This article originally appeared in Pyramid #19

Pyramid Pick

WARCRAFT II
TIDES OF DARKNESS

Published by Blizzard Entertainment
Designed by Blizzard Entertainment
Retail Price: $54.95 (IBM-PC CD-ROM)

Warcraft II, Tides of Darkness is the sequel to the very popular Warcraft, Orcs and Humans. In this real-time fantasy wargame, Orcs and humans vie for control over the land of Azeroth. This time the battle wages not only on the ground, but in the sea and air as well. The first Warcraft game was a great game in its own right, and the sequel is even better.

It can be played head-to-head over modems or a network with a single copy of the game. Individual players can also pit themselves against the computer over a prolonged campaign as either the invading Orcs or the defending humans. Most scenarios involve the building of a town to supply your troops with food and weapons. In order to build your various units, you must mine gold and harvest lumber. You must defend your settlement from enemy raids while raising a force strong enough to seek out and destroy your opponent.

Warcraft II has a host of new features to be excited about. Veteran Warcraft generals will be pleased to know that there are even more troop types to fill your ranks. New human troops include Elven archers, rangers, ballistas, spell-using paladins, Dwarvish demolition squads, Gnomish flying machines, and the Dauntless Dwarven gryphon riders. The Orc warchiefs among you can now also command Troll axe throwers, Troll berserkers, Hefty Ogres, Ogre mages, Death Knights, Goblin . . .

This article originally appeared in the second volume of Pyramid. See the current Pyramid website for more information.



Article publication date: May 1, 1996

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