World of Warcraft returns with a bang with an expansion that marks an ambitious roadmap for Blizzard’s most iconic and popular title. A new era begins with the World Soul saga and a really interesting first chapter that you should know in this World of Warcraft The War Within analysis.
Past expansions of MMORPG generated all kinds of opinions and after the high flights of Dragonflight it is time to change gears to recover some of the plots of the past, perfect ideas already formulated and give free rein to that unique magic that WoW has.
This expansion leaves us with a new campaign, a new race, more mechanics, rewards and some important changes and extras. In this review of World of Warcraft: The War Within I’m going to cover all this content that marks the journey to the mysterious region of Khaz Algar.
Analyzing an expansion of this titan is never easy and it may be too early to make a firm statement about it, so take this writing as an extensive impression of what you can expect while you learn the first impressions that the adventure has left me with.
Following expansions of other notable MMOs such as The Elder Scrolls Online: Gold Road or Final Fantasy XIV Dawntrail, the father of the genre for many also makes a move in a more than forceful way. Let’s go with the analysis of World of Warcraft: The War Within.
World of Warcraft: The War Within Story: Delving Deeper into Azeroth
The campaign of World of Warcraft: The War Within is not very long and follows the trend of Dragonflight with a duration of about 4 to 5 hoursWhile this may pale in comparison to other RPGs, I didn’t find it to be a bad decision.
And with the exception of some drops in rhythm, the story that takes us to the underground worlds offers an experience full of great moments which allows for a very natural evolution of characters like Anduin or Magni and which rescues some past plots.
The time has come to explore Khaz Algar, a new underground region that introduces the new neutral race, the earthlingswho may not be as striking as the dracthyr, but are welcomed for their distinguished features.
History consolidates Xal’atath as a very tangible danger and despite the motivation of Alleria Windrunner It remains anchored in revenge (a very overused trope) and I think that, in general terms, it presents a very attractive story that expands the lore to a great extent.
Not only because it allows us to meet a new race, its culture and concerns, but also because it delves into key aspects that could have been left somewhat untouched over the years. Arcs are closed and new ones are opened (with a bit of a cliffhanger).
The only thing to keep in mind is that the campaign will be coming to an “end” with the arrival of playable Earthlings on September 3. In addition, we will also have to wait until September 17 for the arrival of the first season and raid. There is still a lot to consider.
But WoW is more than a campaign and the truth is The War Within can afford to boast a few additions which give greater depth to the game and which, for the most part, seemed to me to be very successful.
WoW: The War Within gameplay and all its new content
The War Within brings a wealth of content to the table to enjoy. reach that longed-for level 80The story is just the first step and due to its short length, you will still have to do a lot of activities to continue progressing with the endgame and world content.
In the end, the essence of World of Warcraft is none other than continuing to live adventures and this expansion presents us with a new type of challenge that has won me over right away. I really like the Depths.
I’m not talking about the new areas (of which I also have a very good opinion, which I explain below), but about the seasonal adventures that are set up as “mini-dungeons” and can be played solo or in a group of four players.
The Depths allow you to take everything more calmly And they also bring with them some very interesting mechanics that promote, with great success, one of the great features of the expansion: vertical exploration. It is a very dynamic experience and something that many are not so accustomed to.
These challenges can be completed in just 15 minutes and offer up to 11 difficulty levels to earn even more treasures and rewards. I honestly think this is an addition that some players won’t care for as much, but for others it may turn out to be the highlight of the expansion.
The other big “extra” of The War Within is the heroic talent systemnew skill trees focused on bringing passives to each class that makes progression to level 80 feel more rewarding.
The result is a bit more lukewarm than I expected. It is true that new configurations are generated and customization increases, but the impact on some classes is not that significant. Of course, I have not tested the more than two dozen branches that exist.
And speaking of quantity… there is no shortage of secondary content. The missions are more than standard and some give additional development to the new area we find ourselves in with good writing and variety, although others remain errands. Of course, you will not get bored.
