I finally returned to Warcraft III several years after purchasing it (and not finishing it). My problem at the time was that I played too many random maps, which ended up being the same thing over and over (settlement building, army building, attack, rinse, repeat) and I got tired of it. I never even finished the Alliance campaign.
In the meantime I played World of Warcraft (which is set four years after the events of Warcraft III) and then I decided to give Warcraft III another try, both to finish a game I never finished and to play through the storylines that led up to WoW. By this time I was familiar with the big characters and events, thanks to playing WoW and reading about the lore, but it was very exciting to actually play through them on my own. Part of the WoW setting is the aftermath of the invasion of the Burning Legion, so to see it all happen in Warcraft III was really quite amazing. While Warcraft I and II seem to be more straightforward (essentially dealing with the humans and the orcs battling each other), Warcraft III really expands the lore of the game world. Arthas falls, the Legion invades, the orcs travel to Kalimdor, the night elves reawaken the druids, etc. There are a lot of big events that you can play through in these four campaigns.
My only complaint would be that sometimes it gets a little repetitive with the settlement building aspect. I know this is the heart of a strategy game, but completing a chapter could take as long as two hours simply because you have to build everything up, create an army, attack an enemy outpost (thereby losing many units), and then re-building the army to do it all again. However, there are many other chapters that do not involve a high degree of settlement building, and some chapters are straightforward exploration and questing. So thankfully there is a variety of play styles across the campaigns.
Finally, regarding the Battle Chest product specifically: this is simply a fantastic value. It comes with separate discs for Reign of Chaos and The Frozen Throne, the original game manuals for each, as well as mini Brady game guides for each. Blizzard certainly did not skimp on the included materials for this collection.
Warcraft III Battle Chest Feature
In the original Warcraft III, the Orcs have formed a deadly army called the Burning Legion. They threaten all of Azeroth -- use this new danger to form a power base for your nation
Side with the Orcs, Humans, Undead or Night Elves and fight for dominance in a fully-interactive 3D world
Create legenedary heroes that will complete quests and acquire items that advance your army
In Warcraft III - The Frozen Throne, a new threat called the Lich King has come to Azeroth. Take up arms and rush to battle yet one more time!
Expansion features all-new units, player-built shops & buildings, and powerful new magic abilities
Warcraft III Battle Chest Overview
The Warcraft III Battle Chest is the ultimate collection of the best-selling Blizzard strategy games. This set includes 2002 Game of the Year Warcraft III: The Reign of Chaos as well as the recently released and critically acclaimed follow-up - Warcraft III Expansion: The Frozen Throne. In addition to all these hours of epic adventure in the world of Azeroth and limitless online fun on the Battle.net gaming site the Battle Chest also contains strategy guides from Brady Games for both titles to help players dominate the battlefield. This collection is valued at over .00 sold separately and is perfect for entering the epic war between the races of Azeroth and the demonic Burning Legion.Features:The ultimate collection of the best-selling Blizzard strategy gamesIncludes 2002 Game of the Year Warcraft III: The Reign of ChaosIncludes Warcraft III Expansion: The Frozen ThroneContains strategy guides from Brady Games for both titles to help players dominate the battlefieldPerfect for entering the epic war between the races of Azeroth and the demonic Burning LegionSystem Requirements:Windows 98/ME/2000/XP 400 MHz Pentium II or equivalent 128 MB of RAM 8 MB 3D video card (TNT i810 Voodoo 3 Rage 128 equivalent or better) with DirectX 8.1 support 550MB of hard drive space 4X CD-ROM driveFormat: WIN 98NT2000XP Genre: ENTERTAINMENT Rating: T - Teen UPC: 020626720892 Manufacturer No: 72089
Diablo 1 is one of my favorite game of all time. I played it when it launched and loved it. I end up playing the game every couple of years and love it every time. I've bought this game 5 times now and haven't regretted the decision to buy, maybe i should take better care of the discs.
Diablo 2 is a really fun game, while it isn't quite what diablo 1 is you can certainly lose yourself in the game and have a ton of fun playing it.
Diablo 1 is a timeless game that screams to be played from time to time, it's fun every single time. Diablo 2 can be fun but is really just the bridge from Diablo 1 and World of Warcraft, I would opt for Diablo 1 or WoW.
