World of Warcraft: The Burning Crusade
General Info
| Awards | Expansion of the Year (2007) |
|---|---|
| Genres | MMORPG |
| Game Name | World of Warcraft: The Burning Crusade |
| Composers | David Arkenstone, Jeremy Soule |
| Languages | English, French, German, Spanish, Chinese, Korean |
| Playmodes | Multiplayer |
| Developers | Blizzard Entertainment |
| Game Engine | Modified Warcraft III Engine |
| Release Date | 2007-01-16 |
| Game Platforms | Microsoft Windows, OS X |
| Publisher Name | Blizzard Entertainment |
| Country of Origin | United States |
| Publishers Websites | http://www.blizzard.com |
Screenshots
Overview
Watch your character evolve as you discover a rich story, fight enemies and master skills to reach the new level cap of 70. Explore vast new landscapes, from the haunted swamps of Zangarmarsh to the otherworldly majesty of Netherstorm. Dive into amazing quests that unlock flying props to traverse these lands in a whole new way.
Prepare for the challenges of new dungeons and raids as you assemble a team to face the Lords of Outland. Rediscover the thrill of PvP combat in the all-new Honor system, or test your luck in the arena in intense close-up matches. World of Warcraft: The Burning Crusade offers a world of endless possibilities, full of danger and reward. Get ready for an adventure like no other as you walk through the Portal of Darkness, because nothing is as it seems in Outland.
Trailer
Gameplay
Burning Crusade builds heavily on the content of the original game, increasing the level cap to 70 and adding new skills to each class. Two new races are also introduced: the ethereal blood elves of the Horde and the hardy Draenei of the Alliance. Each of these characters adds innovative racial abilities, giving players new strategies and opportunities to explore. In this expansion, players have the opportunity to ride flying beasts, an exciting new feature that adds a new dimension to the game. These flying mounts provide increased travel speed and access to previously inaccessible locations, opening up new opportunities for exploration and combat.
The game also features terrifying new dungeons and raids that require strategic decisions and intense teamwork to overcome. These flagship environments offer unique challenges and reward players with incredible gear and legendary weapons.
Crafting jewelry as a new profession in The Burning Crusade allows players to craft powerful gems. These gems can be placed in equipment slots, providing another way to customize and increase a character's power.
Offering numerous quests, character classes, dungeons, and more, The Burning Crusade's gameplay stands out for its ability to provide a well-rounded and immersive gameplay experience for both new and seasoned World of Warcraft players alike.
Gameplay video
Plot
Players from the Alliance and the Horde venture into this uncharted territory, ready to face the various alien threats that lie beyond the portal. One of the main opponents, Illidan the Martyr, who declared himself the ruler of Outland, is waiting for the heroes. Armed with massive new abilities and gear, players must traverse treacherous terrain and engage in epic battles against armies of Nether Dragons, Pit Lords, and the allied Burning Legion. But the challenges are not limited to enemies from another world. The Illuminati, a splinter faction of the blood elves, joined the Burning Legion, facilitating the Legion's efforts to invade Azeroth. Players must unravel the deeply tangled web of betrayals, alliances, and utter chaos that characterizes this ruthless and ever-expanding universe.
In addition, The Burning Crusade introduces two new races to players: the cunning blood elf hordes and the mysterious Draenei alliance. Both races are integral to this expansion's story, adding another layer to WoW's complex social and political landscape. The Burning Crusade expansion is as dark and complex as the fallen world it showcases. In addition to combat skills, players are required to navigate a complex story as they face old enemies and new allies. In a dynamic world like Outland, even the most difficult truths can be as malleable as ethereal draenei technology.
Development
The developers have expanded the Warcraft universe in a phenomenal way, introducing Outland, a new planet full of exotic creatures and unfamiliar areas. A lot of effort was also put into creating new races: Draenei for the Alliance and Blood Elves for the Orde, which not only differed visually, but also gave a new perspective on their world relations and class compatibility.
One notable change was the shape of the flying mounts, a feature that literally and figuratively took the gaming experience to new heights. The implementation of flight mechanics required complex terrain and collision creation to ensure smooth gameplay, which the developers did flawlessly.
They also revamped the PvP system by introducing the Arena, a concept that was new to players and offered a unique and highly competitive PvP experience.
The development phase of Burning Crusade showed an amazing commitment from the developers to improve the traditions of the Warcraft universe, to re-energize the game with new concepts, features and graphical improvements, and to meet the expectations of the community while keeping the core of the Warcraft universe intact.
Release
The level cap has been increased to 70, introducing a number of new talents and abilities, while the limitless depths of raid dungeons such as Karazhan, Serpentshrine Cavern, and Tempest Keep have provided players with greater challenges. The introduction of flying mounts, exclusive to Outland zones, greatly improved player mobility in the vast environment. Jewelry was introduced as a new profession, allowing players to craft rings, necklaces, and gems to enhance the performance of their equipment.
Burning Crusade was a huge release in the history of World of Warcraft, offering the perfect combination of rich history, new challenges and innovative game mechanics. Thanks to this expansion, World of Warcraft has continued to captivate millions of players around the world with its engaging content and engaging community. Burning Crusade set the bar exceptionally high for all future World of Warcraft expansions.
Reception
Critics praised the art direction for maintaining the original style while introducing compelling new elements. Newcomers were attracted by the improved storyline, while veterans were captivated by the novelty. The focus on both casual and serious players combined with balanced game mechanics made it a complete package for anyone interested in the MMORPG genre.
Players were thrilled when Outland introduced flying mounts that brought a whole new dimension to the game. Advances in the dungeon and raid system, along with the introduction of heroic difficulty, have brought a new challenge to experienced players.
Despite the abrasive nature of the MMORPG, The Burning Crusade managed to provide an immersive experience that kept players coming back for more. It was the definitive platform for future World of Warcraft expansions and is the final chapter in the franchise's history, which was well received by critics and fans alike.
Cultural impact
The introduction of the draenei and blood elves added new racial layers to the story, adding to the depth, nuance, and racial tension that is integral to Warcraft's story. Along with new special abilities, these races brought new dynamics to character creation and player combat, affecting the social fabric of World of Warcraft.
Significantly, World of Warcraft reached its highest level of subscription and competition during The Burning Crusade era. Especially in the NA and EU regions, the game's popularity has crossed borders, promoting unity, camaraderie and competitiveness among players around the world. Not only that, the vast knowledge of the game has led to healthy discussions about the story and strengthened the community even more.
It's also important that The Burning Crusade's impact is not limited to the digital world. It has had a direct influence on popular culture, with the game appearing in movies, TV shows, web series, and other entertainment media. The music industry is also influenced by references to the game in lyrics and album artwork. Educational institutions recognized his great influence and began to incorporate the principles and elements of play into the curriculum, emphasizing economics, social behavior and teamwork skills. Additionally, the gaming industry as a whole has stepped up its efforts to create immersive MMORPGs.
In short, The Burning Crusade's cultural footprint is deeply rooted in global pop culture.