WoTLK – First Impressions

Let me just say WOW!  Not WoW, but WOW!!!!

I have to give Blizzard credit on this one.  For those that played the beta, I’m sure you already knew this.  But for us that didn’t?  Let me just say that Blizz got it right. 

I’ll try not to give any spoilers away, but just in case if you want to be absolutely sure of not having any don’t read any further.

Okay, so you wait forever to log on.  Amazing how a server that hasn’t had a queue since the day you logged on all of a sudden has every account active in existance.    I guess that was to be expected, but instead of making it frustrating, this time it just added to the anticipation. 

After finally getting in game it was time to head over to Northend.  I made my way to Howling Fjord.  Stepped off the boat, looked up and was truly in awe!!  I looked around your immediately aware of being in something bigger. Not expansive like your first trip through the Portal in BC, but epic.  If you remember that first feeling WAAAAYYY!! back when you first started in Azeroth or Kalimdor.  Everything seemed new and fresh.  You couldn’t wait to explore every bit of it.   I don’t know about you, but I never really had that feeling in Outland.  To me? This was WAY better!! Great job Blizz!!

So you land, and you immediately know you need to do something quick!  Sounds of battle are everywhere.  You get your quest and head out side the safety zone, and imeediately wave after wave of attackers start to come at you. The respawn rate on everything is incredible.  You really get the feeling your fighting for your life at first.  Then you start to learn the tricks, how to run around the battle but get to your destination.  But even then the shear immensity of it all keeps your senses dulled and you feel as if something is going to jump out and attack you!

Then your find so many nuggets, let’s just say that the catacombs put any of the old caverns to shame.  Easy to navigate, but still have the catacomb feeling.  And if you liked the Ring of Blood in Nagrand? Well, let’s just say make sure you go here as soon as possible!

Then Utgarde Keep!! OMG!! It’s truly an amazing instance! By far my favorite in game atm.  Not because it’s new, but for the constant action, accessibility and flow.   There’s enough freedom that if your not careful, you’ll get into trouble, but at the same time, enough of a challenge to wet your appetite for the later ones. 

And as for the feeling?  Nothing compares, truly!!  With a solid lvl 70 crew you’ll be able to take your leisure of the place.  Don’t spoil it by reading up strategies, just go in and blow it up and admire the work the Blizz Dev team put into the place.  All I can say is if this is a reflection of the other instances and raids. I am hooked more than ever!!

Great Job Blizz!!