I've been looking forward to this for several months. The preview videos got me pretty hyped and it seemed to check all the boxes needed by a 3D Realms shooter. Capturing lightning in a bottle for a fourth time (after the Duke, Shadow Warrior, Blood trifecta) seemed too much to ask for, but the final result is actually better than I expected. This is slightly difficult to explain without playing for yourself, but I think it all comes down to the "feel" of the game. Each of the weapons is quite distinctive and has a satisfying effect upon enemies. Dispatching enemies feels fantastic and rewarding, motivating you to proceed deeper into the game. The multitude of in-game cultural references are fantastic and a reward in and of themselves. There's probably many I've missed or haven't correctly identified; a big motivator for replays. I picked up the game on launch day and have found it thoroughly enjoyable since. Unfortunately, there has been a lot of unnecessary drama surrounding the game after a few individuals complained back-and-forth regarding some in game assets. Ignore the noise: this is a fantastic game that should be enjoyed on its own merits and the devs deserve significant praise and should be thanked for providing us with such a great and enjoyable game.
I fondly recall playing this game over and over again throughout my high school years. Some of these memories include playing against other friends over local area network at the school computer lab, and other memories are of me staying up late at night at a friend's place taking turns on one computer to finish up the Human campaign. I could not believe then, that in 2019, I could find myself playing the campaigns all over again and, to my surprise, still enjoying the experience. Yes, this game is still fully playable despite how much it's aged. It's lacking the niceties and controls of Warcraft III, but if you have patience and can overlook the very dated graphics, you'll find a charming and fun game. This is where it started for the Warcraft franchise and still puts a smile on my face.
