Patch 4.3: Hour of Twilight trailer
by Alex Ziebart 
Nov 29th 2011 at 3:05AM
Hour of Twilight
Patch 4.3: Hour of Twilight features something for everyone. From a new raid to unexplored dungeons to the latest story developments to shake the world of Azeroth, this content update introduces a new tier of armor sets, the legendary "Fangs of the Father" rogue quest line, Transmogrification for cosmetic armor and weapon customization, Void Storage as a handy long-term storage option, Raid Finder to make forming pick-up raids easier than ever, and much more. Read more about the lore behind this trailer below, or check out the comprehensive overview here: http://us.battle.net/wow/en/blog/3964559/Patch_43_Hour_of_Twilight-11_22_2011#blog
In the wake of the Cataclysm, Azeroth's champions rose up to thwart the forces of the maddened black Dragon Aspect, Deathwing. Thus far the world's defenders have shattered the power base of the Twilight's Hammer cult and defeated the raging elemental lords Al'Akir and Ragnaros. Yet despite these victories, as long as Deathwing is free to pursue his twisted goals, Azeroth will remain under threat.
No one is more aware of this fact than the great Dragon Aspects Alexstrasza, Nozdormu, Ysera, and Kalecgos. Together with the wise shaman Thrall, they have devised a plan to vanquish Deathwing with a weapon of his own design: the infamous Dragon Soul.
In patch 4.3, Thrall and the noble Aspects will call upon the Horde and the Alliance to help them retrieve the artifact--no longer in existence--from the distant past. Those brave enough to face the challenge will embark on a perilous journey from Azeroth's apocalyptic End Time to the Dragon Soul's point of origin during the catastrophic War of the Ancients. If the heroes succeed, an even more harrowing battle awaits them in the present....
In the wake of the Cataclysm, Azeroth's champions rose up to thwart the forces of the maddened black Dragon Aspect, Deathwing. Thus far the world's defenders have shattered the power base of the Twilight's Hammer cult and defeated the raging elemental lords Al'Akir and Ragnaros. Yet despite these victories, as long as Deathwing is free to pursue his twisted goals, Azeroth will remain under threat.
No one is more aware of this fact than the great Dragon Aspects Alexstrasza, Nozdormu, Ysera, and Kalecgos. Together with the wise shaman Thrall, they have devised a plan to vanquish Deathwing with a weapon of his own design: the infamous Dragon Soul.
In patch 4.3, Thrall and the noble Aspects will call upon the Horde and the Alliance to help them retrieve the artifact--no longer in existence--from the distant past. Those brave enough to face the challenge will embark on a perilous journey from Azeroth's apocalyptic End Time to the Dragon Soul's point of origin during the catastrophic War of the Ancients. If the heroes succeed, an even more harrowing battle awaits them in the present....
Filed under: Cataclysm
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 6)
Brad Nov 29th 2011 3:09AM
Wow, didn't think they could get lazier than the 4.2 trailer, but they did. Not even a tiny bit of VO. 0 of 10.
Pyromelter Nov 29th 2011 3:39AM
Sometimes a big asskicking dragon is all that needs to be said in a video to get the point across.
Perhaps I am a child of when RPG's just had text and I filled in the dialogue in my head, but I thought it was pretty damn cool.
na.alnaji Nov 29th 2011 3:40AM
It kinda felt like a fan-made trailer.
Quasi Nov 29th 2011 4:12AM
Seems rushed, like most things blizz has done lately, also coincides with EA's SWtor launch efforts. Big beta weekend ends, new wow patch launches? SWtor launch date released, pandas announced!
Its business, fair enough.
Hih Nov 29th 2011 4:13AM
It was alright. It didn't really get me excited though. It didn't make me want to kill Deathwing more. It felt... kinda average. But Blizzard isn't supposed to do average. They're supposed to do freaking epic.
This is the last patch of the expansion, the one everyone's been waiting for. This felt like one of their old vanilla trailers where they were still getting the hang of machinima. Watch a vanilla trailer, then this, then 3.3's trailer and you'll see progression. Switch it around to vanilla, 3.3, this, and you see regression.
