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World of Warcraft

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7.0 User Score:

Universal acclaim

Based on 57 critic reviews
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Based on 433 votes
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Game Info

Publisher: Blizzard Entertainment

Developer: Blizzard Entertainment

Genre(s): Massively-Multiplayer Online Role-Playing Game

Players: Thousands

ESRB Rating: T (Teen)

Release Date: November 22, 2004

Summary

Four years have passed since the aftermath of Warcraft III: Reign of Chaos, and a great tension now smolders throughout the ravaged world of Azeroth. As the battle-worn races begin to rebuild their shattered kingdoms, new threats, both ancient and ominous, arise to plague the world once again. World of Warcraft is an online role-playing experience set in the award-winning Warcraft universe. Players assume the roles of Warcraft heroes as they explore, adventure, and quest across a vast world. Being "Massively Multiplayer," World of Warcraft allows thousands of players to interact within the same world. Whether adventuring together or fighting against each other in epic battles, players will form friendships, forge alliances, and compete with enemies for power and glory. A dedicated live team will create a constant stream of new adventures to undertake, lands to explore, and monsters to vanquish. This content ensures that the game will never be the same from month to month, and will continue to offer new challenges and adventures for years to come. [Blizzard Entertainment]

Also On Metacritic

GAMES: Warcraft III: Reign of Chaos Warcraft III: The Frozen Throne World of Warcraft: Wrath of the Lich King

Cheat Codes & Hints: Cheat Code Central GameSpot Guide

Also On The Web: ActionTrip Preview Adrenaline Vault Preview EuroGamer Preview Firing Squad Preview Games Domain Preview GameSpot Preview IGN Interview IGN Preview Just RPG Preview Official Website

What The Critics Said

All critic scores are converted to a 100-point scale. If a critic does not indicate a score, we assign a score based on the general impression given by the text of the review. Learn more...

100

Detroit Free Press

Addictive from the moment you begin...It's incredibly friendly to the solo gamer, allowing players not only to gain Levels 1 to 60 without ever grouping with someone else if they prefer, but also to earn the same or more experience playing that way. That means the solo gamer can level nearly as quickly as a group of power gamers playing together.

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100

GameSpy

It takes the essence of the MMO experience, breaks it down into its component parts, and plays up all the fun elements while actively minimizing the boring or tedious aspects. World of Warcraft is the MMO that nearly everybody can enjoy, and is a shining example of the game developer's art.

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100

G4 TV

This is the best example of what a massively multiplayer online game can offer, and is highly recommended to anyone who simply enjoys playing games.

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100

Boomtown

There’s always a hesitation in giving something 10 since you are essentially saying that it’s perfect but as things stand now that’s exactly what World of Warcraft deserves.

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100

GameShark

A tremendous product. Wonderfully fun and thrilling, inspiring and energiz[ing], just a great amount of fun.

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100

Just Adventure

Incredibly addicting... They’ve just cleaned up your standard Dungeons and Dragons style online RPG and made it super fun, extremely refined, and exceedingly accessible to gamers of all levels.

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100

VideoGamesLife

The best MMORPG on the market, of that there is no argument. By taking the choicest cuts from previous titles in this genre, Blizzard has constructed a fairly unoriginal but nevertheless brilliantly assembled game world.

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100

Quandary

In fact, apart from the world itself, the great attraction of World of Warcraft for me is the community. Making friends and helping each other out is especially enjoyable.

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100

Gaming Age

A fantastically beautiful and exceedingly friendly MMORPG. It's also nice to finally have a good-looking 3d RPG that doesn't suffer from terrible lag and massive server load-times.

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Xequted

As solid an experience as can be found online. This game will absorb your life once you start playing, and crusty pizza boxes will become an all too common appearance around the house.

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VGPub

It’s the total package for any game of the genre to follow: user-friendly, deep character customization and plenty of replay value. World of Warcraft is a game you need to play.

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Game Chronicles

One of the most well crafted, and thoroughly developed game worlds made by Blizzard to date. It dazzles, it awes, and it entertains.

