Whereas loads of long-time World of Warcraft gamers will level to Wrath of the Lich King because the excessive level of the MMO, I’ve progressively shaped the opinion that — at the least for me — it wasn’t Wrath however Legion. When it first launched, I had simply come again to the sport on the tail finish of the earlier enlargement and was handled to a world-class launch that completely reinvigorated the sport for me.
Right now I wish to placed on each rose-colored nostalgia goggles that I personal (simply two, however they’re costly) and spend a while fondly reminiscing about World of Warcraft: Legion’s virtues.
Blizzard poured a lot work into it
If there’s a central thesis to my love of this enlargement, it’s that it appears to exemplify a studio that truly gave a rattling about its product. I believe we will all agree that Blizz has a shaky file on this regard, however when it got here time for Legion, it went all-out and didn’t skimp on the extras.
That’s not one thing you possibly can faux. This wasn’t some type of last-minute venture changed into the trainer with the glue nonetheless drying. From begin to end, this felt like a completely realized and totally developed enlargement worthy of the identify.
The dedication to class fantasy
One of many issues that the studio was actually large on the time was offering gamers with sturdy class fantasy. In the event you had been, say, a Hunter or a Druid, it actually wished to make you are feeling that as you performed. This began with a complete slew of class-specific questlines — elaborate ones, I ought to add — that culminated within the acquisition of an artifact weapon that could possibly be leveled up.
Sure, this was flagrant borrowed energy and would come again to chunk us ultimately, however on the time? It was heady and thrilling, particularly as a few of these weapons had been vital gadgets that had long-standing roots in recreation lore.
Class halls had been a cool thought
OK, they weren’t garrisons or — heaven forbid — correct housing, however the class order halls had been nonetheless higher than nothing as a spot for gamers to go to initially and finish of their gaming classes. There have been some cool storylines, unlocks, and ambiance to take pleasure in. Plus, once you bought there, you bought to rub shoulders with a complete bunch of different folks enjoying your class. That’s type of a novelty on this recreation’s lifespan.
The zones had good selection and selection
I believe we type of forgot that Legion pioneered this concept of having the ability to decide your zone order (after your first playthrough, after all). Not solely did that assist unfold gamers out, but it surely gave people company over their journey.
The Damaged Isles had been as disparate as could possibly be, however actually, I didn’t thoughts as a result of they had been all well-done. There was a pleasant mountain zone and a stunning nature realm, and the vibes from the Norse-inspired Stormheim are nonetheless with me to this present day.
The return of Dalaran
Simply as Legion revisited themes from the MMO’s first enlargement, so did it revisit one of many fan-favorite areas of the second pack. Dalaran made a triumphant return because the core metropolis hub, made even higher with a glow-up and plenty of new options.
Attending to spend two extra years hobnobbing round Dalaran was a present that I didn’t know I wished till I bought it. To this present day, it stays one of many best-realized WoW cities when it comes to structure and magnificence.
The Demon Hunter hero class
It happens to me that with the whole lot else on this enlargement’s function checklist, Blizzard may’ve argued itself out of getting to incorporate one other class. Nevertheless it didn’t, and gamers rejoiced to get blindfolded Elves with warglaives zipping about in all places. The high-level start line ensured that these new characters wouldn’t be left behind, both.
Demon Hunters aren’t my factor in any respect, but it surely was an excellent inclusion particularly with the themes of the Burning Legion making a return. For years, gamers had fanboyed over Illidan, and now they may take up his mantle and slice-and-dice their approach throughout a area of dangerous guys.
World Quests
What’s now a staple of any WoW enlargement was as soon as an excellent innovation that changed the very stale idea of each day quests. As a substitute, world quests got here together with a altering rotation, simply identifiable rewards, and methods to channel the endgame inhabitants collectively on the map for some epic fights.
A number of expansions later, and I nonetheless like world quests being there. They’re particularly useful once you wish to max out a popularity and have exhausted different simpler technique of development.
Allied Races
If a brand new class was lots on prime of the whole lot else, it was virtually insane to slater on some new races as effectively. On the finish of Legion – simply forward of Battle for Azeroth – Blizzard started experimenting with “allied races,” which had been principally racial variants with some completely different seems to be and talents.
Initially we bought the Void Elf, Lightforged Draenei, Nightborne, and Highmountain Tauren with Legion. This was adopted up by six (!) extra allied races in Battle for Azeroth — and one other to come back when The Warfare Inside hits retailer cabinets in August.
Adventures in outer house
To cap the enlargement’s cycle, the studio took us to outer house and one other planet totally: Argus. We’d heard about this for a while, so it was fairly cool to get to launch ourselves throughout the cosmos and see the homeworld of the Eredar whereas we took the struggle to the Burning Legion on its house turf.
I’ll at all times bear in mind Argus for the unbelievable Uuna storyline, a considerably secret quest chain that had us get actually hooked up to this lil’ Draenei ghost lady after which acquire her as a pet.
It was merely enjoyable
From begin to end, the 2 years of Legion had been amongst my most favourite in World of Warcraft’s whole run. It was a good time kicking across the Burning Legion, cruising round Dalaran, exploring new artifact abilities (a lot of which had been subsequently integrated into class expertise bushes), beefing up on transmogs, and leveling alts.
Excellent? No. I’m certain that some are cracking their knuckles to speak about borrowed energy and legendaries and whatnot within the feedback. However the good of this enlargement far outshadowed its flaws, and that makes it a significant win in my e book.
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