdown and you should send in backup. Features I'm looking forward to in the upcoming release include: LAN games (five laptops, five six-packs, you know the drill), the single-player campaign, map editors, and polished cinematics. I realize that cinematics may not really be a game feature, but I can down a tub of popcorn when I'm watching Blizzard's cinematics, they're just that cool.

Warcraft III gives new meaning to strategy RPGs. If you like to play pure strategy games where your only goal is to be the last one standing, this game is for you. If you like games where you can take a character, build him up, and watch the character grow over the life of the game, this game is for you. Warcraft III is a successful cross between the two genres. You can build your basic Orc Grunts and go fight the enemy, but you can also build Heroes. Each class has different Heroes with which you can gain experience, attain new levels, and learn new skills. Warcraft III even lets you carry around an inventory!

I think the biggest improvement that Warcraft III has over its predecessors is Blizzard's ever more impressive graphics. With a decent video card, the graphics are crisp and clear. Nowadays, 3D is the name of the game, and Blizzard again comes a step closer to reality with this strategy role-playing game.

10 of 467 comments (clear)

  1. Is there a Rogue-like version? by ackthpt · · Score: 5, Funny
    Imagine you are faced with:

    @@@@
    @@@@
    @@@@

    All armed with ) and wearing ]

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    A feeling of having made the same mistake before: Deja Foobar
  2. Did you setup a bnetd server to play on? by wo1verin3 · · Score: 2, Funny

    :)

  3. Very true! by niftyeric · · Score: 2, Funny

    I've always played RTS games strategically. I would always play against a friend of mine and our games would take hours. The other night I played some friends I had never played before and guess what happened? By the time I was getting steady resources coming in and was able to maintain their level no matter what I built, here comes a massive army from 2 teams (allied) rushing me.

    It wasn't fun at all, and the game lasted 20 minutes (the only reason it lasted that long is because I had some fishing boats and kept them moving, heh).

    I agree with you 100%.

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    proton != antielectron
  4. Which server? by sharkey · · Score: 5, Funny

    Did you use a bnetd server, or an Official Blizzard BattleNet server?

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    --
    "Outlook not so good." That magic 8-ball knows everything! I'll ask about Exchange Server next.
  5. Re:The real question, Linux port via Transgaming? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny
    Strengths
    • Encourages Linux development
    • Confuses/diverts from the issue

    Weaknesses

    • XP claim adequately vague, but too over the top

    For the troll, I will give you a 3.

  6. Re:Hello? by geekoid · · Score: 4, Funny

    oh no you don't! its slashdots responsability to tell me what to think! If they post a story submitted by a user, then they need to put all the company behind that opinion!
    Do you think I would tell people I use Linux if it wasn't leet?

    sorry, sometimes I crack myself up;)

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    The Kruger Dunning explains most post on /. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dunning%E2%80%93Kruger_effect
  7. Fear my L12 Step Ladder Hero... by realgone · · Score: 3, Funny
    Hate to say it, but sounds like more of the same. Ever get the feeling that just about any concept could get cookie-cuttered to death by the Blizzard tank-rush mentality? =)

    "Slashdot was lucky enough to get a beta copy of Blizzard's upcoming Chutes and Ladders: Vertical Assault. So, CmdrTaco and Hemos locked me up beneath a stairwell and forced me to play for the last week..."

    "This time you have a choice between two races: Chutes or Ladders. Your race really doesn't matter in multiplayer mode; winning basically comes down to building everything up quickly and creating a massive army of chutes (or ladders) with which to climb to the top. Or in my case, get climbed over."

  8. Great, last time Blizzard..... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny

    released a new "great" game, I lost my job, both girlfriends and reality.

  9. Re:bnetd case. by kindbud · · Score: 5, Funny

    By NOT buying their latest game, we would directly affect their coiffers.

    I couldn't care less who does their hair.

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    Edith Keeler Must Die
  10. They've got 'em already by devphil · · Score: 3, Funny


    I believe the original Command & Conquer[*] worker peons would finish a job, then look around for something to build/repair/harvest. The worker Imps in Dungeon Keeper have a priority list of things to do if you haven't assigned them anything (claim any unclaimed ground, reinforce any un-reinforced walls, scavenge dead bodies, etc).

    Right now I have a hard time keeping track of my Citizens in Empire Earth because if something needs doing within their line of sight, they wander off and start working, and then I can't find them. (I have the most efficient, productive, confused society ever!)

    [*] Made in the bad old days before Westwood could hire professional actors. I believe the man who plays the bad guy (Kane? Cain? sp?) works in the Westwood financial division or something. That's really cool. :-)

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    You cannot apply a technological solution to a sociological problem. (Edwards' Law)