WarCraft III: The Frozen Throne

Konstantin Govorun AKA Wren
	07.08.2003

WarCraft III: The Frozen Throne Platform: PC Genre: RTS / RPG Developer / Publisher: Blizzard Publisher in Russia: SoftClub At one time, StarCraft: Brood War demonstrated to the world that the expansion to the original games are not always merely a means for earning easy money. The Frozen Throne (hereinafter - TFT) successfully continues this tradition. As in the case of the Brood War, we are dealing with a kind of work on the bugs, a selection of updates and additions to the gameplay, as designed to improve balance (and even the interface!), And just to show something new. In addition, we received a new campaign (and, accordingly, a new subject) and a bunch of fresh cards. Whether it's a shooter, adventure game or RPG, TFT might well be called a full-fledged sequel, but still the basic principles of gameplay (and graphics) are borrowed from the original. Yes, and WC3 is required to install add-ons required. Somehow, in the press most often mentioned is absolutely minor innovations; so actively discussed neutral heroes (in particular - Pandariysky brewer). In fact, the existence of a tavern (which is also home to the Queen Snake, Beast, Dark Hunter and Destroyer) has little effect on the gameplay - the real benefit is only in that here the hero can be obtained instantly. Balance, of course, does not violate the neutrals, and estimated many of the players are less experienced in fighting old men. Roughly the same case with the other newcomers, the heroes (one for each race). In a game on Battle.net, they are used quite frequently, but only out of curiosity. I honestly tried to use teleportation looking at the night as a way to surprise attacks on the "island" maps, but its weakness in open battle, all these attempts failed. In contrast, the new units to the balance of influence, softening the shortcomings of each of the races and making it easier to fight with many of the classic strategy. In particular, now all races are treated properly and to remove the effects of spells - previously had to use improvised means such as items from the shops and neutral creatures. Fighting with magic spells significantly expanded such as "stealing magic Witcher and spell blood forest dragons. Past due to its mobility can be used as the trump ace, at the right moment is on the battlefield, suddenly turning off from fighting the enemy, or Necromancers Shamans. Nevertheless, in practice the new units are rarely used - to win enough and tested oldies. From new types of troops would be worth noting not only the proverbial race naked (zmeelyudey) - because of her play is possible only in campaigns - but a huge number of new neutrals, of which one could easily make up another three or four full-fledged race.In single player you will also have to war for the high elves and dwarves without people, to visit an ally race Draenei, meet in a battle with the Alliance, of which there were only people ... But it is not surprising that the multiplayer out of all this wealth were only neutral mercenaries, because think about the balance between the four races - already a difficult task, let alone threaten to here more! As is the case with BroodWar, adding new warriors and spells did not stop - completely changed the price and speed of construction of most units and buildings, and widened the limit on the number of soldiers. This allows you to quickly rebuild the base and clone army, but the rush tactic, in most cases does not pass - the enemy is also evolving rapidly and may be repulsed. Several enhanced defenses (added special towers, designed to combat mage), but this is not too important. But if before the economic development in the beginning of the game ensured by beating the monsters, now it brings too little money, almost nothing on impact. But get more valuable items, and experience needed heroes anyway. Seriously enhanced functions to objects. First, there were the so-called runes - in fact the same subjects, but used on contact. Likewise, now work and books that improve performance. Runes are particularly useful for beating the monsters - they restore health and mana, cast spells useful or valuable revive the monster and send all at your disposal. Second, the widespread re-usable items that provide extra characters available spell, but still not spent mana. Of course, is particularly active artifacts and relics used in single user mode, however, and in network battles can get a lot of delicious things. With regard to campaigns, then surely it is worth noting the significant progress on the subject. If the original WC3 with his ridiculous leaping princes and horribly banal story was a step backwards compared to StarCraft, everything here is okay - the writers composed a full-fledged fantasy novel, the events of which we are to follow. The focus is constantly shifted from one hero to another, unexpected twists await at every turn, and so on, to anticipate future developments, we are not even attending. If a player has a question - then surely it turns out that his hero is tormented by it - a sign that the logic of what is going on there. Fashionable and not too peculiar to the American scheme of fantasy, where there is practically no "white" and "black", but only "shades of gray, rather would be relevant in a good anime series. Quality CG-movies (only two in the entire game) and last story scene on the engine and cause similar thoughts. probably work on StarCraft: Ghost Blizzard has taught leadership to ensure that the game needs to be done perfectly and always on all platforms. In campaigns, even more than before, highlights the fact that TFT - a strategy with elements of RPG. In most missions, development of the database do not need, and often the base and none at all.In such cases, controlling heroes and a group of common units, you need to clean up the map from the enemies and get to a certain point in a very confusing route with numerous traps and plot scenes and side quests (including the secret). Perhaps it would be very boring, but wait for a response to the question, "what will happen next," makes moving farther and farther away. The fourth campaign (for Orcs), standing alone, and did offer us a unique role-playing game where the characters acting on their own, sometimes with a few assistants. It also shows and a new feature - portals between the cards that allow free movement across a huge game world. All is good, but long to download and spawn monsters irritating - to the extent that the additional quests to accept no longer want. Of the innovations is also worth noting the many changes in the interface, basically - in Battle.net. In particular, gamers now return to the chat window while the search for the game, you can organize your own clan, has automatic support for tournaments. In the battle helpful that the neutrals (including heroes in taverns!) May employ not only heroes, but also any units - even though the workers. In addition, some ordinary soldiers were able to carry on his subjects - useful when you do not want to leave them to the enemy. So all those minor inconveniences, irritants in the original play, in TFT corrected. Russian version of the game as the original WC3, was released by Soft Club. Translation, as the last time, causes only positive emotions - a localized version appeared on the market the day the world premiere, with the literary merits of the text and the quality of dubbing is beyond doubt. This is one of the few (they can be counted on the fingers!) Examples of how to translate from one language to another (from English into Russian or Japanese to English - no difference!) Make the game better (not worse!). Still, good voice acting when engaged in professional actors, and not random people. Claims can be really something to present to the fact that there is no synchronization of voice and lip movements, and looks sometimes even involves a different timbre. But it is a problem of the original game, and not a full TFT RPG, so ask him a too cruel. The main thing that pandariysky brewer speaks as curly as the wino Vasya from next door - and this effect was achieved not so easy!