Thunderbolt reviewed Warhammer Online: Age of Reckoning. A part of the review is as follows
Warhammer Online: Age of Reckoning now owes much to World of Warcraft. In theory, this is the theoretical meeting between The Beatles and U2: the melding of two pioneers in their respective fields. Unfortunately, the mixture isn’t quite that amazing, but WAR has a good amount going for it.
The art featured in WAR comes from a rich history of fantasy paintings: pick up any Warhammer rule book and you’ll be treated to detailed, dramatic artwork that is totally over the top and completely fitting. The game isn’t exactly pretty, but the influence is certainly there. Character models are expressive, and the landscape, while simple and barren, definitely evokes the feeling of the Warhammer Universe. It’s a nice mix of appealing design and drab atmosphere. The sound design is a touch above, though. Players will be greeted by a spine-tingling fanfare when logging into the game, a rousing main theme that perfectly sets the mood. The rest of the music is equally excellent, featuring dramatic horns and tense strings, like something out of a blockbuster fantasy film. There is a decent amount of voicework from NPCs, too, which ranges from passable to brilliant - it’s worth playing an Orc or a Dwarf just to hear some of the lines - and help bring out the sense of fun that so many MMOs sorely lack. Nobody could accuse WAR of being clinical; what it lacks in gameplay innovation, it makes up for in presentation in spades.
For fans of Warhammer, the strong presentation could be enough to warrant a subscription. For hardcore MMO players, however, it boils down to this: what can I do that I can’t do in all of the other MMOs out there?
You can read the entire review here.
Recent Comments