Electronic Arts' Warhammer Online is, superficially
DateTime:7/8/2009 5:21:12 PM

Similar to Conan. Both games promise a focus on player-versus-player combat not seen in WoW. Both are based on long-running, deeply nuanced works of fiction. And both games feature a darker, more "realistic" world for gamers sick of Blizzard's colorful, cartoonish interpretation of high fantasy.The difference is that Warhammer actually works.

Fans of the tabletop miniatures role-playing game Warhammer will agree that the Warcraft universe is a not-so-subtle facsimile of the former. Though Blizzard's world is lighter and more humorous, the two are at times nearly indistinguishable.

After Age of Conan promised so many innovative, intriguing additions to the massively multiplayer genre, then delivered on so few, no one can be blamed for being wary of another would-be competitor to Blizzard Entertainment's Warcraft, a game whose population dwarfs that of the Los Angeles metro area.