Warcraft II: Tides of Darkness (1995)
Developer: Blizzard Entertainment
Publisher: Blizzard Entertainment
Warcraft II came out in a time when sequels meant more than just a new plot and a slight graphical upgrade, and it blew the original Warcraft: Orcs & Humans away in every respect. While the real-time strategy sequel was gorgeous for its time, it also included game-changing naval and air units, introduced the epic storylines that Blizzard is still known for today, and totally revamped the game mechanics, making for a much more user-friendly and engaging experience.
Warcraft II's reach and importance to PC gaming has spread much further than anyone could have ever imagined. It established the fiction of the Warcraft universe much more concretely than its predecessor, and laid the foundation for the infinitely popular World of Warcraft. It's a testament to the creative vision of Blizzard -- and to the game's lore writers -- that the world of Azeroth was interesting enough to eventually support a game that millions of people play every day.
Anthony says: I played the original Warcraft, but Warcraft II is where I really cut my RTS teeth. Not only did I play the entire single-player campaign, but I also regularly played stages created by my best friend's mom, who had developed a minor obsession with making levels that she hoped we wouldn't be able to beat. And while I may no longer pop my Tides of Darkness disc into my PC, I routinely log into the world of Azeroth and participate in the lore Blizzard created so long ago.Brian A. says: Over the years, I've lost many a friend to the class II narcotic known as World of Warcraft, and it's for that reason alone that I've never fully become a WoW player myself. I am deathly afraid that I'll be hopelessly addicted just like they were (and still are), largely because the games are fantastic and I could see myself getting completely engulfed by them. And this is one of the games I have to blame for all that...
