World of Warcraft: Cataclysm Preview

The folks at Ripten have summoned forth a favorable preview of World of Warcraft: Cataclysm after spending some time in the highly anticipated expansion pack’s ongoing beta test.

A major difference that can be seen right away when you step into Cataclysm is in the appearance. Simply put, the zones look amazing. What Blizzard can do with textures and lighting effects with a 5+ year old game engine is very impressive.

Probably the most striking upgrades to the scenery are not the new zones or the lava and fire constantly spewing out of every crevice courtesy of that mean Ol’Deathwing, but the changes made to the water effects. Everything from the gently bobbing ripples in a lake to the forceful currents in a waterfall looks far more impressive than anything we’ve seen in game before. And the first time you notice the moon’s reflection in the water, you too will agree that the addition of reflective water is a very welcome edition to Cataclysm.