WoW Classic Is The Time Machine That Every Fan Should Play

More than just a nostalgia trip

- Fraser Brown

Zarwulf, an orc hunter, was the first character I invested any meaningful time with in World of Warcraft. But then I moved onto other characters, and when I eventually returned to my old pal, he was gone, at least the one I knew. Warlords of Draenor had arrived, transforming his appearance, while expansions had overhauled the entire class. Last week, I resurrected Zarwulf when I had the chance to play World of Warcraft Classic at the recent Warcraft Summit. The first thing I had to do, of course, was make the pilgrimage to the Crossroads. The walk from Orgrimmar was uneventful, aside from a spot of zhevra hunting. I had a hungry wolf to feed. It was a saunter, accompanied by Barrens chat refusing to leave the old days behind. From there I turned to Ratchet, hung out with pirates, hopped on a ship, and visited the Eastern Kingdoms for the first time, again.

World of Warcraft now encompasses multiple worlds and eras, but Classic makes Kalimdor and the Eastern Kingdoms feel huge. There’s a lot more empty space, long journeys, and the absence of modern conveniences. If you want to fly, for instance, you’ll need to take public transport along predetermined routes. And where Battle for Azeroth flings systems and distractions at you with every step, Classic spreads everything out, making it less thrilling but also taking away a lot of pressure.