Starcraft 2
Jackson
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Around twelve years ago, Blizzard Entertainment released Starcraft, a game destined to become one of the most popular real time strategy (RTS) games worldwide. The game was balanced, entertaining, competitive and complex. Players across the globe took to their computer screens, formulating strategies, honing their reflexes and perfecting their Starcraft skills. Huge tournaments were held where the best of the players battled for bragging rights, a degree of fame, and even money. But recently, on July 27 2010, something happened that would change the face of Starcraft forever and attract even more people to the worldwide, largely online community — Starcraft 2: Wings of Liberty was released. Complete with a makeover of beautiful new graphics to cover up the retro, '90s look of the old Starcraft, the new version boasts the same, just as tightly balanced factions to choose from (human space-cowboy-like Terrans, creepy-crawly animalish Zerg, and the noble, alien Protoss), a polished online interface with achievements and earnable player portraits and a fantastic ranking system that lets players easily find opponents of similar skill. The sequel has improved the game of Starcraft, making both single player and multiplayer experiences more enjoyable and exciting.
When a player thinks of Starcraft, he or she will most likely think at first of the multiplayer aspects. In Starcraft 2 the focus remains on player vs. player. When playing the first Starcraft, which has been explored for twelve years, a player can find books full of strategies for each race and each unit online, as well as several versions of each strategy. Now, with a clean slate — new units and mechanics for each race — each player is experimenting, researching and discovering new ways of looking at the game and how to defeat the opponent. The novel and exciting play environment is coupled with a sleek player lobby where people meet other players, team up or choose to play against one another. The game is just as well-paced and balanced as its predecessor, but the controls and hotkeys are more intuitive and easier to use. Name most any aspect of the first game’s multiplayer version, and it is sure to be at least retained, if not improved by the second game’s.
Where the multiplayer version of the old Starcraft was still praised as being one of the best in the RTS business just before the sequel’s release, the single player options were mildly entertaining at best. The new game improved them greatly. The campaign has adopted an RPG-like take on RTS gaming. It centers around a single character’s story — developing his personality efficiently — while telling the overall story of the Terrans. In between missions, players can explore their ship or buy upgrades for their troops. The graphical cutscenes are gorgeous and only draw players more into the story. Unfortunately, the single player gameplay focuses very strongly around the Terrans. Blizzard has expressed its intent to release a pair of expansions for the game, one focusing on the Zerg and one on the Protoss. A good finishing touch, Blizzard gives players a series of single player challenges, which have bronze, silver, and gold rates of completion that are designed to hone multiplayer skill. Of course, players can always play a normal game of Starcraft 2 against computer opponents like in the first game and there are five AI levels to choose from for each virtual opponent.
Overall, Starcraft 2 has improved the first game, added several new aspects, and most importantly given players a promise of many more hours of enjoyment. The game seems timeless, almost like a cinematic, more complex version of Chess, but with more allure to more people. This writer looks eagerly forward to a new generation of Starcraft strategies and techniques that is just beginning to spill forth from the second and latest version of the game.
When a player thinks of Starcraft, he or she will most likely think at first of the multiplayer aspects. In Starcraft 2 the focus remains on player vs. player. When playing the first Starcraft, which has been explored for twelve years, a player can find books full of strategies for each race and each unit online, as well as several versions of each strategy. Now, with a clean slate — new units and mechanics for each race — each player is experimenting, researching and discovering new ways of looking at the game and how to defeat the opponent. The novel and exciting play environment is coupled with a sleek player lobby where people meet other players, team up or choose to play against one another. The game is just as well-paced and balanced as its predecessor, but the controls and hotkeys are more intuitive and easier to use. Name most any aspect of the first game’s multiplayer version, and it is sure to be at least retained, if not improved by the second game’s.
Where the multiplayer version of the old Starcraft was still praised as being one of the best in the RTS business just before the sequel’s release, the single player options were mildly entertaining at best. The new game improved them greatly. The campaign has adopted an RPG-like take on RTS gaming. It centers around a single character’s story — developing his personality efficiently — while telling the overall story of the Terrans. In between missions, players can explore their ship or buy upgrades for their troops. The graphical cutscenes are gorgeous and only draw players more into the story. Unfortunately, the single player gameplay focuses very strongly around the Terrans. Blizzard has expressed its intent to release a pair of expansions for the game, one focusing on the Zerg and one on the Protoss. A good finishing touch, Blizzard gives players a series of single player challenges, which have bronze, silver, and gold rates of completion that are designed to hone multiplayer skill. Of course, players can always play a normal game of Starcraft 2 against computer opponents like in the first game and there are five AI levels to choose from for each virtual opponent.
Overall, Starcraft 2 has improved the first game, added several new aspects, and most importantly given players a promise of many more hours of enjoyment. The game seems timeless, almost like a cinematic, more complex version of Chess, but with more allure to more people. This writer looks eagerly forward to a new generation of Starcraft strategies and techniques that is just beginning to spill forth from the second and latest version of the game.