I can tell from what I’ve seen you already know this, but Blizzard I’m begging you please really pay attention to the old art style and what made those units look so distinct and show such character even during the most chaotic and epic battles.
I understand that what we’ve seen is an early work in progress but even keeping that in mind some early looks at some units gives me some hesitation as someone who absolutely loves Warcraft III.
Some of the units and structures looked absolutely incredible and exactly like a modern rendition of their Warcraft III selves, but some of them did not.
The Rifleman, Blademaster, and Altar of Heroes are amazing and great examples of updated models that look like they still follow the same art direction, while the new Tauren and especially Tauren Chieftan are examples that just don’t look like Warcraft III units.
The Tauren of old was a hulking beast of a bull with a big nose ring who would beat the crap out of your army with his personal totem-branded can of whoop. The new Tauren looks like a Tauren who hits you with a totem. In Warcraft III when the Tauren Chieftan pops out of the altar of storms you immediately know that he is the biggest baddest absolute unit and the original one and only elite Tauren Chieftain for the horde. This new guy looks like he’s here to be Cairn’s Axe-Caddy.
There are a few models that look really close but are missing some of the original charm. For example the new Abominations seem to have gone on a bit of a diet and got skinny while the new headhunters just don’t skulk around the way they used to.
When I say focus on the original art direction I’m not saying don’t make any changes. In fact the new Gryphon Aviary and even Arcane Sanctum are great examples of structures that are slightly different but still seem to fit the same mould as their originals. On the other hand I can barely recognize the what happened to the previously rounded blacksmith and old flat peaked lumber mill.
I guess what I’m really asking is Blizzard, please make sure that even though so much time has passed and Warcraft has gone through so much, when it comes to Warcraft III: Reforged please make sure what really shines through is a display of what made the old game Warcraft III so legendary in the first place.
P.S. I love you <3