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" Also available on: Mac Developer: Blizzard Entertainment Publisher: Blizzard Entertainment Genre: Massively-multiplayer role-playing game To its legions of devoted followers, World Of Warcraft is perhaps mankind&amp;#039;s greatest achievement. Since its launch in 2004, the MMO phenomenon has gone on to amass a following vast enough to rival most organised religions. Developer Blizzard has already bolstered the game with two successful expansions - namely The Burning Crusade and Wrath Of The Lich King - and more were always inevitable. However, few could have predicted how much of a game-changer the next add-on would be. Forever altering the face of Azeroth, the ambitious Cataclysm is more reboot than update, but is it wise to overhaul something that means so much to so many? Cataclysm&amp;#039;s storyline kicks off when a formidable dragon known as Deathwing the Destroyer breaks through the dimensional barrier surrounding Azeroth and triggers a disaster of biblical proportions. The behemoth&amp;#039;s arrival transforms much of the in-game world - lush greenery is reduced to scorched wastelands, barren deserts become fertile grasslands and areas that were once one are divided by volcanic fissure. The game&amp;#039;s many factions have been given their own sections of territory in this brave new world, each with its own backstory and chain of quests. The Eastern Kingdoms and Kalimdor regions have been thoroughly redesigned, primarily for practical reasons. These areas have been around since WoW launched over half a decade ago, so it&amp;#039;s about time they were revamped to support flying mounts and quests based on up-to-date mechanics. Aside from environmental restructuring, the expansion&amp;#039;s most significant inclusion is two new playable races. Goblins join the Horde, allowing players to take advantage of their skill with machinery (and drive vehicles that handle horribly), while the dark and brooding Worgen have become part of the alliance. This new era may be in its infancy, but strong communities have already gathered around these factions - particularly the Worgen who may even go on to rival the Blood Elves in the popularity stakes. Their starting regions are worthy additions to Azeroth, both bustling with activity. The steampunk-inspired Goblin zone is littered with useful contraptions. From highways to the mount inventions, there&amp;#039;s plenty to play around with and many useful ways to travel. The Worgen starting region offers a dark and gloomy aesthetic, adding to the variety on offer in Azeroth. Both areas house captivating quests to familiarise players with the new factions.These are rich in cinematic appeal and structured well enough to ensure the first six levels or so pass smoothly.  You don&amp;#039;t have to play as a Goblin or Worgen to be treated to a brand new experience. Cataclysm increases the level cap to 85, introduces additional race/class combinations, archaeology as a secondary profession and new player-versus-player features. Advanced users will thrive on the new dungeons and raid quests, while those with a competitive streak can let off some steam in the rated battlegrounds, earning bonuses by taking down fellow players. While many of the old core quests and storylines remain relatively unchanged, they\u2019ve been fleshed out using technology that simply wasn&amp;#039;t there when the game launched. For instance, simplistic fetch missions have been expanded, incorporating more character interaction and breathtaking cinematics. Not only does this make for a more coherent story, it also banishes the archaic feel of some of the original quests. Not all of the changes that Cataclysm brings to the table are revolutionary. Refinement to the interface makes the game more user-friendly. Buffs have been tidied away into a drop-down menu and professions have been given their own tab. Elsewhere, guild options are more sophisticated in support of the new levelling system. Anyone who has been away from this stat-heavy affair for some time will find the reintegration period smoother. Each time you level up, the game provides you with information on any new skills at hand, while tooltips explain how they can be applied. Talent trees have also been streamlined. As before, this feature is available from level ten, yet now its functions are more comprehensive since the strengths and weaknesses of each tree are apparent from the start. Dozens of other small tweaks conspire to bolster the core gameplay. While the battle system has been largely unaltered, there&amp;#039;s a greater reliance on instinctive combat rather than repetitive by-numbers attacks. Despite these improvements, complete newcomers can expect to be disorientated for at least a few hours while learning the ropes. Although quests are more coherent than before, it still isn&amp;#039;t always obvious where you next objective lies due to a confusing mini-map. With so many others going about their business, Azeroth can feel like an overwhelming place, even when the surrounding throng isn&amp;#039;t directly involved in the quest you&amp;#039;re undertaking. So much is gauged through trial and error, but as has always been the case with WoW, those who persevere soon realise what all the fuss is about. Blizzard has taken the opportunity to add an extra layer of gloss to the graphics, and while the artistic design remains largely unchanged, WoW still looks fantastic for a game that&amp;#039;s almost seven years old. From the sunken ruins of Vashj&amp;#039;ir to the steampunk aesthetic of the Goblin zone, the new areas and reshaped regions are welcome additions to Azeroth, adding to its awe-inspiring scope and wonder. The game might not lead the way in the MMO field from a purely graphical standpoint any longer, yet it remains unrivalled where creativity and imagination are concerned. It&amp;#039;s difficult to deliver a final verdict on Cataclysm so soon after its launch. As with any MMO, this is a work in progress, a great mass of clay that the community plays as much a part in moulding as Blizzard itself. However, one thing that is abundantly clear is that World Of Warcraft is now better and more accessible than before. The new quests and gameplay tweaks ensures newcomers a smoother ride than before, while those who have been away for a while will settle back in swiftly. Advanced players will also reap the rewards of fiendishly difficult new challenges and five extra levels to battle their way through. This overhaul isn&amp;#039;t radical enough to turn anyone who was unconvinced by WoW before, but its fanbase and anyone brave enough to take the plunge for the first time are in for something special.  &amp;gt; Click here to read our interview with Blizzard &amp;gt; What do you think of the game? Share your views "^^<http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#string>
<http://www.digitalspy.com/gaming/review/a293283/world-of-warcraft-cataclysm-pc/>