WarCraft III delivers on the hype, and brings RTS's to a whole new level.
+ Four diverse, balanced races
+ Unique hero system sets WC3 apart from other RTSs
+ Interface is absolutely perfect
Graphics - 5/5
+ Strong technical graphics embarrass contemporary titles
+ Artistic style STILL doesn't look dated versus modern titles (note review date)
Sound - 4/5
+ Musical score is excellent, adds to the immersion
- Voice acting is solid, but not gripping
Story - 4/5
+ WarCraft universe gets seriously fleshed out
+ Above average fantasy storyline
- Slightly generic ending
Multiplayer - 4/5
+ Battle.net is stable, lag-free, and well-organized
- Matchmaking doesn't take into account player skill levels
Biggest Gripes:
The sound and the story have their faults, but they're still the best you're going to find on the market. No, my biggest gripe with WC3 would have to be... Battle.net.
Despite Blizzard's reputation for excellent service and patches years after the release of their games, they refuse to try out their own matchmaking system. Or perhaps they know it's broken and refuse to do anything about it. Despite having thousands of players online at any given time it is IMPOSSIBLE to get a fair fight on that thing.
And custom games, which are arguably the main reason WC3 continues to be popular online, have few helpful filters to find the game type you're looking for.
Finally, the World Editor is a bit limited and buggy (until Frozen Throne, but more on that later).
Final Thoughts: Two thumbs up; forget the latest "revolutionary RTS," go out and buy this instead.