BACK IN GRIND

Returning to World of Warcraft’s original state is a humbling experience. With thousands of hours spent in Azeroth, I’ve defeated intergalactic demon armies and thwarted orc hordes from alternate timelines all while amassing the most powerful gear the universe has ever known. But Classic makes braving a cave filled with level 12 troggs feel like a massive achievement. It’s not so much a nostalgia trip as it is a nostalgia fall into a pit of rusty razor blades. And you know what? I kind of like it that way.

I prefer how intimidating this Classic version of Azeroth feels

Classic is a full recreation of as it was at launch, or not long after – a sort of digital time machine that lives alongside the modern version. It’s a gruelling and often frustrating experience, but it’s also helped me rediscover why I loved the first place. For better and worse, this is exactly as I remember playing it, streamlined entire game systems and forever changed Azeroth.