StarCraft II Comments by Rob Fahey

want ... so ... bad ...

I've been a nice boy, so I hope Blizzard will bring me (or at least let me purchase) Starcraft II for Christmas 2009!

Looks great, and a Mac version too! Yay!

One of the few games i'm waiting for :)

I can't see myself ever playing this online, but as long as it has an interesting campaing with Blizzard's usual standard of über-CGI cutscenes, I'll be happy.

Haven't played a game of this genre in years, but very much looking forward to this title. :)

I am really looking forward to this, but still a little bit sad that they've split the game up into three separate products :(

Bring it already! I can't wait anymore!

I also only played a few games online (they minced me before I knew it)...but the real value for me was always in the campaign and the local network games I played anyway! Would have been nice to play the Zerg first (Kerrigan looks hot!).

I loved SC1... but TBH the gameplay is now a bit old and a "more-of-the-same" philosophy is not going to do it for me. I played the beta and it is great to return to SC, but I will be playing this mainly for the single player campaign. The online matchmaking will be way too much micromanagement for my tastes. I will stick to DoW2 for my online battes.

The question for us mortal players is how good is the AI?

"We don't want to make it too different, because then squllions of people in South Korea won't buy it." ;)

I predict this game single-handedly driving a massive influx of computer upgrades over there. Most of the systems I saw were positively ancient - good enough for the first SC, but not for this.

As for me.... well, I'm not a huge RTS fan in general - mostly because of the lightning-fast decision making that's required - but I might give this a go. Probably just against the AI, though. :)

Mac version? Will this run on my macbook?

Nice review. It's awesome how Blizzard guys have taken their time with this game.

I'm really looking forward to Starcraft 2, but I think I much prefer the more streamlined approach to multiplayer that Dawn of War II uses. I don't want to faff around with resource fields and building supply depots, I want to be waging war within a minute of starting a multiplayer game.

I didn't really think DoW2's single player campaign was the right decision, though, and I think SC2's more traditional approach in this regard will work better.

...can...not...wait...anymore...

I am sure StarCraft II will be polished as hell, with every feature present that the e-sports/modding crowd want and with decent enough matchmaking to make us lesser gods enjoy it a bit online as well.

But yeah, the campaign is my main interest too (non-linear, 3D adventure stuff between missions, unique units with upgrades, stuff to drool on), at least that part doesn't look like it's based on RTS mechanics from 1998 (and earlier times). Going from a 12 unit selection limit to a possible 24 unit selection limit doesn't exactly make my RTS heart beat faster. After more than 10 years StarCraft still easily carries the crown of best linear RTS campaign but the genre has moved on in all other aspects of strategy gaming. I'd rather play the upcoming DoW II "There Is Only War" beta to be honest.

And where are those other strategy game previews on EG btw? :) Missed SupCom 2, Hearts of Iron III, Disciples III, East India Company at E3 and the recent hints at a radically new C&C 4 or is there some kind of embargo?

As much as I love SC, I'd rather have DIII first any day of the week.

@Gnort

How can you call SC2's SP campaign traditional?

@Bitkari
I am really looking forward to this, but still a little bit sad that they've split the game up into three separate products :(

I was a little too then I read how long the Terran campaign actually is (30 missions) and I didn't mind. Approximately 90 missions for the three games (or one game and two expansion packs, possibly).

Then again Terran were always my favourites. :)

@Evolution

Because you will be able to build units.

Blizzard must be the most controlled game designers. They don't rush. They don't mess about. They just do the right thing.

for those asking about the mac version, pc and mac version will be released at the same time

probably on a pc/mac disk like war3

chess for the 21st century, the best thing about blizz is they make loads of moeny for all the right reasons - ie they make really really good games

yes this is nice and all, but im more interested in Diablo 3, and (if there is any) news on WarCraft 4. Will they ever make this game?

Starcraft 2 and Diablo 3. Games that I want, now!

