Cataclysm cinematic now available
by Allison Robert 
Oct 17th 2010 at 4:58PM
The Cataclysm cinematic has just become available, and -- words fail me -- it's amazing. Some folks behind the scene here think it's Blizzard's best yet, but personally, I think it's a dead heat between this and the Wrath of the Lich King cinematic.
Interestingly, there are no NPCs or characters of any kind visible in the cinematic apart from Deathwing himself (apart from a quick glimpse of what are probably a few goblin or human-looking armorers). You do see some extraordinary landscapes rendered in high-definition glory for the first time -- The Barrens, Thousand Needles, Darkshore and Stormwind -- and perhaps it's meant as a reminder that the aspect of death was once the aspect of earth and that he hasn't relinquished his power over the latter.
Sorry, gnomes; looks like you're still waiting for a cinematic debut!
Interestingly, there are no NPCs or characters of any kind visible in the cinematic apart from Deathwing himself (apart from a quick glimpse of what are probably a few goblin or human-looking armorers). You do see some extraordinary landscapes rendered in high-definition glory for the first time -- The Barrens, Thousand Needles, Darkshore and Stormwind -- and perhaps it's meant as a reminder that the aspect of death was once the aspect of earth and that he hasn't relinquished his power over the latter.
Sorry, gnomes; looks like you're still waiting for a cinematic debut!
Filed under: News items, Cataclysm
Reader Comments (Page 18 of 18)
Zal Oct 18th 2010 11:25AM
When first viewing this trailer, I was shocked and frightened. Watching the world being torn asunder, reduced to rubble and burnt... After the initial shock of watching him land in Stormwind, only one thing went through my mind. Two words that echo through all the minds of Azeroth's hero's: Bring it.
ALF Oct 18th 2010 11:56AM
.......so, who's going to tank that?
negativegirl Oct 18th 2010 2:55PM
SQUEE!!
Mirri Oct 18th 2010 2:57PM
....Squeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!
Shows just enough to make me ready to dive in. Can't wait! n_n
Kirock the Exile Oct 18th 2010 3:34PM
This is a perfect cinematic for the expansion.
All we've been hearing about is how the world is going to hell
- Darkshore destroyed
- Badlands is sporting a huge scar
- Several world leaders are either dead or MIA
- Garosh is warchief
The cinematic compounds the one fact that we've been told since the beginning
WE ARE DOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOMED
PJ Oct 18th 2010 4:59PM
@Kylenne
People who keep saying "they should have shown more" are proving Blizzard's CG wizards absolutely correct. Give 'em a little and make them beg for more--that's an old, old show business mantra.
And it worked, given the amount of comments along these lines.
No, its bullshit. People are going to buy the expansion any way - and it will look nothing like this.
This is something apart from the game - and we would like to see more of it.
Its a stupid mantra, its like having been happily married for 5 years and then decide to get a divorce!
Payne Oct 18th 2010 6:54PM
Gah! I can't stop watching this :D
brb counting down the days on my calendar until Dec. 7th
Vazpucci Oct 19th 2010 7:55AM
That was AMAZING! Another great cinematic by Blizz no doubt. I think this Cinematic is by far the best, if not Wrath's cinematic ties. I do like seeing all the other races- and a bit surprised considering how many people were disappointed with Wrath's because it didn't focus on anything but Arthas...(Though come on guys, Arthas is the main character) I think they did absolutely correct to focus on Deathwing- he is kind of the center of things =P Though, people can argue that Illidan was the main character in BC but they still made room for the heroes. Either way, I loved it!!! Really was glad to see Darkshore and Stormwind in amazing Cinematic beauty!!! I did wish;however, that they showed him destroying the park in Stormwind- curious as to how he did that. The cinematic made it seem as though he flew over it all and landed in front. Would of been cool if it was longer and showed some of the races running in fear and all- a bit sad as well that Worgen and Goblin were not introduced in the cinematic, I expected that.
Zakarii Oct 18th 2010 10:45PM
To be honest, I'm kind of underwhelmed. It's definitely awesome, but I hate to say that the Wrath cinematic will always be my favorite, just because I had so much exposure to Arthas in all of vanilla WoW (The Scourge are everywhere.) and in WC3. The only real exposure to Deathwing I had came from The War of the Ancients trilogy.
chaosdefined Oct 19th 2010 4:55AM
I was really really excited about this, and I think I let myself get a little overhyped for it as it was a little disappointing.
I agree that the voice acting was a little cheesy, the actual lines of dialogue very cliche.
