World of Warcraft: The War Within Game Review (2024)

Violence & Scariness

a lot

Many quests and shorter scenarios involve battling and defeating various creatures like large beasts, ogres, trolls, or wild animals, using swords, other weapons, and magic attacks. When enemies are defeated, they cry out in pain and fall with blood splatter, or sometimes break into chunks of flesh. The game is still rated "Teen" because it's more fantasy-based violence than realistic.

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Sex, Romance & Nudity

some

Some female characters wear revealing outfits, like low-cut tops or short skirts, and there are some scenes where they perform provocative dances. The game also includes some sexually suggestive dialogue, with lines like "Want me to talk dirty? I do speak Nathrezim, you know", "Honey, I've got all kinds of toys in my utility belt", and "I have tattoos in other places, you know."

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Products & Purchases

some

To play The War Within, you'll need the original World of Warcraft game, and there are optional in-game purchases available using real money, similar to other MMORPGs. The game also requires a Battle.net subscription. Additionally, there are several versions of the game to buy, including more expensive Collector's Editions.

Drinking, Drugs & Smoking

some

Players can purchase and drink alcoholic beverages like mead and wine from taverns and other locations. Characters can also drink excessively, which is shown through slurred speech and blurred visuals, implying they're drunk.

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Language

a little

There's some mild profanity in the game, including words like "ass" and "bastard."

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Ease of Play

some

This is the 10th expansion to World of Warcraft, and you'll need the core game to play. If you've played before, you'll likely be familiar with the controls and game mechanics. The game includes a tutorial, helpful tips, and community support, but expect some trial and error as you learn to navigate and succeed

Positive Messages

very little

World of Warcraft: The War Within offers an engaging fantasy world where players can team up to complete missions and overcome challenges, but it doesn't have a clear central theme or message. The game is mostly designed for entertainment and social interaction. There is some more mature content like violence, sexually suggestive themes, and alcohol use.

Diverse Representations

very little

This game is set in the fictional world of Azeroth with fantastical creatures where you'll come across many fantastical creatures, like Elves, Dwarves, Orcs, and Trolls, similar to those in other fantasy books and movies. There's some, but not much diversity in race, gender, and age among human characters.

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Positive Role Models

none

You can create and customize your own character in this game, so there's no single 'main' character that everyone plays. You can team up with other players but the story doesn't focus much on specific characters that could be labeled as 'positive' or 'negative.' Characters engage in battles, using magic to defeat enemies, and participate in behaviors like excessive drinking, so the game doesn't offer strong examples of positive role models.