I'll probably need a new computer though to run them in proper graphics. I just recently played SC1 and what hit me most was the resolution. I really, really want to play SC in higher resolutions with widescreen.

@Gnort

Not like the non-unit-building gaming pioneered in the Commando mission in C&C, then. That's brand new.

And how old's Ground Control?

Pro gamer, such a silly concept. I must admit watching the preview matches with the announcers was interesting, but also off putting for myself as a player. The only way I'll ever play SC2 is||| Edit: Apparently the game can't be played on LAN, only over Battle.net|||if I somehow meet a few guys with a LAN setup and we play local multi-player, and then someone loans me the single player campaign. Not going to touch it otherwise, Blizzard just doesn't seem to make some of their games for the right reasons anymore. Definitely looking forward to D3 though, I can't wait until Blizzcon just for more D3 info.

Also, memorizing keyboard shortcuts in order to fast produce units/structures/tech at 150 actions a second doesn't sound like the future of chess to me. Sounds more like an FPS than an RTS when you bring such required levels of twitch gaming. Maybe this is the future of RTS, but not chess.

Nah, the gaming community has always (at least since the original Starcraft) been complaining about Blizzards no-innovation gameplay. Regardless, they always top the charts when they are released, so obviously western gamers don't want new features as much as a good game.

And Blizzard knows how to make a good sequel: Don't dismiss what your fans liked about the previous game, expand upon it.

Anyone who complained about there being no innovation in Starcraft (or Warcraft III) clearly hasn't played many other RTS games. Both of them radically changed a lot of the fundamental things about the genre, both in their single-player and multiplayer modes. SC2 multiplayer looks like one of the most conservative things they've done in years, but it's not hard to see why, and it works really well as a result.

@robg

If you'd read my original post, you'd see that I'm not criticizing the single player campaign by calling it traditional, I was saying I far prefer the base-building approach more typical to RTS games, at least for the single player campaign. I'm not claiming Dawn of War II invented the "unit-driven campaign" or whatever you want to call it. In fact, I wish they hadn't gone in that direction.

Honestly, you can't really say anything about a Blizzard game without a bunch of irate fans taking offense.

Its been such a long time, at least this game will be polished like a mirror when it comes out.

Take as long as you need Blizzard :) It should be near perfect.

Oh my god oh my god oh my god. Is it time to quit my job yet?

For me, SC and WC are always about the competitive play. To people who are dismissing this, i don't want innovative gameplay features. I want a game where i can compete against other people both strategically and tactically. Remember new != good.

StarCraft without LAN. No thank you.

@Gnort

I'd ask the same question regardless of which game you were commenting on; if you look very closely, you'll see that my response isn't specific to Starcraft.

I was so looking forward to this...then they announced the game being released in 3 chunks. I convinced myself it'll be okay...waiting three years between each iteration (well that's how long it feels Blizz takes before they release anything) would be okay I guess because of the ability to use any race in a LAN

--BOOM-- No LAN

WTF?

The "no LAN" thing is a bit of a misleading story. I've seen no suggestion that it won't work on a LAN (I was playing perfectly happily on a LAN for this hands-on, in fact), it's just that there won't be a LAN-specific mode. LAN games will be set up on Battle.net, just like online games.

If anything that's an improvement since it means you'll be able to track the stats of your LAN games on your Battle.net account.

It would probably help if Blizzard actually clarified this, I've seen a huge number of complaints in the past few days about something that really isn't going to be an issue at all.

@robg

Sorry, I assumed your comment was made out of petulance at my perceived slight of Blizzard because your point made no sense. You surely can't be implying that due to a few novelty missions in Command & Conquer and an under-appreciated RTS (Ground Control) a "traditional" RTS game isn't one where you build bases and units?

Is purchase day 1 to me, but pseudo Protoss looks utter lame without Templars, Dark Templars, Dragons, Scarabs and Arbiters. I doubt that the gameplay with the new units keep some resemblance with the old Protoss.