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Worth Playing

Unlike its competitors, World of Warcraft boasts a magnificently done quest system. Each quest you take a detailed explanation written into your Quest Journal that gives you enough information ingame to solve it. The sense of immersion is greatly heightened through this as well.

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Warcry

Another thing that adds to the entertainment is the fact that dying, although something you want to avoid, does not end up being the experience-loss tragedy or the time-consuming corpse retrieval it is in some other games.

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Next Level Gaming

Blizzard’s first foray into the world of MMO gaming is Superb. They’ve managed to blend New and innovative ideas along with tried and true features in a smooth running game worthy of the Warcraft name.

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GameSpot

Part of what makes this game so remarkable is it doesn't assume that all you have to do in your busy life is play this one game, and so it delivers a high-quality experience regardless of how much or how little time you're able to invest...A stunning achievement that will make you feel privileged to be a game player.

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Game Informer

Though WoW doesn't radically differ from the tried-and-true MMORPG formula, the subtle tweaks, additions, and special layer of Blizzard polish make it an amazing and fresh experience. [Feb 2005, p.122]

Pelit (Finland)

Three months of my life already wasted and many more probably going down the drain. Thanks a lot, Blizzard. [Feb. 05]

RPG Fan

With fantastic art direction, technical stability, a compelling storytelling, addictive and enjoyable gameplay – we have the recipe for success.

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GameBiz

One of the best games ever made, and the experiences continue to amaze players throughout the whole game.

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Computer and Video Games

Blizzard has done what every MMORPG should be trying to do - it's ticked all the right boxes and really tried to forge the link between the heart and the head in a hugely immersive virtual space. This is what creates the stories in your imagination. These aren't just battles, they're adventures. Now that's what role-playing should be all about. [PC Zone]

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Jolt Online Gaming UK

Nevertheless, put the hype to one side, as WoW is still an exceptionally good game, and nothing less than a highly accomplished jewel in the crown of MMORPGs.

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IC-Games

I can't stress how great this game is. This is truly Blizzard's achievement. They have made a game that is fun for everyone and can not only appeal to the hardcore massively multiplayer online crowd, but to the casual gamer as well.

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Gaming Nexus

And best of all, in this time of graphical resource-hogging, you don’t need a machine built by God to enjoy it.

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Games Radar UK (Pre-2006)

There's an unbelievable amount of variety to be discovered, from dusty deserts to lush grassland and spooky forests. The cartoon-like presentation ties everything together nicely - you'll never look at something and think it looks stupid. [GamesMaster]

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FiringSquad

What's different about it is that Blizzard has made the game very accessible and really put together an amazing system of quests that aren't just part of the depth, but actually a tutorial. All this is done in a world rich in landmarks, characters, races and enemies.

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PC Format

Broadly speaking, in MMOs you hit things, then fashion things to make your hitting more effective. World of Warcraft does that better than anything else on the market at the moment. [Jan 2005, p.96]

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eToychest

If you're already accustomed to suffering under "Everquest" or "Dark Age of Camelot," WoW will be your familiar stomping ground minus a heaping helping of the stupid stuff you've already grown accustomed to putting up with. If you've never played an MMO before, WoW is the least of many evils you could start with.

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Gamers' Temple

They don’t come any better than this.

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AtomicGamer

World of Warcraft may not be the great savior of MMORPGs, but it's certainly the most solid one to come out in a long time.

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Loaded Inc

This game has kept me glued to the screen longer than any other MMORPG and that's down to the fun-factor.

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Game Revolution

With its army of minor improvements and thoughtful touches, Blizzard has blessed all MMORPGers with the genre’s finest, most polished title to date. Whether you enjoy hardcore role-playing, shameless griefing or something in the middle, you will find what you’re looking for in this brave, new world.

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IGN

The MMO we've all been waiting for. It does not blow away the genre, but it does hone it to near-perfection. I think the biggest problem you'll have is managing to play it in moderation.

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GameZone

Accessible is one word that truly fits this game. Players can move into the world without a lot of trouble and the learning curve is small.

