Review Date: Mar 1 2010
Publisher: Blizzard Entertainment
Developer: Blizzard Entertainment
Genre: RTS
A sequel to StarCraft, perhaps the most highly-regarded multiplayer real-time strategy (RTS) game of all time, is no small event. It's hard to understate the impact that StarCraft had on the genre, or the dedication of the incredible cult following that has grown around the game in the decade since its release, especially in Korea. In that country, StarCraft matches can be followed on TV 24/7, and the top players are national heroes. For professional RTS gamers looking to win tournaments, it is the undisputed favorite.
Well, here we are some 12 years after the original game launched, and StarCraft 2 is undergoing multiplayer beta testing. These are my first impressions of Blizzard's latest RTS game.
A Bit of Background
There are 3 dramatically different races in StarCraft: Terran, Zerg, and Protoss. The story behind this is set in a distant part of the galaxy hundreds of years in the future, after Earth's government decides to ship thousands of prisoners into space. These exiles end up missing their destination, but they find a planet, rebuild their technology, and call themselves Terrans. The Terrans come to realize that they are not alone; two hostile alien races threaten their new home. The Zerg are an insectoid species that can reproduce very rapidly, and the Protoss are highly-advanced aliens with powerful technology.
The story doesn't play a big role in the multiplayer game, but the 3 races remain intact in StarCraft 2. These races aren't different just in terms of appearance, but also in terms of gameplay; they have completely different units and require different strategies. You will likely find yourself getting attached to one of the races and honing your skills accordingly.
The Competitive Edge
As I implied earlier, there is an intense level of competition surrounding StarCraft and several of Blizzard's other games. StarCraft skills carry over into StarCraft 2 quite well, even though many of the units are different and some of the mechanics have changed. The top players dissect strategies for each side down to the most minute details. They know exactly how many units of a certain type it takes to counter a given number of enemy units of a certain type. They know how long it takes to construct this and research that. They also have all the game's shortcut keys memorized, and they're capable of robotically crunching out hundreds of game actions per minute.
While it has a lot in common with other RTS titles, it can all be pretty daunting for new players, and you'll probably find yourself getting your butt kicked repeatedly at first. If you do manage to crush someone, chances are it's me, because I evidently suck at StarCraft. Of course, this isn't everyone's idea of "fun," but you can take heart in the fact that there is considerable help at hand, including tech trees and tool tips that explain roughly what each unit is capable of. Those who find the leagues too brutal can hook up with their (hopefully less dedicated) friends for an unrated match.
I should also note that, because this is beta and the pool of players is relatively small, the matchmaking system is configured to pair opponents off quickly rather than create the most even match possible. This will be adjusted as the number of players in the beta grows, and should work a lot better by the time the game gets released.
StarCraft in 3D
One of the most striking differences between this game and its predecessor are the graphics. The original goes way back to the 2D era and makes little use of the computer technology available today. StarCraft 2 brings the visuals up to speed with what other RTS games have been offering for some time now. You can enjoy a full compliment of lighting effects and high-resolution textures with a beefy system. Maxed out it's a bit much for my aging graphics card, but it runs very smoothly on medium settings and still looks good. In Blizzard tradition the animation is exceptional, and just watching a building get constructed can be cool (if you have the time).
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