9 April 2013 | |
iTZKooPA
This review of the World of Warcraft: Dawn of the Aspects: Part II novel by Richard Knaak is of the spoiler-free variety. Check out the entire Blizzard catalog in our Extensive Extended Universe post.
Before diving into the review proper, it’s important to note that Blizzard is releasing this book in a new fashion. Knaak’s latest work in the World of Warcraft universe will trickle out over the next few months in five installments. Each ringing up at $1.99, effectively costing more for those that purchase the full set. The serialized eBook is currently scheduled to wrap up in mid June. As such, this review will be concise.
Review of Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, Part 5.
The story arc of Dawn of the Aspects is slow. Knaak divides the book between two timelines. The reader is rooted in the current timeline, focusing primarily on Kalecgos and, like his predecessor, his fearful decline into madness. Jaina Proudmoore is the only character aside from the former aspect that has a meaningful role in this thread. The reader may be rooted in the current World of Warcraft universe, but the majority of the novel pertains to the evolution of proto-dragons to dragons and the eventual creation of dragon aspects.
Hit the jump for the full review of Part II of Dawn of the Aspects. Continue Reading
26 February 2013 | |
iTZKooPA
This review of the World of Warcraft: Dawn of the Aspects: Part 1 novel by Richard Knaak is of the spoiler-free variety. Check out the entire Blizzard catalog in our Extensive Extended Universe post.
Before diving into the review proper, it’s important to note that Blizzard is releasing this book in a new fashion. Knaak’s latest work in the World of Warcraft universe will trickle out over the next few months in five installments. Each ringing up at $1.99, effectively costing more for those that purchase the full set. The serialized eBook is currently scheduled to wrap up in mid June. As such, this review will be concise.
Knaak returns to his dragonkind after their pyrrhic victory against Deathwing. The former Earth-warder gone only at the cost of the Aspects themselves. The Aspects remain alive, but without their powers leaving them to be known only by their proper monikers. Kalecgos, the former blue aspect after Malygos’ terror was ended, notices a disturbing change in the other, older comrades. They’ve given up, removed themselves from the struggle against the persistent evils of Azeroth. Leaving the chore up to the “younger” races.
Hit the jump for the full review of Part 1 of Dawn of the Aspects. Continue Reading
5 October 2012 | |
iTZKooPA
This review of the World of Warcraft: Jaina Proudmoore: Tides of War novel by Christie Golden is of the spoiler-free variety.
No novel has been more appropriately aligned with in-game events than Tides of War. Released just weeks ahead of Mists of Pandaria, Christie Golden was given the task of developing a story arc to kickoff the war between the Horde under Warchief Garrosh and the Alliance. With both sides still reeling from the final events of Cataclysm nearly all expected a lull in factional fighting, perhaps even a renewed chance at peace. Despite her best efforts, Jaine Proudmoore, ever the diplomat and focus of the novel, is unable to reach warmongering Garrosh before violence begins.
Golden is pure Golden in Tides of War. Her characters are spot on, from dialog to emotions, showcasing her in-depth understanding of the universe. Golden isn’t just articulating characters she’s worked with before. That’d be too easy. She’s reaching, grabbing and utilizing now-major players created by others, like Kalecgos and Rhonin, and humanizing smaller players such as General Marcus Jonathan.
Readers beware, like the players of World of Warcraft, the material in this book has grown up compared to other novelizations. There’s the obvious battle and dwarven alcohol references, but the descriptions of certain events and the impact they have on the major characters raise the bar. Characters on both sides of the struggle are so enraged, distraught and disgusted by actions taken by Garrosh that alcohol is openly discussed as an escape mechanism, rather than a comical subtle reference. Furthermore, an honest to god swear is uttered. Continue Reading
1 October 2012 | |
iTZKooPA
Encyclopedia Britannica may have ended its print run, but the MMORPG community is ripe with the desire for physical distribution of in-game knowledge. Never being one to miss a cross-marketing opportunity – no matter how stupid it may be – LucasArts and DK Adult are preparing to unleash a “definitive guide to the epic conflict” that is Star Wars: The Old Republic.
The 352-page hardcover encyclopedia covers everything a gamer, subscription or free-to-play, could need to know. From historical events, classes, important NPCs, races, planets, weaponry and more. The tome wasn’t farmed out either. Several members of the MMORPG’s writing team are responsible for producing the galactic compilation.
