WoW demon Cortyn has taken a close look at Lorenhall in World of Warcraft and draws a preliminary conclusion. Much is good – but one thing raises concerns.
With Patch 11.1, the capital city of the Goblins finally came into play – Lorenhall. However, it is not a “traditional” capital in the form of a hub, but a complete area with enemies, quests, and plenty of hidden details.
Purely in terms of atmosphere, Lorenhall is really excellent. The different cartels all have a noticeable influence on the city, and Goblin society feels like a “real” society and not just superficially created, as is often the case with cities in WoW. You will find various professions – including event planners for a wedding, a cleaning company, and various transport service providers. Plus, there is a stall on every street corner selling – mostly dubious – food that was probably cobbled together from street ingredients.
A dirty, disgusting city – perfect for Goblins
The pollution of the city, along with a sewage system that is accessible in several places, greatly contributes to the oily, exploitative style of this city, which fits wonderfully with the Goblins.
The F.A.H.R.E.N., or the “car” of the Goblins with its many small side missions, also creates moments that sometimes evoke GTA vibes or make you feel like you are in Mario Kart. Everything is coherent and fits Lorenhall.
There are a few minor issues that I noticed negatively with the patch. For instance, some characters are not voiced. This is not a big deal – but it is curious when in a conversation some Goblins (like Gazlowe) speak their lines while others (like Renzik) remain silent. This means you are half-listening to a conversation, while the other half requires active reading. It feels odd but could simply be a small bug.
Now let’s get to the big “but” of the patch. Because with all the cool ideas and interesting details, there is one major flaw that could soon become a real problem. For:
Lorenhall does not feel like Warcraft.
I am aware that Goblins have always been a core part of World of Warcraft and also the Warcraft games before it. Their inventiveness, their penchant for explosions, and their greedy, hyper nature have long been a part of the game.
But until now, they mostly played a secondary role. They were never really in the spotlight, and therefore it was okay for them to be somewhat “quirky” and “technologically advanced”.
Lorenhall fits wonderfully with the Goblins, but it is “ugly” in the sense that everything feels artificial, cramped, and stuffy – and that is the intent. However, when I now imagine spending 3, 4, or even 5 months here, it could become as unpleasant as it was in the Maw. You quickly get tired of it and hope to return to more colorful and pleasant areas.
It thematically reminds me more of parts of WildStar or even Borderlands – brightly quirky, modern, and dirty with rather few fantastic elements in the sense of classic fantasy.
Lorenhall as an area is excellent. It has many details, has made the Goblins more interesting and profound, and has some funny, grand ideas. But I believe that the area would have worked better if it had been present at the start of The War Within – as an alternative to the Isle of Thorn, Heilsturz, and the Resonating Depths. Because now Lorenhall stands alone and must bring joy over the next months. And for that, the Goblin aesthetic is, in my view, too “little fantasy”, too slimy, and oily.
I hope I’m wrong. But if the events of the past allow a conclusion about the present, then I believe that in 2 to 3 months at the latest, people will be fed up with the Goblin look and will long for fantasy elements that have been somewhat replaced by technology and modernity in Lorenhall.
Blizzard knows that Patch 11.1 is not perfect – because there was no solution for one problem.
