HAVING never played either of the two previous Warcraft games, I didn't know quite what to expect, or whether I'd be lost in the storyline of the game.

A little background research though and I found that this series is immensely popular as a multiplayer game over the internet, and that the actual single player mode in the game (for most people at least) serves merely as a training ground for online battles, joining clans and the like.

If that's not your thing, the game is perfectly enjoyable as a solo experience.

The style reminded me instantly of the old Red Alert Command and Conquer/Ages of Empire games.

You choose a race to control to begin with, either the humans or the ogre-like Orcs and the storyline unravels from that race's point of view.

There are other races in the game, but they come into play as you progress.

The scene before you is a battleground you can only see areas of the map your characters have explored and must gradually build yourself up a small base and eventually an army before accomplishing the task set for you.

Mining for gold and cutting down trees for wood are both important factors in how advanced your base and ultimately your army becomes.

For anyone who has played the other versions, there are a few neat new abilities that the main characters in the game can use, such as healing other party members, and invisibility.

For newbies, the game's difficulty means slow progress and you are literally talked through the way the game works as you play.

The game features some excellent sound and graphic effects, and the voiceover adds immensely to the progression of the storyline as well as adding to each character's personality.

The massive online following of the game means you could be playing it for years too.

Well, at least until number four is released, anyway.

Overall: 4/5