Since I can’t really talk much about dungeons or the Mythic+ aspects of the game, I’d rather address one of the most interesting (and risky) gameplay decisions Blizzard made for The War Within: the sky-scraper flight.
This dynamic flight system was introduced in Dragonflight and has been refined here to offer a unique exploration experience. We unlocked the flight shortly after startingso the way we move, advance and discover changes radically.
Beyond the fact that several missions take advantage of mounts to offer more strategic battles, what has surprised and won me over is that flight has such an important role within an expansion that takes place underground.
While the constant mode of The Burning Crusade can later be unlocked, the dynamic mode here enjoys improvements that make it Navigation is very fun and a bit more strategicSome may feel that the sense of discovery is diminished, but I think this change does a great service to the game’s vast environments.
The War Within soundtrack and setting: exploring the depths of Azeroth
Because one of the aspects that has convinced me the most about the expansion is its design of areas and setting. Blizzard has done a great job with each of the large towns and scenarios, starting with the Dorn Island.
This feels very familiar thanks to its green landscapes, which make you remember with nostalgia old times while you enjoy innovative cities like the capital Dornogalwhich looks impressive with its vast structures that seek to touch the sky.
A more than successful contrast with everything that awaits us below… The underground areas of the most ancient and unknown Azeroth also manage to stand outThe Echoing Caverns of the Mechaorators may be a little more subdued, but they still have their industrial charm.
And these further reinforce the impressive appearance of one of the two rear areas such as Sanctificationwhich is tremendously striking and whose concept of a “Sun” in the depths gives even more appeal and visual variety to The War Within’s proposal. What an area!
Probably what I liked most about the expansion is how Blizzard has managed to make that “journey to the center of the earth” feel oppressive when necessary, but also generate an enormous feeling of freedom, despite being locked within “four walls.”
In terms of sound, I’m writing this review of The War Within with the expansion’s soundtrack blasting and I have to say that Several of the topics have surprised me for good, managing to provide more epic with dynamic music in the dungeons or with cozy and classical notes in the taverns.
The level may not reach what was heard in Battle for Azeroth, Legion either Warlords of Draenor (it depends on each person’s taste), but I think composers like Adam Burgees from Overwatch 2 or Leo Kaliski from Diablo 4 have shown a great ability to adapt. Music to my ears.
How much does World of Warcraft: The War Within cost? Expansion price and editions
As we are used to from Blizzard, this new expansion also consists of several editions with different extras and prices. Base Edition is available for 49.99 euros (plus the subscription price) and includes character upgrade to level 70 and 500 coupons.
Also for sale is the Heroic Edition for 69.99 euros with the aforementioned perks and the Algar Stormrider mount with sky-flying flight, additional customization options and access to special tracks along with the Stormrider Outfit transmog set.
Finally, we have World of Warcraft: The War Within Epic Edition for 89.99 euros which includes everything listed above plus 30 days of game time, Stormfur, Stormbrood, the Rocking Storm Gryphon toy, and the Deep-Dweller Earthen Hearthstone effect.
The beginning of a new age
Shadowlands didn’t convince everyone and Dragonflight threw out ideas that weren’t unanimously accepted either. However, seeing what The War Within is offering me in its debut (without continuing to play and play) I think that This expansion is really solid.
In these first bars World of Warcraft: The War Within establishes itself as a highly recommended adventurewith clear and well-executed ideas that anticipate a greater deployment of Blizzard in the face of Midnight and The Last Titan.
And that’s what’s really exciting about the future of WoW. For the first time, we’re being confronted with a story that’s part of a larger narrative. This first chapter is an introduction, but it’s not just that.
It will have to be assessed later how World of Warcraft: The War Within progresses over the weeks and seasons, whether the anticipated content will round out what was introduced here or the impact of the Warrior Bands and its shared progression system, but for now, The illusion of continuing to live adventures has returned wake up.
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