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PC Gamer

By merging some of the genre's best ideas with the appealing Warcraft mythos, the game could well become the first "mainstream" MMO. [Feb 2005, p.44]

ActionTrip

The game's hardware requirements are high. Really. Take the Recommended settings, add 256MB of RAM and 500Mhz of CPU, and that's what I'd say is the Minimum hardware requirement for this game...Will a few technical issues keep you away from what is the best MMO on the market this holiday season?

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PC Gameworld

Despite a rough start and ongoing issues, Blizzard's epic MMORPG is a very fun experience.

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Total Video Games

Arguably it’s a game that could last a life-time. From the start there’s plenty to get stuck into, and we suspect Blizzard will be keen to carry on the momentum and evolve the experience.

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Computer Gaming World

It's designed to let players make significant progress without requiring a decisive committment to sitting motionless in front of the computer for days at a time. Unfortunately, the game's so addictive that you may end up with a case of bedsores anyway. [Feb 2005, p.73]

GamerFeed

Combines not only technical prowess and fine-tuned gameplay, but pleasure as well, making this the new standard for the competition. Word to the other companies: this is the reason your registered users are dwindling.

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GamePro

The game isn't flawless, nor is it technically finished - a good many quests fall into a "kill 20 of enemy X and collect 9 of item Y" pattern, a lot of promised end-game content still isn't in, and there are still bugs being squashed - but it's easily the closest MMORPGs have yet come to perfection. If this one doesn't hook you, nothing will.

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Yahoo! Games

Although it's not as technologically proficient as "EverQuest II," World of Warcraft has a more pronounced sense of style...If you're looking for a new MMORPG, then the World of Warcraft is the very first place you should visit.

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2404.org

Delivers great atmosphere through simplistic stylized environments, suited music, relevant quests, massive PvP raids, and party adventuring. With their customizable user interface, chat channels, and guild system, it is easy to build strong communities for rich gaming relationships.

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Sydney Morning Herald

Considering the complexities of building this type of game, it's nothing short of a miracle that World of Warcraft and its land of orcs and goblins has been launched so successfully.

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Inside Gamer Online

On our 5.1 system, the sound was as overwhelming and exciting as the best battles, although there were times when the environmental sound made it difficult to hear an NPC's spoken dialogue.

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1UP

Like "Warcraft III" before it, World of Warcraft is less about cataclysmic evolution and more about refinement.

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My Gamer

If you want a highly polished and lavishly designed MMORPG set across a sprawling fantasy world made popular by millions of devoted fans, then I strongly advise that you familiarize yourself with World of Warcraft immediately.

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Armchair Empire

With the dust settling now on World of Warcraft, it is becoming more and more obvious that this is by far the best MMORPG currently on the market.

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Gamers Europe

For each part of the game there is trade off: the concept works well but to MMORPG outsiders some of the things seem, well, epically pedantic.

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games(TM)

If this is only the beginning of what this newly imagined Azeroth has to offer, we can see ourselves living there for a very long time. [Apr 2005, p.98]

AceGamez

WoW has the depth and detail of massively multiplayer online game, with the ease of a single player RPG, whose only downside is there not being enough hours in a day to get the most out of it.

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Edge Magazine

It’s a game designed to exhaust the world’s supply of adjectives. It’s a world littered with riches - tiny details sewn into a vast, varied and utterly spectacular canvas. [Sept 2005, p.90]

Play Magazine

One of the most endearing and involving online worlds the genre as ever known. [Jan 2005, p.72]

netjak

The vastness of the story, the volume of things to do in combat, the art direction, and the realm combat all rolls up into a wonderful package.

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3DAvenue

Its ease of play will allow anyone to pick it up and get stuck in. That ease of play however will turn off people looking for a more challenging in-depth game.

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Eurogamer

This is the greatest fantasy MMO in existence, the absolute state of the art in orc-bashing. But the nagging feeling I can't shake is that, for me, that's not quite enough anymore.

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AltGaming

Fix your game, Blizzard. Listen to your players, actually cater to the high end, fix bugs that need fixing, and don’t leave your playerbase hanging for months on end. Then I will give your game a higher mark.

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What Our Users Said

The average user rating for this game is 7.0 (out of 10) based on 433 User Votes

Note: User votes are NOT included in the Metascore calculation.