Dedicated Lore Hounds and roleplayers should not pass up on pre-ordering Star Wars: The Old Republic: Encyclopedia. The book will be available October 15, 2012, and is likely to become a collector’s item. One that will only set you back $26.40. If you still need convincing, check out the trailer after the jump.
Yes, the book has a freaking trailer. Continue Reading
31 July 2012 | |
iTZKooPA
Announced at BlizzCon 2011 and detailed in late March, the summer line of World of Warcraft licensed Mega Bloks is now available in stores! The latest, greatest and only full-sized line currently available is all about the red and blue, featuring a buildable Deathwing and Stormwind. Too bad his claw prints aren’t on Stormwind’s towers.
Also available are the more rudimentary/junior sets featuring popular characters in 25 piece sets, vehicles and mounts in ~90 piece sets and more mature sets like that of Sindragosa/Lich King pairing coming in at 150 pieces. Prices range from under $10 to $100.
You better believe I’ll be getting my hand on at least one of the more epic collections. My action figure shelves desperately need some new blood.
Mega Bloks and Blizzard will be pairing up in the foreseeable future to continue delivering buildable pieces from Azeroth and beyond.
Check out all your options over at Amazon.
8 March 2012 | |
iTZKooPA
Last update: March 2013
Many people spent Martin Luther King Jr’s holiday schlepping around their house, possibly at work or, and this is the really good-natured people out there, donating their time to a charity. Me, well I spent my time re-organizing my gaming shelves (due to in-home construction).
During the shuffling of games, the mingling of HDDVD (fail) and BluRay and coupling of previous and current generation peripherals I stumbled across a “lost” form of entertainment, the tactile sensations of books, board games and graphic novella. During the organization of this unconnected form of entertainment I realized one important fact: There’s a lot of Expanded Universe material to Blizzard’s universes.
Hit the Continue Reading stub to have your mind blown by the vast amounts of novels, board games, manga, comics and trading card game paraphernalia that have been created to extend one of Blizzard’s three universes. Did we miss something? Let us know in the comments! Continue Reading
2 December 2011 | |
iTZKooPA
This review of the World of Warcraft: Wolfheart novel by Richard A. Knaak is of the spoiler-free variety.
The latest novel for Warcraft’s Expanded Universe sits firmly in the current timeline of the game, as most recent novels have. Readers are placed in a small window after the Cataclysm and the events of Lord of His Pack, but before the official induction of the worgen to the Alliance. This is notable because the author, Richard A. Knaak, tends to write in his own timeline. Nearly all of his work has been set in the game’s past, including a handful of plots that few living beings would have intimate knowledge of. Knaak’s other common trait is the inclusion of “his” characters, Tyrande Whisperwing and Malfurion Stormrage. Both of these characters play an integral role to the dual plot.
Yes, a dual plot. Interested?
Knaak weaves two distinct threads throughout Wolfheart. Not so shockingly, one tale features the struggles of the Alliance, while the other showcases the audacity of the reinvigorated Horde. Making this novel fully capable of playing a fantastic Benedict Arnold (overall, more Alliance focused).
Hit the cut to find out how the novel comes together and if Knaak has finally won over one of the Lore Hounds. Continue Reading
1 June 2011 | |
pixiestixy
This review of Warcraft: Legends Volume I is of the spoiler-free variety.
The five-volume Warcraft: Legends series has been out for a good while now, with the first book released in 2008 and the other volumes coming out over the course of about a year. But I had not yet had the chance to read them, and they actually had been off my radar for quite some time until last week when Cryptozoic announced that it had acquired exclusive rights to distribute digital versions of Blizzard’s extended universe manga.
Along with that announcement came the promotion of offering the first volume of Warcraft: Legends for free via the new Cryptozoic Comics app for iPhone and iPad. I jumped on that opportunity, and although it’s a bit belated, wanted to share my thoughts on the book for those of you also pondering the acquisition of free goodies while they’re still gratis.
Legends offers a diverse line of four unrelated stories set in various stages of the Warcraft universe.
The first story, Fallen is a collaboration between Richard Knaak and Jae-Hwan Kim. The first part of the Trag Highmountain story, Fallen follows up from the Sunwell Trilogy. The tauren Trag, who readers were first introduced to in Warcraft: Shadows of Ice, finds himself reborn as one of the undead after defeating the Baron Valimar Mordis. Mordis who had stolen the orb of Ner’zhul from the scourge and raised a frost wyrm, ultimately intending to spread the will of the forsaken. Trag crushed both the Baron and the orb — but in doing so cursed himself to undeath. Continue Reading
