You are viewing our Forum Archives. To view or take place in current topics click here.

Members rating for Hearthstone: Heroes of Warcraft

1
0.00% (0 votes)
2
0.00% (0 votes)
3
0.00% (0 votes)
4
0.00% (0 votes)
5
0.00% (0 votes)
6
0.00% (0 votes)
7
0.00% (0 votes)
8
0.00% (0 votes)
9
0.00% (0 votes)
10
100.00% (1 vote)

Total Votes: 1

Hearthstone: Heroes of Warcraft - Review
Posted:

Hearthstone: Heroes of Warcraft - ReviewPosted:

Hearthstone
  • Resident Elite
Status: Offline
Joined: Jan 21, 201410Year Member
Posts: 276
Reputation Power: 14
Status: Offline
Joined: Jan 21, 201410Year Member
Posts: 276
Reputation Power: 14
Hearthstone: Heroes of Warcraft

[ Register or Signin to view external links. ]




Info


Developer: Blizzard Entertainment
Publisher: Blizzard Entertainment
Director: Jason Chayes
Producer: Yong Woo
Designer: Eric Dodds
Artist: Many artists contributed to this game
Composer: Peter McConnell
Release Date: March 11, 2014
Genre: CCG (Collectible Card Game)
Mode: Online Card Game






Synopsis

Hearthstone is a collectible card game that revolves around turn-based online 1vs1 matches between two opponents, operated through Blizzard's Battle.net.[1] Players can choose from a number of game modes, with each offering a slightly different experience. Players start the game with a substantial collection of 'basic' cards, but can gain rarer and more powerful cards through purchasing packs of additional cards, or as reward for competing in the Arena. Players can also disenchant unwanted cards, destroying them in exchange for arcane dust, a resource which can be used to create new cards. Card packs and entry to the Arena can be purchased with gold, an in-game currency rewarded for completing randomized daily quests and winning matches, or by using real money in the in-game store. Hearthstone is set within the Warcraft universe, with the majority of its characters and cards drawing from existing lore.




Gameplay

The gameplay within Hearthstone: Heroes of Warcraft is "deceptively simple and insanely fun." This is one crucial thing that I believe will generate most of the game's success as a whole. It creates this "ease of play" feel that most card game have a hard time achieving. From my personal experience most card games leave players critically thinking of how to play; even after hours of initial exposure. The deceptive simplicity behind the Hearthstone allows for quick learning and immediate immersion. In return this generates instantaneous amounts of fun for the players.

Players can either choose to battle other players or AI's depending upon their level of comfortableness. During a match players take turns dealing damage, drawing cards, healing, placing cards, and even chatting via the Hero's voice comments that can be used by right clicking on the players Hero. The goal during a match is to get your opponents health to 0; both players start the match with 30 health each. Damage can be done by using minions to attack, using spells, using "Hero Powers," or any other way players can find to utilize their cards. Players are able to heal their Hero through spells or "Hero Powers". Each Hero has its own special "Hero Power" that can be used each turn for the cost of some "mana." During a match players have a "mana bar" which starts out at 1 and goes to 10 gaining 1 each players new turn. Most cards during a match cost a certain amount of "mana" depending upon the card.

Players start playing as the Mage Hero; with the ability to practice against the AI's which allow them to obtain all of the 9 available Heroes. The Heroes available within the game are the Mage, Paladin, Hunter, Warlock, Druid, Rogue, Shaman, Priest, and the Warrior. After obtaining all the available Heroes the option to challenge "Expert" AI's becomes available; which if completed grants players 100 gold. Yet players almost immediately find themselves battling other opponents striving towards the purchase of a new pack of cards or towards leveling their Hero up too level 10. Each Hero has 10 "Basic Cards" that can be acquired by achieving level 10. In retrospect packs of cards within Hearthstone contain 5 expert cards with at least one of them being rare or better; these cards can only be obtained through the purchase of packs.

Card rarity is broken down into 4 simple categories: white Common cards, blue Rare cards, purple Epic cards, and orange Legendary cards. Players may get lucky while opening packs and acquire a golden version of a card; golden cards act the same as regular cards but have a golden border and animation.

There are four different "Play" modes that players have access to: "Practice", "Casual", "Ranked", and "The Arena". The Practice and Casual modes are among the less stressful of the "Play" modes. The "Ranked" and "Arena" modes are more suited for intense players. There are 25 different ranks within the "Ranked" mode allowing players to see how they match up against others. Ranks are earned by winning matches consecutively; whereas the loss of a match may result in the loss of a rank. With every new month Hearthstone starts a new "Ranked Season" in which you rank up as much as you can before the season ends. If players are good enough they could reach the "Legendary" rank and be invited to tournaments!

