Warcraft 3 (Blizzard)

By PETER ELEY

Warcraft was one of the two classic real-time strategy games, along with Command & Conquer. Both released successful second versions, Warcraft 2 and C&C Red Alert. But Blizzard lost the plot with what was in effect the sequel to Warcraft 2, a game called Starcraft. They gave it a futuristic setting, which meant an end to the peasants, Grunts, Orcs, and Heroes.

Warcraft 3 is a welcome return to the original game. It features cartoon-style characters but the level of detail is much higher, thanks to enhanced PC technology.

A beta demo of Warcraft is doing the rounds, but features only multiplayer levels. It seems Blizzard is targeting the lucrative multiplayer market, but the final version later this year will include a single player game.

While it is hard to form an accurate opinion of a game from a beta, Warcraft 3 seems to have a lot going for it, especially in the depth and complexity of combat.

Heroes seem to be the key to the game, and have the ability to tackle large groups of inferior units especially when their experience and skill points have mounted up.

Warcraft 3 is 3-D and the graphics compare favourably with other standard real-time strategy games and seem robust in multiplayer mode.

A lot of the game is still familiar territory, such as gold mines and lumber camps. A new "upkeep rating" based on food supplies seemed a needless complication, though.

The interface looks essentially the same as that of Warcraft 2. If it ain't broke, don't fix it is a good maxim, although it might look different for the final release.

petereley@nzherald.co.nz