Kyle L gave it a9:
This is 1 of the best games that I have ever played. This mmo is a fun and engaging experience and the only MMO that I could get hooked on EVER! Sure it is addicting, it is hard to level and there is a limit of two proffessions, it is still a good game.

Viroon Y gave it a0:
WARNING! This game is sort of like, "what's the buzz?" when you first hear about it, and then there's the DEMO. So, after playing for 10 minutes, you get hooked, then you play for hours, then days, months, years, and finally, you devote your life to this game. I'm telling you, DON'T PLAY THIS GAME! IT WILL RUIN YOUR LIFE! But overall, the game play is awful repetitive, and you will find yourself doing the same quests again and again, but with new monsters. Raids into dungeons aren't anything much, just another RPG dungeon. But, that's not all. Blizzard makes you buy the game AND the game CARDS, and it's $30[?] for 2 months. At first, that doesn't seem like much, but it adds up. For a great RPG with lots of playability, I recommend The Elder Scrolls: Oblivion.

Steven H gave it a0:
The game will not ruin your life unless your life is already susceptible to being ruined. I bought and subscribed to this game about a month after it came out. I only played it for about 2 days before I realized it was basically the worst MMORPG I've ever played. The graphics are abysmal. The sound has a low sample rate. The gameplay rips off basic elements of Korean MMORPGs (such as Lineage, for example). The setting is like a parody of Warhammer, but takes itself seriously. Overall the game is another cookie cutter product pushed out by Blizzard with clever marketing and timing, resulting in its tasteless fanbase of hundreds of millions of people eating it up instantly. This means that if you work with other players in game (and you don't necessarily have to, but would be a fool not to if you're subscribing for a paltry single player experience) then you will be playing with 11 year olds that don't know the difference between "your" and "you're" and think everything is "gay". If you become addicted to this game then there is truly something wrong with your life.

Philip D. gave it a7:
This is a very good MMORPG, but i'm afraid the gameplay has stopped being "new". I myself have enjoyed many hours on this, but i just can't stand playing more then a few hours straight. I don't really get what people are getting addicted tot - it's a fun game, but in the end it is just as much as an MMORPG as others. WOW has nothing too special, except the big userbase, but all-in it's a fun game.

Daniel gave it a6:
GUYS WATCH OUT, this game will totally ruin your life!! No matter what you do you will be unable to stop playing! Don't have a life? IT WILL RUIN THE ONE YOU DON'T HAVE, this game is like some sort of black hole that just sucks up lives and I definately don't know what I'm talking about! Seriously if you let this game take away whatever you do else with your free time then you have serious issues, and it's not just the game's fault. Also, gameplay is pretty shallow. Not a lot of variety in what you do, even after the level cap. Get a bunch of buds together and you can do raids, but most of the fights follow the same cookie-cutter style. PvP is more like an RTS than anything else, stack your team in your favor and hope the other guys don't have better items.

Kyle gave it a0:
This game will ruin your life. It will addict you until all you do is play it. It takes your money, and makes you think its worth it. Seriously, if you play this game, you are probably in denial. I'm not trying to be rude, but if you play this more than an hour a day you should get a life. Honestly, its for your own benefit.

will O gave it a10:
I've been playing wow from a month after it released, and i have never left it. this game is posable one of the best MMOs of all time. Id like to first address people who say its buggy, yes it has bugs, but blizzard does a really good job of fixing them. so drop it. People who don't like the PVP, You just got owned by people who have played longer, worked harder, know more about the system and have better gear than you, QQ more nubs. Originality people, the originality is that the game is brilliant. yes every game has its standard classes, the archer, the mage, the fighter, the monk, the shapeshifter, witch doctor, rogue, thats all part of the fantasy mmo deal. People who don't like the combat, name a rpg that has better combat, final fantasy sure as hell doesn't, guild wars, no its pretty much the same. Point being, its the best MMORPG combat system. Time people. Yes WoW does take A LOT of time, and it goes by a lot faster with friends, its a multi player rpg, find other players and play with them.

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World of Warcraft

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What Our Users Said

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