Warcraft II: The Dark Saga

Before Warcraft became a phenomenon in the form of an online world, it was first and foremost an outstanding fantasy real-time strategy, and Warcraft II: The Dark Saga brought this Blizzard gem to the PlayStation too, offering orcs, humans, and epic battles right in the living room.

The gameplay foundation is a classic RTS set in the rich fantasy world of Azeroth: you build a base, harvest wood and gold, train soldiers, archers, mages, and mighty war machines, and throw them into the fight between the human Alliance and the orcish Horde. Warcraft II stood out for its carefully balanced factions, clear mission design, and an addictive campaign that led players through a richly developed story of a conflict between two irreconcilable races.

The Dark Saga was the console edition, which alongside the original content also included the Beyond the Dark Portal expansion, so players got a hefty load of missions and storytelling. Blizzard was already known for its meticulousness and eye for detail, and Warcraft II is an excellent example of it, its hand-painted 2D graphics, distinctive units, and unforgettable unit quips when clicked gave the game a distinctive and instantly recognizable character.

As with all console strategies of the era, controlling with a gamepad could not match the nimbleness of the mouse that PC strategists were used to. The developers nonetheless tried to adapt the interface, and the overall experience remained a full-fledged one, home players got the chance to experience one of the peaks of the genre without needing an expensive computer.

The significance of Warcraft II is fundamental: it helped establish Blizzard as one of the most respected studios, built the foundations of a fantasy world that would later explode in the form of further games, and became a benchmark for quality fantasy strategy. The Dark Saga is a dignified gateway into this legendary universe.

Why play it: A polished fantasy RTS from Blizzard with a rich campaign and an unmistakable world, on console a welcome chance to experience a legend of the genre.