The "Arena" mode costs 100 gold to enter with the first entry being free to players. The goal in this mode is to win as many matches as you can upgrading the "key" you have until you lose three. The more matches you win and the better your "key" the better your prize at the end of your run! There are a total of 13 possible keys that can be acquired: Novice, Apprentice, Journeyman, Copper, Silver, Gold, Platinum, Diamond, Champion, Ruby, Frostborn, Molten, and Lightforge. Players are granted a prize based upon how well they did. Prizes could range from cards, golden cards, gold, or arcane dust, or packs. A very rare thing that can also be achieved within these modes are "Golden Heroes." These can be obtained by winning 500 matches with a Hero within these two modes.

The biggest part of Hearthstone's gameplay would have to be its "Collection" menu. Within this menu players are able to create their own personal custom decks for whichever Hero they would like. Each Hero has its own exclusive cards that players can chose from besides the "neutral" cards that are available to every Hero. Once a player has crafted their own custom deck of 30 cards; which is the mandatory number for of cards for all decks they can use them freely. Cards may also be acquired via the "Crafting" tool within the "Collection" menu. Cards can be crafted at the cost of "Arcane Dust." Players can acquire "Arcane Dust" by disenchanting cards that they have extra of or don't want or by winning it in the "Arena" mode. Hearthstone is an overall amazing collectible card game in its best. It outshines all the other card games that are playable online easily.





Graphics

The graphics within Hearthstone are simply put amazing! I wasn't expecting them to be as stunning as they actually were upon release. Each game-board that you find yourself having a match on in the game is interactive. You can interact with each of the four corners of every board that's available in the game. From breaking windows, closing doors, petting griffons, and more! This was totally unexpected and proves to be amusing when you're waiting for your opponent to complete their turn. As for the cards graphics; let's just say I was blown away. Each and every card within the game has it's own unique style to it. They are all really well designed specifically for their specific types. It gets really good when you start taking a look at the golden cards that are available. Golden cards come with their own golden border as well as a marvelous custom animation. The animations for these cards are all unique and add flare to each card that has it. Overall the graphics are a very impressive aspect of this game.


[ Register or Signin to view external links. ]



[ Register or Signin to view external links. ]



[ Register or Signin to view external links. ]






Controls

The controls in Hearthstone are pretty straightforward. Players only need to use their mouse to navigate the menus as well as to play a match. Simple navigation, left clicking, and some swiping should get players through everything this game has to offer. Upon opening packs of cards players can alternatively press the space bar rather than drag the pack to the center of the screen each time.




System Requirements

Windows XP/Windows Vista/Windows 7/Windows 8 (latest Service Packs)
ntel Pentium D or AMD Athlon 64 X2
NVIDIA GeForce 6800 (256 MB) or ATI Radeon X1600 Pro (256 MB) or better
2 GB RAM






Ratings

Gameplay: 9
Graphics: 9
Controls: 10
Overall: 9


Last edited by Hearthstone ; edited 2 times in total

The following 1 user thanked Hearthstone for this useful post:

Travitor (04-04-2014)
#2. Posted:
Travitor
  • Tutorial King
Status: Offline
Joined: Jul 21, 201211Year Member
Posts: 3,061
Reputation Power: 115
Status: Offline
Joined: Jul 21, 201211Year Member
Posts: 3,061
Reputation Power: 115
Great review Hearthstone, nice to see you giving support to your named game, I'll give it a go someday haha
#3. Posted:
Hearthstone
  • Resident Elite
Status: Offline
Joined: Jan 21, 201410Year Member
Posts: 276
Reputation Power: 14
Status: Offline
Joined: Jan 21, 201410Year Member
Posts: 276
Reputation Power: 14
VIT wrote Great review Hearthstone, nice to see you giving support to your named game, I'll give it a go someday haha


Thanks VIT! Glad that you enjoyed it! Of course I would have to be the one to review my named game! You should definitely give it a try sometime.
#4. Posted:
JmH
  • Wise One
Status: Offline
Joined: Apr 03, 201410Year Member
Posts: 558
Reputation Power: 27
Status: Offline
Joined: Apr 03, 201410Year Member
Posts: 558
Reputation Power: 27
I've never heard of this game in my entire existence.
#5. Posted:
Hearthstone
  • Resident Elite
Status: Offline
Joined: Jan 21, 201410Year Member
Posts: 276
Reputation Power: 14
Status: Offline
Joined: Jan 21, 201410Year Member
Posts: 276
Reputation Power: 14
TeamXole wrote I've never heard of this game in my entire existence.


That's more than likely because it was just released last month!
Jump to:
You are viewing our Forum Archives. To view or take place in current topics click here.