3.3's trailer was 3 minutes of pure epic. Why couldn't 4.3's have been too?
ravyncat Nov 29th 2011 5:10AM
Maybe because Deathwing is just not inspiring as a villain? I just do not care about him.
I was excited to take out Arthas. He was the freakin' Lich King! Of course his trailer was epic.
DW...is a big angry dragon.*yawn*
They did not tell the story about him in a way that made him seem like a threat to me. Maybe too much of it was outsourced to books or something?
That said, I thought it was an ok trailer. It shows the raids and looks groovy enough.
The thing I am most excited for is transmogging my clothes anyway. XD
Imnick Nov 29th 2011 5:36AM
I loved the 4.2 trailer
Can't say the same for this one
blazenor Nov 29th 2011 6:10AM
This lackluster trailer sums up the whole expansion.
Knob Nov 29th 2011 6:30AM
I actually think they didn't want to make another trailer with Thrall's voice in it. I think Blizzard senses that the playerbase seems to be a bit tired of Thrall (I know I am, the Twilight of the Aspects book actually threw me off him, got bored of the constant focus on him) and having this trailer again have Thrall's voice after the 4.2 trailer already did probably seemed a bit much.
This trailer actually reminded me of the 3.2 trailer....remember the TOC trailer? No? Don't worry, no-one does. That was one with no VO too and just a bunch of text on the screen. I don't think people will remember this trailer in the next expansion as well. But the 4.2 trailer with Orgrimmar burning? That's imagery that can stick.
Snuzzle Nov 29th 2011 7:22AM
Welcome to the way patch trailers have been done for the majority of the game. We didn't need fancy VO or snazzy uniquely animated stuff. We got in game footage of the new raids, dungeons or events and we ate it up.
Of course, this was also before they relased raids on the PTRs and the first tim you saw stuff was likely to be when it was released on Live, so it was all new and shiny.
Maymer Nov 29th 2011 8:02AM
To me, this trailer is a great analogy for Cataclysm as a whole. It did it's job of getting the information one needed to see quiet well, it did in fact have some very wonderful moments that got one psyched (Seeing the felguards march from the portal/Ripping Deathwings armor), and it showed us what kind of content we would be facing.
But, it will be remembered negatively, and though I don't think it deserves as much hate as it does (if this looks like a fan made trailer, than DAMN! Those are some hardcore and talented fans!), it is not without warrant, much like Cataclysm. We have become so used to Blizzard doing things absolutely perfect, that when they DO flub up, we really do not know how to act. Should we fiercely defend them? Smash our faces into the keyboard to express our rage?
Eh, not really. If you're like me, you'll probably post something on the forums, saying "Though the trailer is greatly appreciated, and there is no doubt that a great amount of time and thought was put into this, I was disappointed at what felt like a general lack of energy in it, and though some of the in game shots were very well done, I am sad that no original animation was done for this."
Granted, Blizz DID say they planned on like 3-4 cinematic style scenes throughout the raid supposedly, and if that IS true, and if they are the reason we got this trailer, then....screw what I said.
Aenorn Nov 29th 2011 8:57AM
Are you serious? I just rewatched the 4.2 trailer. How in the world was that lazy!? I thought it was fantastic.
Anyway.. I was a bit disappointed with this one. I'm not upset over it (It's a trailer.. come on..), but when you rewatch the 4.2 trailer, and then watch the 4.3 trailer you can really see the difference. I don't think it's because Deathwing isn't as inspiring as previous villains, I think it's because they don't show him off in that way. He has a Human form, but we rarely ever see it. He has a backstory, and reasoning behind what he's doing, but this trailer shows none of that. It just tells us what we'll be doing in these instance.
They could have made Deathwing a character we care about. They decided instead to make him "Big dragon that kills people". Well.. how am I supposed to care about a big dragon? I just want him dead. Period. That's fine for end-bosses along the road, but you can't base an entire expansion off it.
