WoW: Cataclysm Beta Impressions

Nostalgia. This was the feeling I had when stepping into the Cataclysm beta, and just like countless others, the first thing that I did was fly around in the new Azeroth. While flying around, I found myself thinking various thoughts over and over that all started with “I remember when” and concluded with the addition of a random WoW experience.

It didn’t take long to notice the time saving difference, or how much smaller the world had seemingly become with the addition of flight. The travel time it takes to get from point “A” to point “B” is not the boring trek across massive landscapes on foot that it use to be. I can personally recall walking across the Barrens, waving at the lions and random pink raptors mindlessly patrolling back and forth just to get to the Thousand Needles entrance in the South (which is now completely under water). Painstaking memories aside, I’m kind of happy that we can now make it from one end of the barrens to the other in under 2 minutes.

The new lava texture is very impressive looking.

A major difference that can be seen right away when you step into Cataclysm is in the appearance. Simply put, the zones look amazing. What Blizzard can do with textures and lighting effects with a 5+ year old game engine is very impressive.

Probably the most striking upgrades to the scenery are not the new zones or the lava and fire constantly spewing out of every crevice courtesy of that mean Ol’Deathwing, but the changes made to the water effects. Everything from the gently bobbing ripples in a lake to the forceful currents in a waterfall looks far more impressive than anything we’ve seen in game before. And the first time you notice the moon’s reflection in the water, you too will agree that the addition of reflective water is a very welcome edition to Cataclysm.

If this image doesn't transport you to a calmer place, you should see a doctor.

Now that's what I call a waterfall.

Gnomes+Investment Bankers+Twisted Metal+Creepy County Fair Rides+Green Food Coloring=Goblins. Oh and and I forgot to mention BIG rockets. The goblins are more impressive than I once assumed. The overall look of the character is a lot more in-depth and they don’t have the dopey look to them as in the current game. Instead, they appear more polished and come with a choice of fine jewelery such as nose rings and hoop earrings. I am interested to see what blizzard give the goblins for a mount — a detail that has yet to be announced. My vote’s for a Go-Kart.

We can thank Dakota Fanning for popularity of the Worgen race. Thank you for a depressing movie and a crowded starting zone in WoW, Dakota. Everyone and and their mother is going to be playing a Worgen when Cataclysm hits the shelves, and I have to admit that I most likely will be too. Honestly though, if you had the choice between an ugly little green leprechaun or a wolfman, which would you go with?

The wolfman is way higher on the cool-o-meter, and the process of creating your first Worgen is guaranteed to increase your cool rating from “complete dweeb” to “oddly quirky”. All kidding aside, the Worgen stating zone of Gilneas looks like something straight out of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, with Tudor homes embraced by fog, and cobblestone meandering about. The characters you meet are wearing top hats and speak in a British accent. Cheerio Ol’Chap! However, I am itching for the opportunity to change the race of my 80 druid to a Worgen — and paying a whopping $35 to do so.

Dear Blizzard,

I’m a noob to WoW and use Spirit weapons on my Warrior. How will Blizzard help me know how not to be better?

Sincerely,
WoW Noob

Blizzard has been thinking of you Mr. Noob, very much so. As a matter of fact, Blizzard is attempting to make the game more “playable” for the average and not-so-average player. They are doing this by getting rid of a lot of mechanics in the game that make the game more complicated. Some of the changes include removing a number of stats from gear, streamlining talent trees by removing talents that gave a player a buff rather than a cool ability, and streamlining quest so players do not have to jump continents to receive 2,000 experience points. There are of course countless other tweeks that we won’t get into here, but suffice it to say World of Warcraft is much more newbie friendly than it was at the launch of it’s last major expansion.

Once Cataclysm goes live we will all be faced with a dilemma. Will we sprint to the new level cap of 85, for a chance to be one of the first to take down that bastard Deathwing? Or will we enjoy the game all over again and experience an entirely new Azeroth? Of course, some of us will be faced with the all-too-familiar “stop playing entirely” and actually see the light of day option as well. Only time will tell, and we all know Blizzard doesn’t like to be rushed.