world of warcraft review 2020
Test: World of WarcraftAfter many years of development that's it, the first MMORPG made in Blizzard is finally in stores. By MMORPG, we obviously mean "Massively Multiplayer Online Role Playing Game" that is to say, massively multiplayer online role-playing game. World of Warcraft (WoW) is therefore only played on the internet (no single player mode) and you have to pay a subscription of 12.99 Euros per month to be able to indulge in it. For this price, the customers that we are are entitled to be demanding and expect the best of this title which is expected at the turn by a horde of raging fans who wonder if the app will meet all their expectations. This is what we will try to determine now.
To do this, what could be better than putting yourself in the shoes of an average player who would embark for the first time in WoW? After having split the essential creation of an account requiring a number of bank card or prepaid card on sale in specialized shops, our player whom we will call Barnabé, will find himself faced with a first choice: that of the server . A crucial choice since it will determine the applicable rules. Basically, two types of servers exist: normal and PvP. The difference between the two is very simple: it comes from the ease of facing other players or being attacked by them. Thus, in a normal server, confrontation with other players is disabled by default. Clearly, you will not be able to be attacked by an opposing player unless you activate PvP mode yourself or if you enter a capital of the opposing faction. Indeed in WoW, two factions oppose: the Horde and the Alliance. Barnabé will have to choose his side when selecting the breed of his avatar. But for now, let's keep looking at what differentiates normal servers from PvP servers. In these, it is possible to be attacked by other players from the opposing faction even if you do not want to. In fact, Barnabas will only be safe when he travels in friendly territory. If he enters disputed or enemy territory, another player may attack him at any time. PvP servers are therefore made for those who wish to live dangerously.
But our Barnabé does not yet know well the mechanisms of WoW so he chooses, to begin with, a normal server localized in French. Thus, he will come across an overwhelming majority of French speakers which will allow him not to test his knowledge of German or English (then he is free to create another character on another server). Once the server has been selected, Barnabé arrives on the avatar creation screen. Barnabé is a little destabilized because unlike what he had seen in Everquest 2, it is not possible to play any class with any race. Clearly, you have to choose your race according to the class you want to select. Thus, it is for example impossible to create an elf paladin because the class of paladin is only available if one chooses to embody a human or a dwarf. Barnabé is also a little disappointed with the number of classes that are offered: there are only 9. It is very little compared to the competition and the 24 classes of an Everquest 2 for example.
It is the same for the races which are not very numerous: 8 in total. There are four for the Alliance (humans, night elves, gnomes and dwarfs) and 4 for the Horde (trolls, orcs, taurens and undead). Besides the flagrant change in appearance, the race therefore determines which side you will be in. Barnabé chooses to play a mage gnome because he thinks that everything that is small is cute and then he wants to throw fireballs at his enemies. Another small disappointment of our typical player in the creation of the character: the possibilities of personalization are really very limited. We can not choose neither its size nor its build and the different haircuts, types of faces and skin are quite few. In short, the creation of the character worries our Barnabas a little and suddenly, a doubt takes hold of him: and if the rest of the game was of the same ilk namely notoriously incomplete when compared to the competition? This fleeting moment of disappointment disappeared very quickly when he really entered the game. Indeed, what pleased our friend right away were the sets which had a very nice cartoony appearance. Certainly, we are far from the finesse of an Everquest 2, but the slightly outdated side of the sets and characters gives a real cachet to the game. This will not please everyone for sure, but our Barnabé him, he likes. He also loves the sound environment of the game: the music is superb and the sound effects too. Hope therefore returns to the hearts of our average player.
But what most impresses Barnabé is the gameplay with little onions that the developers at Blizzard have laid. It is ultra-simple to take in hand and even beginners will not be lost thanks to the numerous help bubbles which indicate the function of all the buttons of the interface. Barnabé also loves the little question marks and exclamation marks that appear above NPCs when they have something to say to you. At least he won't have to talk to everyone when he searches for quests. Regarding the quests, they are very numerous and our Barnabé will not have to stupidly kill the monster without reason since whatever its level there will always be missions to accomplish to gain experience. After only a few short hours of play, Barnabé has already reached level 7. It must be said that it is very easy to play alone, we are very far from the obligation that Everquest 2 makes us to play in a group if we want to evolve . The progression is therefore very rapid, and our model player now knows very well what he gains by leveling up: statistical points. These are distributed automatically. Barnabé therefore does not have to choose if he wants to favor strength, endurance, agility ... Another proof that the game was thought to adapt to the greatest number and even to those who do not have never touched an MMORPG. Barnabé also knows that by gaining levels, he does not acquire new skills: he must buy them for hard cash and stumbling from an instructor. It is said that it is rather good as a system because thus, when it reaches the maximum level it may be able to acquire all the available spells (if it is rich enough for that).
