Those who found the science fiction theme of the previous expansion, The Burning Crusade, an unwelcome departure will be pleased to hear that Lich King takes WoW back to its sword and sorcery roots. The frozen wastelands are vast, housing mesmerising ice palaces and enemy-infested ruins.

Some additional gameplay mechanics have been thrown in. Players are no longer restricted to level 70; 80 is the new goal and there are plenty of new abilities and talents that correspond with reaching this milestone. Blizzard has also added new siege vehicles for player vs player mode, introduced in-flight combat and added an achievements system, which slots in like a missing puzzle piece.Quest structure remains the same as ever, but the missions tie in closely with the game’s storyline and are more varied than the previous expansion’s.