Until recently I had been playing World of Warcraft for the best part of three years.

Firstly, I would like to point out that I have never really been an MMO fan. I play many games online, but always prefer the single player, story- and character- driven experience. I have played EVE, Star Wars Galaxies and a couple of others, but never really enjoyed them, or got into them enough to actually pay any subscription fees.

I am completely baffled as to why WoW is any different, yet it was somehow addictive.

MY biggest problem with the game, however, is with the end-game content. I would describe myself as an 'above-casual' player. I played the game a lot, but no where near enough as the hardcore raiding players. I think i prefer having a girlfriend, playing other (much better) games from time to time and a proper social life. Anyway, because I have a life, and do not have the time or patience to get up to hardcore raiding level, I have always missed out on the final end-game content. This wasn't a particualr problem in the last, but in the recent expansion pack, Wrath of the Lich King, the storyline is much more focussed, and centres around a character from the brilliant strategy games: Arthas. Thoughtout the new continent you thwart a number of arthas's plans and encounter the Lich King on a number of occasions, in a great storyline that builds up to the final battle in Icecrown citadel. But, of course, you can only go to Icecrown citadel if your one of those greasy, pallid people with no life and have the right gear and experience to join the raid, and so I will never experience the end of Arthas' storyline.

I just can't be bothered doing constant dungeon runs, which often fail spectacularly, or being rejected from even the lowest level rais 'cos I have no experience, or doing constant, dull, repetetive dailys. And because of this, I am punished by not being able to finish the story. This is a shame, compounded by the fact that I got bored of the game during the previous Burning Crusade expansion because there wasn't any good, coherent storylines and you were just going from place to place doing very siumilar sets of quests.

Technical Rating: 6/10

Fun Rating: 6/10

Pros: Good fun, with great stories and characters.

Cons: Rapidly dating graphics, updates tend to just add stuff, rather than improving or updating anything. Lacks variety. To much content for hardcore players with no lifes, not quite enough for 'above-casual' gamers.