Warhammer Online: Age of Reckoning has finally hit the shores of Australia that promises fans of this universe which was originally a game of miniatures the chance to explore this rich and diverse gaming universe thanks to developers Mythic Entertainment and EA Games.

Let's kill some Elven bastards!

The story of Warhammer revolves around an endless war between Order and Destruction. The followers of Order include the Dwarves, High Elves and the Empire of Humans, whereas the followers of Destruction are led by the Greenskins, Dark Elves and the Chaos humans who constantly battle.

Although the game is your classic MMO that is reminiscent of Dungeons & Dragons with a healthy dose of science fiction added, the inclusion of Pvp, RvR and PvE really makes this title stand out from the crowd. It's a mixture of the best elements of traditional MMO's and more!

Players can also create their own characters and also modify their looks, however where the title does shine is through the armors which is quite customizable. Match that with around 20 different classes and subclasses and you're ready to take on the world of Warhammer.

The different game modes of Warhammer allows players to complete traditional quests or engage in some brilliant scenarios with other players which is Player versus Player battles. As briefly mentioned, you can even engage in RvR struggles which truly adds an epic scope to the game.

The developers have also successfully brought the world of Warhammer to the online gaming world and as soon as you step forward into this universe, you immediately know that you are in the world of Warhammer. Each of the areas in the game are also quite diverse, whether you are in a town controlled by Order or one controlled by Destruction, it’s perfectly implemented and lends itself well to this genre.

Castle Greyskull

Assaulting a town with players and the NPC’s almost makes you feel like you are always wary as war is raging everything in this world. Moving around the gaming environment is also quite entertaining, especially when you are trying to avoid an NPC mob that is hell bent on your factions destruction.

With that said, the gameplay is broken up into two distinct gameplay modes which include PvR and Pvp/Rvr areas which all add to the longevity of the title and match that with the ability to compete mini-quests such as dungeon raids and you can safely play this game for a 15 minute session, rather than hours upon hours.

As you progress in the game, the merging of the different gaming modes will become blurred as you battle both NPC’s and other players, whether it’s a city siege or a public quest. Joining a scenario based PvP is quite easily and all you need to do is click on “Join Scenario” and it offers for some great entertainment such as King of the Hill or good old fashioned Death Match.

An interesting design element to the tiered structure of the game world is how races from both realms will share each of the maps in the progression. One side of a large formation of mountains could be the Empire's starting area, while the other side could be Chaos' starting area. Each map splits the PvE and RvR areas so that both sides can have access to both without the two interfering.

As players level, they'll be asked to take part in more elaborate scenarios that will require more coordination and planning but even the simplest  scenarios in the game offer a huge variety of play styles and a host of ingenious play mechanics. The other part of Warhammer Online's PvP system is the Realm vs. Realm combat which consists of PvP areas within the larger PvE zone and you have a set objectives that must be completed.

Time to party!

Needless to say, the variety is quite endless. With that said, Warhammer also supports an Australian based server which means “lag” and lost connections are almost a thing of the past and through our 2 ½ weeks of play, we had only a few issues with the server but it’s definitely one of the best online experiences we have had the pleasure of enjoying.

For those wishing to specialize, the game's guild system treats guilds almost like players with their own system of levels and bonuses and prizes that players can work to unlock. Definitely another enjoyable element to the game.

In conclusion, Warhammer Online is one of the best MMO experiences that we have experienced with great options for players, an Australian based server, great graphics that go hand-in-hand with the gameplay and best of all, it’s set in the world of Warhammer.

With a variety of different classes, some truly entertaining Player versus Player challenges, this is one game that even people not familiar with Warhammer should check out because it is accessible to a wide variety of gamers.