And I'll also agree that the fact he seems to erupt from the Elemental Plane via what almost looks to be near the Exodar was a major mess up.
But I gotta say when I first saw that clip of the giant tidal wave heading for Booty Bay, I got shivers.
I think I was just expecting something more, like seeing the Maelstrom as Deathwing erupted and more of the cataclysm happening.
Even the really short TV advert had a much bigger impact on me. Especially with "Where will you be when the Cataclysm begins" line.
Strawder Oct 19th 2010 8:15AM
After watching this multiple times, something has started to creep into my mind.
It looks like the production on this cinematic was started a long, long time ago, and why I say that is because there appears to be a big, large boo-boo present.
In the cinema, if you watch it very closely, Deathwing appears to enter Azeroth by bursting out of the original spot planned for his entrance, Deathwing Scar. Look, you can see the snowy mountains of Dun Morogh, and what looks like a mushroom cloud type explosion forming under Deathwing as he takes to the air.
Pause it at 1:41 seconds, and you can literally see him come bursting out of the mountains.
As he heads towards Stormwind, you can see the fallout from the kind of massive land damage behind him (meaning him flying across the world is not shown in literal order of his travel route).
The problem here is that his entrance point into Azeroth has been changed to the Maelstrom, not the Deathwing Scar.... which means that this cinema is totally incredible, yet it doesn't portray what actually happens at all, since Blizzard moved his arrival point halfway across the world. 0-0
That's a big ball drop.
chaosdefined Oct 19th 2010 12:48PM
Actually it's not even Deathwing Scar in Dun Morogh he bursts out of in the cinematic. Right after what appears to be his eruption from the mountains it cuts to Darkshore - why would he fly from Dun Morogh round to Darkshore then back to Stormwind? That's a really big detour.
But more importantly, right before he flies over Darkshore look into the background, you can still see the mountains where he erupted. This would make it look like Deathwing actually re-entered Azeroth from near the Exodar.
Also, it kinda makes it look like all the destruction around Azeroth was simply caused by him flying overhead, so he'd have to fly around the entire world a few times!
Strawder Oct 19th 2010 8:32PM
That's why I said that:
"As he heads towards Stormwind, you can see the fallout from the kind of massive land damage behind him (meaning him flying across the world is not shown in literal order of his travel route)."
There's not too many snow-covered mountains in Azeroth. And those mountains are definitely snow-covered.
Also, like I said, just a short jaunt later in the cinematic, he approaches Stormwind from the North (Dun Morogh) and you can clearly see the fallout in the background from the mountains he exploded out of.... which would be what was supposed to be Deathwing Scar, his originally announced exit point.
Griezz Oct 19th 2010 9:51AM
Based on the cinematic, I only have one question...
When did Blizzard hire Roland Emmerich, director of "The Day After Tomorrow", "2012", "Independence Day", to direct their cinematics?
marsh lagoon Oct 19th 2010 11:55AM
The sound of all of the fat nerd squees in this thread is more terrifying than Deathwing.
chaosdefined Oct 19th 2010 12:52PM
Just to point out another muck-up with the cinematic.
Go to 2:15 into the trailer and pause.
Look at Deathwing's chest.
Where's that massive plate we saw getting hammered onto him during the start of the cinematic?
Drahliana Oct 21st 2010 11:53AM
If you've read War of the Ancients or Day of the Dragon, you'll know that Deathwing is literally bursting with power. So much so that he has had to had adamantine plate literally bolted and rebolted to his flesh. He's actually a plate covered dragon that requires a lot of extremely painful maintennce to keep from literally exploding.
So yeah he's been in a world of hurt for well over ten thousand years, and he's not at all happy about it.
Drahliana Oct 21st 2010 11:40AM
They kept it fast paced.... enough so that you can overlook how ridiculously (and neccessarily small) cities like Stormwind are in game. Not knocking WOW for it, it's just the nature of the media.
Given the history I'd guess that the humanoids giving Deathwing a new coat of armor are most likely Dragonmaw orcs, although I would not be surprised to have some goblin involvment, but Dragonmaw and Deathwing go back a long way, and they still had a connection as late as Burning Crusade in gathering Netherwing eggs for the Black Flight's ongoing breeding experiments.
Overall this cinematic is a thumbs up.
chaosdefined Oct 21st 2010 6:20PM
I'm a big fan of the lore so I know that, if you re-read what I'd wrote I said WHERE is the plate we saw getting hammered on him, as it seems to have gone missing by the end of the cinematic.