Diablo Battle Chest [old version] Overview
You get: Diablo II, the Diablo II: Lord of Destruction Expansion Set, classic Diablo, and an expanded strategy guide that covers both Diablo II and the Lord of Destruction Expansion Set.
Diablo Battle Chest [old version] Specifications
The Diablo Battle Chest is the complete Diablo saga in one box. It includes Diablo, Diablo II (the fastest-selling PC game of all time), the Diablo II: Lord of Destruction expansion pack, and the official Diablo II strategy guide from BradyGames. The combined retail value of everything in the Diablo Battle Chest is more than .
The Diablo Battle Chest makes the perfect gift for someone new to the action-RPG phenomenon, or for the hard-core Diablo fan that wants the complete series in one big collectible box.
I played this game when I was younger. I keep up with videogame news and when I found out in 07 (I think) that SC2 was coming out I knew I had to get back into this, it took a while, but I bought a few weeks ago. Playing the campaign again really brings back memories, it's a really great story for a videogame, epic in proportions and it features a lot of human conflict. As for the multiplayer, that's another story all together. Most of the people online have probably been playing since 98, whenever I go online I get my ass kicked, but I say that this multiplayer is very much like chess, only it's not turn-based, everyone moves around at the same time. It's really awesome, buy this game ==>> essential title.
StarCraft Battle Chest Feature
This includes the hit StarCraft, the incredible StarCraft - Brood War, and two official strategy guides, for hours & hours of space-based action and combat
Play through 56 mission in 6 unique campaigns, to decide the fate of the galaxy
Over 175 player maps over a wide variety of battlefields
Play multiplayer battles over battle.net
Battle for control of the galaxy with the StarCraft Battle Chest!
StarCraft Battle Chest Overview
The StarCraft Battle Chest is an incredible package of the great StarCraft games, on one DVD!
StarCraft Battle Chest Specifications
The full versions of StarCraft and the acclaimed expansion pack Brood War, as well as complete strategy guides for each, make StarCraft: Battle Chest a treasure chest for real-time strategy fans.
Instead of two similarly powered enemies facing off, the three distinct races in StarCraft have unique capabilities and strategies. Everyone still competes in the RTS genre's typical race for resources, but that's the only shared trait. Terrans can move their bulky mechanized bases as necessary, while the reptilian Zerg grow their colonies and warriors from mutating larvae. Meanwhile, the noble Protoss warp in equipment from their home world using psionic powers.
Not only does game maker Blizzard juggle the races' playability and match it with superb art and sound effects, it also weaves together an engrossing three-act plot. Early on, as a Terran magistrate, you spend a breathtaking 30 minutes defending against a Zerg onslaught. As the story unfolds around you, you'll experience the Zerg's hive mentality and decipher the mysterious Protoss by the game's dramatic conclusion.
Missions vary in scope and are effectively framed with dialogue, chapter screens, and in-mission exposition. Multiplayer games are also very well represented by Blizzard's own free Battle.net service. If you'd rather play over a local area network, StarCraft will generously "spawn" up to seven copies so your friends can join in.
In keeping with StarCraft's groundbreaking design, Brood War presents you with three sides of a galactic conflict. Scheming humans, insidious Zerg, and proud Protoss collide again, with stunning new cinematics setting the stage. Old friends and foes and ominous new arrivals give the story a breakneck pace, while a handful of additions to each race's arsenal makes for tense battles. Brood War also features stellar new environments and ambient art, as well as more than 100 additional multiplayer maps.
Some missions require a bit of finesse, breaking the resource-gathering routine while making good use of the new units. Humans now have Valkyrie missile frigates as well as medics who automatically try to heal your grunts. New for the Zerg air force is the acid-spewing Devourer; the new Lurker unit provides heavy-duty (under)ground support. Along with the Corsair fighter, the Protoss reenter the fray with Dark Templar, which can merge to form the devastating Dark Archon. Unfortunately, units old and new still suffer from weak artificial intelligence in path finding.
Real-time strategy games don't get any more epic or any more satisfying. --Jack Gardiner
