Expansion

Warcraft II: Beyond the Dark Portal

1995 · Mac · DOS · Real Time Strategy (RTS) · Strategy

80IGDB player score
116 ratings

Previously Take

A respectable 80 average that never found its audience. Slow-burn strategy: fantasy, historical, tough calls, and the sweet pain of one more turn. No multiplayer, no problem — the campaign carries the whole thing. A 1995 original that still holds up — they don't make them like this anymore, literally.

About this game

Warcraft II: Beyond the Dark Portal is an expansion pack for Warcraft II: Tides of Darkness. Beyond the Dark Portal contains two 12 map campaigns; one for each side, 50 new pud's (maps) and a new tile set for the Orc home world. It also contains 5 new hero characters for each side that actively participate in several of the new single player missions. In function, they are simply super powered versions of standard units that have different sounds. There are no new standard units however, which many saw as a disappointment. The map editor also isn't updated to include any of this expansion's new features, though third party programs exist that can add these features to the editor.

After defeating the Orcish Horde and capturing the survivors, the Human Alliance attempts to destroy the Dark Portal. However, whilst they destroy the portal, the rift that joins the Orcs' world of Draenor to Azeroth remains. The Alliance forces decide to enter the rift to the Orcs' home world to attempt to seal it from the other side. At the same time, Ner'zhul - Warchief of the Shadow Moon clan, who has seized control of the Orcish hordes of Draenor following Orgrim Doomhammer's departure (and eventual defeat) to Azeroth, plans to send his forces to Azeroth to gather magical artefacts in an attempt to open rifts to other worlds.