I do find it quite strange that they'd decide right now is a good time to not put as much effort into a trailer, considering they're trying to regain subscribers. If I wasn't already playing, I'm not sure watching the trailer would make me come back.
Seamus Nov 29th 2011 9:33AM
"Can you feel it, my son? Closing in all around you...
The Light's justice has been awakened. The sins of the past have finally caught up to you. You _will_ be called to account for all the atrocities you committed, the unspeakable horrors you have let loose upon this world, and the dark, ancient powers you have enslaved. Though my soul was one of the first to be devoured by your evil, there are thousands more bound within this blade, and they cry out for release.
Look now to your defenses, my son, for the champions of justice gather at your gate!
Lich King: Let them come. Frostmourne hungers!"
Still gives me chills. This one? Felt kind of meh.
Suzaku Nov 29th 2011 9:44AM
I haven't had a chance to watch it yet, but if it's a bit lazy, do keep in mind that the Deathwing encounter actually has *three* prerendered cutscenes. They haven't been seen yet because they've been disabled on the PTR and require a special codec to view the .avi files.
Sarahjane Nov 29th 2011 10:31AM
Heh. You guys must not have been around for the Blackwing Lair trailer. I thought this one was well done. Short, simple, and to the point.
People will hate on this game for any reason these days. If you're not enjoying it or having fun anymore, it might not just be the game.
Anteia Nov 29th 2011 11:22AM
I have to admit, I agree with the sentiment that this trailer just.... lacked enthusiasm. It kinda felt like the whole expansion. Ambitious ideas put poor execution and relying too much on their NPCs to be sparkly and heroic and we're just the sidekicks. I'm still signed on for the year agreement, but I'm planning on enjoying Transmog and the Dark Moon Faire this last patch...the instances and the raid just have me going "meh". Which is... frustrating. They are, lore wise, pretty epic moments. They should have me on the edge of my seat. Instead of I'm contemplating just tanking them in MOP when there'll be less wipes to them. This trailer did nothing to make me feel like I need to get in there and see them RIGHT NOW.
Elmo Nov 29th 2011 12:28PM
So for the grand finale of the expansion they came up with a storyless clip showing random scenes from the dungeons from a different angle?
This is just silly, patch trailers were so much better since Naxx, telling the story of what this new place is and why we're there, the final boss taunting us, a hero telling us we need to help save the world.
This trailer is pointless, doesn't add anything and looks like it was only made because they felt they had to. Thumbs down, you can do better Blizz.
and yeah for a fanmade clip this would have been awesome, because the fans don't have acces to animated cameras and original voice acting.
Rod Munch Nov 29th 2011 2:03PM
That trailer was a massive let down.
Kylenne Nov 29th 2011 2:23PM
I think it's hilarious that the coolest part of the trailer to me was the part that had *nothing to do with Deathwing*. (That would be the Well of Eternity portion.)
It's fitting, considering that's the only thing I care about in this patch in terms of PvE content. Deathwing has been really lackluster as a villain and thus he gets a lackluster trailer, even if I think the "fighting on his back" idea is cool. Cataclysm started with a bang, quickly petered out, and will go out on a whimper. I'm sad, but not surprised. It pretty much sums up this expansion and why it failed, to me.
I don't see how anyone could compare this to Fall of the Lich King or even Fury of the Sunwell and think this is in any way befitting the final raid patch of an expansion. Was it a bad trailer? Not at all, but it was. Hell, it doesn't even beat the original Zul'Aman trailer, and that was a filler raid. The saddest part about this trailer is it makes me weep for what could have been. War of the Ancients would have been awesome as a raid. :(
Marolas Nov 29th 2011 5:34PM
Ironically enough because of all the comments that a fan-based trailer would be better than what we were given, a fan added voice-overs from the Patch 4.3 sound files and made the trailer at least 50% more tolerable.
The link is here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aLqxJlGZXXA
While it doesn't add any plot, it makes me wonder why Blizzard didn't even bother to add voices for their final patch trailer of the expansion. I felt really disappointed by this lackluster attempt to rally people into playing this patch.