This machinima spectacle employs character models extracted from the game, polished, and animated to rival Blizzard’s recent in-game cinematics. The trailer evokes an Avengers-like ambiance as Azeroth’s major factions unite to confront an apocalyptic threat.

Until Cataclysm, WoW had never witnessed a villain so menacing that the Horde and Alliance had to join forces. While the trailer doesn’t explicitly show orcs and humans fighting side by side, it portrays everyone gearing up to defend the planet in their unique ways. Goblins construct mechs, Gilneans transform into werewolves, and there’s a captivating slow-motion scene of a Paladin wielding a hammer against an adversary. It’s the kind of epic moment that would have enthralled me at 17, and it remains surprisingly endearing.

Without spoiling a decade-old expansion, the trailer tantalizingly hints at the raids and bosses awaiting players at the new max level of 85. Among these challenges is a confrontation with a revamped version of the formidable firelord Ragnaros, the ultimate boss in one of WoW’s initial 40-player raids. Whether these battles will stand the test in-game is a matter for future exploration.

While I still have a soft spot for the original Cataclysm cinematic’s audacity, I appreciate the fresh perspective offered by this new rendition. WoW Classic embodies a return to a version of the game players longed for, and Hurricane and their team ingeniously transform a pivotal and terrifying moment in WoW’s lore into a celebration of players working together to save Azeroth—ready to embark on the adventure once again next year.