Although some cinematic trailers aren't any kind of indicator of what a game will be like, a few companies have mastered the art of using trailers to capture the tone and mood of an upcoming project. But when n the realm of CG cinematic trailers, nobody does it better than Blizzard.
In the last twelve years, the powerhouse studio has developed a reputation of announcing games by revealing breathtaking cinematic trailers that appeal to both long-time fans of the company's IPs and potential new customers. Although the last few games and their expansions have been announced with trailers that focus more on in-game footage (like World of Warcraft: Legion), the company still releases a top of the line cinematic trailer when each new product hits shelves.
And so, without further ado, here are our five favorite cinematic trailers from the modern era of Blizzard:
World of Warcraft: Opening Cinematic
[HTML1]
No list of Blizzard cinematics would be complete without mention of the original World of Warcraft reveal trailer. In many ways, this is the trailer that kicked off the modern era of Blizzard gaming. The reveal trailer takes players back to Azeroth after Warcraft 3 and offers a brand-new perspective on the Warcraft setting. Aside from Trolls, just about every race and class get some love in this trailer.
The voice over narration perfectly sets up the conflict that the Horde and Alliance have remained locked in for the last ten years and by focusing on unnamed heroes, rather than icons of the Warcraft world, players are able to imagine themselves as the Orc warrior going berserk or the Dwarf hunter exploring the snowy mountains. Maybe it's just nostalgia taking over, but we're tempted to roll a new character every time the drums of war start beating in this trailer.
_____________________________________________
Next: Kung Fu Pandas?
_____________________________________________
Diablo 3: Tyrael's Sacrifice
[HTML2]
Tyrael's Sacrifice is the first of a few tear-jerkers to make our list. Unlike the World of Warcraft opening cinematic, this Diablo 3 cinematic is entirely devoted to established characters in the game's universe. The three-minute cut scene contains lots of flash and action in the heavens, but what makes it great is how well it pulls at the player's heart strings.
It's hard not to get teary-eyed watching Tyrael descend from the sky voluntarily even out of context, but when the trailer arrives just at the right point in the game's story, there's no denying its impact. Although Diablo 3 is incredibly replayable, the game's story does matter and it's hard not to become attached to its characters in between long sessions of looting. We dare players to make it through the game without getting invested in this story.
-
World of Warcraft: Mists of Pandaria
[HTML3]
It's no secret that Mists of Pandaria is not the most beloved World of Warcraft expansion. Many players were disappointed by the game's move in a seemingly less serious direction, especially as it arrived just after one of the darker stories in the game's complicated lore.
Regardless of what the most hardcore fans thought, the Mists of Pandaria trailer became an incredibly popular TV spot in the month's leading up to the game's release. It featured exciting action with its three way battle, but more importantly, showcased Blizzard's sense of humor. The trailer isn't full of jokes at all, but a few well-placed visual gags make it impossible not to love the cinematic introduction of the universe's new race.
-
Heroes of the Storm
[HTML4]
The Heroes of the Storm trailer is potentially a controversial inclusion on this list. The trailer doesn't include any logical story, but in that sense, it is a perfect representation of the game that it is selling. Heroes is all about action and fun,and the trailer runs with both of those concepts and pumps the volume up to 11. Viewers have the chance to see six of Blizzard's most iconic heroes and villains square off in a high-powered battle and it is incredibly rewarding.
Arthas and Nova should never really end up in a battle together as far as Blizzard lore is concerned, but Heroes of the Storm allows players to live out that "who would win in a fight?" fantasy over and over in an addicting MOBA format. This trailer does a stellar job of showing just how fun things can get when you relax and don't think too much.
_____________________________________________
Next: Blizzard's Most Emotional Cinematic
_____________________________________________
Starcraft 2: The Betrayal on Kerrigan
[HTML5]
StarCraft 2's Betrayal on Kerrigan trailer is one of the company's most emotional creations. The cinematic is heartbreaking whether you are a fan of the series or not, but it hits home particularly hard for old school StarCraft fans. The trailer offers gamers a view from the ground as Kerrigan is betrayed by her own commander and left alone to be infested by the Zerg. The legendary betrayal takes place in the original StarCraft and this retelling of the hero turned villain's last moments of righteousness even borrows the original dialogue from the classic RTS.
In addition to its lore significance, the trailer is also incredibly intense and well done. It manages to pack story, action, and flash all into one package. Just like all the best Blizzard products do.
Honorable Mentions
[HTML6]
For this list, we only considered trailers from World of Warcraft forward, but the best five cinematic moments from the pre-WoW days could be an entirely different list. Despite the limited technology of the time, Blizzard still managed to produce amazing cinematics for the original versions of Diablo, StarCraft, and Warcraft 1-3.
There's no denying that all of the WoW expansion cinematics are pretty fantastic and using only a few for this list was a hard task. The Burning Crusade trailer runs with the same theme as the original and the others start working more and more lore into the reveals. However, these five stood out the most for their impact and genuine wow (no pun intended) factor.
Which Blizzard trailer is your favorite? Are there any you dislike? Let us know in the comments.