![]() Each of the three races plays identically to the way it did in the first game, with the Zerg being the "rush" race, the Protoss being the "superweapon" race, and the Terrans being the "versatile" race - to put everything in "RTS standard" terms. Part of this is a function of Blizzard not wanting to fix what ain't broke, but part of it has to be chalked up to lack of imagination, too. SC2 is as old-school and as straightforward as an RTS can get. If you're reading this, though, you're probably already at least somewhat familiar with the mechanics here. However, if you're new to the series, the extensive tutorials (both before and during the single-player campaign) will familiarize you with most of the mechanics. If you've been playing StarCraft uninterrupted for these 12 years, you'll be able to transition directly to SC2 without batting an eye. To nobody's shock, I'm sure, SC2 is a machine more well-oiled than the Gulf of Mexico: Everything that you know from the original is here, with little in the way of significant changes, but much in the way of tweaks and polish. So, either SC2 an impossible sell that can never succeed, or it's going to convert tons and tons of gamers into series addicts. The second group, though, is huge - and no one in it "wears shoes." That is, no one in it is a fan of real-time strategy games, let alone PC gaming in general. The first group is sewn up we don't need to mention them anymore. It's going to appeal to two primary groups: hardcore StarCraft devotees, and people who haven't played a PC game since grade school, but can't resist the hype and the Blizzard pedigree. That same dichotomy is what faces StarCraft II fans. The first said: "Situation impossible - stop - shoes worn by no one." The second said: "Opportunity incredible - stop - shoes worn by no one!" After spending a couple of weeks talking to the natives, each man cabled back to the home office. However, none of this should detract from a game that is amazing to look at, riveting to play and, once the online culture takes root, another landmark that will redefine the RTS for years to come.Back in the 19th Century, two salesman from Britain's largest shoe company were sent to the Congo to see what the prospects were for expanding the company's business into that region. It's also a shame that LAN games are no longer supported in favour of allowing you to team up with your mates through Battle Net. Undoubtedly, single players will bemoan the rush-focused dynamic of the online game and cheated at having to wait another year or so for proper AI storylines/campaigns for the other two races. We'll see how the new Battle Net 2 pans out over the next few weeks, but the early signs for a busy and highly competitive community are promising. Take it online, however, and a different set of maps ensures skirmishes as compelling as most FPSs, with automatic searches for fellow players taking less than two minutes and a useful non-ranking phase to determine your abilities for future match-ups. The close-in perspective, with levels crammed with choke-points rather than the vast open spaces of the original, makes for a more frantic, linear experience that single players will find restrictive. Online is also the only place you can fully explore the capabilities of all three races, either in co-op mode or up to eight-player skirmishes, which also explains the basic look and feel of the game. In the levels where you're up against both alien enemies, you have to think hard about which defenses to deploy and which units to target first in the frantic firefights that ensure.Ĭrucially, Starcraft II has been designed as an online game, so much so that you can't play it at all unless you're logged into your Battle Net account. The one thing that hasn't changed is that perfect balance between the capabilities of these races, weapons and strategies. There are also interactive cut-scenes, set in various space stations or bars where the Firefly-style steam-punk characters interact or you can hire mercenaries, play arcade games and choose between weapon upgrades, including those of the other two alien races. Starcraft II looks amazing, and every level is crammed with detail – from clunking cranes to bubbling lava and passing wildlife – which all adds to a palpable realism that makes the likes of Command & Conquer 4 seem sterile and bland.
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