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Blizzard Entertainment set the PC gaming world on fire when it released the original StarCraft more than 12 years ago. Considered the greatest real-time strategy game of all time to its legions of adoring fans, it's been a long wait for a sequel.
Now, with the release of StarCraft II: Wings of Liberty, those fans will get what they've been waiting for. Like a good wine, Blizzard's games are best when given the proper time to mature.
At its core, StarCraft II is a game about managing an army and the resources to maintain that army. Players decide what to buildings to construct and what types of units to train to fight on their behalf.
Where the game gets interesting is the inclusion of three very distinct factions. Whether players choose the technologically advanced Protoss, the frenzied Zerg swarm or the valiant Terran underdogs, each have their own unique abilities and strategies for success.
The 30-mission single player campaign tells just the Terran third of the overall StarCraft II story; over the next few years Blizzard plans to release two more games focusing on the other factions. However, despite the narrowed focus the narrative never feels stilted.
Like any great space opera, Wings of Liberty focuses on the human element of interstellar war. The guns and the aliens are just tools to tell a story of protagonist Jim Raynor's road to redemption and all the treachery, self-doubt and heartache that litters his path. StarCraft II, above any RTS before it, relishes in its story, providing both beautifully rendered cutscenes as well as plenty of in-game dialogue between each mission.
Each of the campaign levels presents a unique scenario that deviates in some significant way from the usual "destroy all enemies" melee that occupied most levels in the first game. This structure both teaches new players the importance of particular units and gives new players something fresh at every turn.
Most players will likely spend the majority of their time playing online in the newly renovated Battle.net system. With Facebook integration it's extremely easy to find friends who own the game, and with persistent cross-game chat and achievements it's even easier to play with them. There are tiered leagues for those who want to get competitive, including a practice arena for neophytes who are a little intimidated to head in with the experienced crowd, and players always have the option of playing co-op with their friends against the AI.
StarCraft II is a massive game with a seemingly infinite number of components that have each been carefully polished to Blizzard's exacting standards. It services the fans without alienating newcomers and delivers an experience that, in terms of overall quality, outpaces every other contender for genre champion.
BottomLine: With an epic single player campaign and a sprawling online community, StarCraft II is a must-play for anyone with even the slightest interest in real-time strategy.
*****
StarCraft II: Wings of Liberty
Blizzard Entertainment
Platforms: PC, Mac
Rating: Teen
Score: 5 out of 5