I was a major fan of the original Warcraft III: Reign of Chaos, so I when I got news of an expansion to it, I knew I had to get in on it. I'm very glad that I did, because Frozen Throne is more than just an expansion, it's like an entirely new game that is, in nearly every way, better than the original. This game picks up pretty soon after the last game left off. Although the world has been saved from Lord Archimonde and his legion, the Burning Scourge, there is still much danger throughout the world. Illidan, released from his tomb in the hope that he would help the night elves defeat Archimonde, has gone rogue and is on the loose causing havoc with a new race he has brought from beneath the depths of the ocean; the Naga (which the user gets to play as at several points throughout the game, though there is never a specific campaign for them).

So that's where the first campaign sets off, you play as a Warden named Maiev Shadowsong who was set with the task of guarding Illidan. Obviously she has failed and is out for vengeance and obsessed with the hunt. The Sentinel campaign features a variety of creative missions, and allows you top play as your favorite two heroes from Reign of Chaos; Tyrande Whisperwind and Malfurion Stormrage. Towards the end of the campaign however, Malfurion finds that Illidan was actually trying to destroy the Lich King and strike a blow at the remaining Undead that still crawl throughout Azeroth. Illidan is pardoned and therefore not executed, however, he must still leave Azeroth through a portal in exile, which helps lead right into the next campaign.

The second campaign features the Blood Elves, some of the last descendants of the elves that Prince Arthas destroyed in Reign of Chaos. They are led by Prince Kael'Thas. This campaign features some of the most creative missions I have ever seen in Warcraft, one of them being a tower-defense special mission, and another being one that resembles the online custom game "Doomsday". Eventually, the Blood Elves join Illidan in "Outland" where he has been banished to. After forming an alliance with Illidan, the player gets to use the Naga throughout a couple of missions. Personally I found the Blood Elf campaign to be my favorite of any Warcraft game ever, simply due to the large amount of original missions that take a break from the typical RTS feel of it. You can tell Blizzard went all out with being unique, and it paid off. The end of the Blood Elf campaign leads right into the final one as well, with Illidan and his allies the Naga and Blood Elves returning to Azeroth to finally finish off the Scourge.

The third and last campaign of The Frozen Throne features the return of Prince Arthas, Kel'Thuzad, Sylvanas Windrunner, and the Undead. However, you are now playing not as the Burning Legion but of the remaining Scourge of Lordaeron. The first mission allows you to play as Arthas, Kel'Thuzad, and Sylvanas all at once, but after that the missions are separate with each going off their own way. Sylvanas eventually is able to regain control of her mind, and sees all that she has done wrong. Throughout the rest of the Scourge campaign Sylvanas remains in Lordaeron attempting to destroy the remaining Undead with her banshee allies. Arthas returns to Northrend, where he meets up with Illidan and the Naga and Night Elf. The final mission of the campaign, and the Warcraft series, is an epic battle that will probably take the player 2-3 hours to complete, that takes place outside the Lich King's throne. After Arthas eventually wins the battle, a scene shows him apparently killing Illidan, and then becoming the new Lich King. It may not be a happy ending, but it's certainly an epic one.

The Frozen Throne does not feature an Orc campaign, however, it does have a tribute to them with an RPG-style game. If you've played the Diablo games, it's a lot like them. The game features a half-orc and half-ogre beast named Rexxar who meets up with Thrall in the new Orc civilization called Durotar. It allows the player to control only Rexxar and a few other heroes, all of which can level up higher than Level 10. It's not the typical Warcraft III RTS type of gameplay that we're used to, but Blizzard still did a good job with it because it's got a great storyline and it's a blast to play.

So overall I would recommend The Frozen Throne to just about anybody. It is by far one of my favorite computer games of all-time, and I feel it definitely should get an award for best RTS ever. The storyline is epic and amazing, the graphics look sharp enough, and the gameplay is beyond anything you'll find in its competitors.