Once he reached level 10, Barnabé was pleasantly surprised to see that he now earns one talent point per level. He can spend it on one of the three talent trees available and thus improve one aspect of his character. This system is strongly reminiscent of that of skills of Diablo 2 in which you had to spend a point per level to be able to acquire new spells or skills. In WoW, it just allows you to specialize a little more your character and to better match it to your way of playing. But Barnabé is not at the end of his discoveries since he quickly lives that the game also makes it possible to make his own objects. Thus, it is possible to choose to learn two trades allowing for example to collect herbs (by becoming an herbalist) which one uses to prepare potions of mana or life (it is necessary to learn the science of alchemy for that) . He then tells himself that his next character will be a warrior in which he will learn the work of a miner and a blacksmith to make his own weapons and armor. And the Barnabas are clever! He indeed makes his two trades correspond. It is indeed not very judicious to become a herbalist and a blacksmith because the herbs will not be of any help to you to make an armor. Fortunately, for those who have made a mistake, it is quite possible to "unlearn" their trades and choose new ones. As for those who want to fill their pockets, a system for selling items by auction has been put in place. Convenient for people who feel like a true artisan.
After several hours of play and the creation of several characters, our Barnabé thinks that finally, WoW is an excellent game with very well thought out gameplay, but that the innovations are nevertheless very few. The most glaring is the presence of a resting XP. Clearly, when you are in town, your character rests and the future experience he will gain will be doubled for a certain period of time. The longer you stay in town, the greater the experience bonus you will gain. The trick is obviously to disconnect only in town because when we return to the game, we will have a bonus which will be all the more interesting as our disconnection will have been long. This system allows those who only play occasionally to progress anyway. Another little bonus is that you can share your quests. If you are in a group and your teammates do not have the same quests as you, a simple click is enough to give them your quests. So everyone will have the same and you can do them together. It is not new as a possibility, but it is roughly practical!
In the end, World of Warcraft turns out to be very pleasant to play, especially since there is no loading time in game (except between the continents and before certain dungeons): the rhythm is not chopped. What is also very significant is that it is easier to play alone than in most other MMORPGs. And if we add to that the rest XP, the occasional players will have found there a game which is particularly intended for them. As for people who want to devote themselves to it more assiduously, they will certainly be seduced by the immensity of the universe and the numerous evolutions which will soon be included such as the "battlefields", particular areas on which the war between the Horde and the Alliance will be intense since we can conquer entire villages. In short, with its easy-to-access gameplay, less technical than an Everquest 2 (which is more targeted to hardcore gamers) and its intrinsic richness, World of Warcraft is an MMORPG which provides immediate pleasure without taking the head. Really nice ! Barnabé is seduced.
The notes
Graphics 16/20
If it is certain that the cartoon design will not please everyone, at least WoW has a style of its own. The game is generally less thin than Everquest 2 but it has a huge advantage, however: it is fluid even on PCs that are not racing beasts.
Gameplay 18/20
Simplicity has obviously been the watchword of the developers of WoW, which makes the software much less elitist than many other MMORPGs. The handling is clear and the interface practical. Only regret, the number of classes, races and the possibilities of personalization of his avatar are very limited.
Lifespan 18/20
The service life is excellent. The game indeed offers many quests allowing not to kill the monster without reason. In addition, the size of the world is immense.
Soundtrack 18/20
Even if all the dialogues are not spoken as in Everquest 2, the soundscape manages to seduce us thanks to very good sound effects and absolutely superb music.
Scenario 17/20
We find with pleasure the universe of Warcraft games. The story is really basic, but it is so well brought that it will undoubtedly manage to keep you going for many months.
For a try, it's a master stroke! This first MMORPG made in Blizzard is indeed an excellent title which manages to glue us in front of our screen from the first minutes of play thanks to a practical interface and a rich and interesting gameplay. Only downside: the number of classes and races is lower than what we see in the competition. Defect which will certainly be corrected by a probable add-on. The fact remains that World of Warcraft manages very well to keep its bet and will appeal to both novices in massively multiplayer role-playing games and to old-timers of the genre who are looking for a title without headache. A classic is born!
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