If Command and Conquer founded the modern real-time strategy genre, it was StarCraft which revolutionized it. Originally released back in 1998, the game brought several elements to the table which have become RTS staples – for instance, the use of telling the game’s story through the use of three separate faction campaigns. Also important was its riveting story and incredibly beautiful cut-scenes to bring it to life. Before StarCraft, the most story we got in an RTS was some badly-done full-motion video (known as ‘FMV’ back then) or some cheesy splash images with which to garner the plot from. It has been twelve years since StarCraft was released and now Blizzard Entertainment has let loose the sequel, StarCraft 2: Wings of Liberty.
The story of StarCraft 2: Wings of Liberty takes place four years after the events of the StarCraft expansion: Brood War. At the beginning of the story, we find Tychus Findley being released from cryo-prison and Jim Raynor living on a backwater planet where he is leading a resistance movement against the corrupt Terran Dominion. Soon these characters cross paths again, and, without spoiling anything, they must save the human race from annihilation.
The overall tone and themes of this part of the StarCraft 2 trilogy (the other two are said to focus on the Protoss and Zerg campaigns) has been heavily-inspired by the Joss Whedon TV series, Firefly. From the Western-style musical score and cowboy drawls to the overall look of the characters and technology; Wings of Liberty is a hoot to watch unfold and will have you quipping in Chinese more than once (gorram Zerg!). Thankfully, the themes were only inspired by the Firefly universe. The only things taken directly from other IPs are actually from other Blizzard IPs (and maybe a Star Wars reference or two). Players with a sharp eye will definitely see a lot of references to both World of Warcraft and Diablo.
The most revolutionary thing about StarCraft 2 is the way it presents its single player campaign. It’s not that the multiplayer is not fun or the Battle.NET integration is not seamless – that it is all true. However, when you look at the most clever things done in the game, you have to look at the single player experience. The multiplayer seems more or less like it was built for the tournament players out there and doesn’t bring a lot of innovation to what was already laid out in the original StarCraft. However, the hardest thing for a real-time strategy title to do is tell a single player story as so much of these types of games is spent looking down at the battlefield, detached, from on high.
In StarCraft 2, Blizzard has managed to suck players into the experience through the use of a gameplay mechanic once seen in Origin Systems incredible Wing Commander series. Between missions, you will be able to hit various locations based on your current base of operations and interact with objects and characters by clicking on them with your mouse. These can simply be random objects with some story significance or important plot items that give some additional backstory to an upcoming event. Additionally, you will sometimes be forced to choose between two characters or choices which will affect the outcome of your available missions or force disposition.
One entertaining device used throughout many of these inter-mission sequences is a news network broadcast on the television screen in the cantina. The pro-government news anchor is just begging for a Holly McClane punch to the face.
More importantly, you get the opportunity to direct your forces by way of an Armory, Laboratory, and Cantina! In these rooms you will be able to hire mercenary forces that can be deployed on-world, purchase new abilities for your units and structures, or even research new technology options which are paid for in research points found during missions. There is a TON of customization and decision-making to be found here, and it gives the player a direct role in the outcome of his or her military. It makes sense, given that your character is Jim Raynor, leader of the resistance and whatnot.
Furthermore, Blizzard has added the ability for players to, in many cases, choose their next mission from a few options – each with their own rewards and perks! When you sum up all of these additions, you are left with one pretty awesome game. The word ‘awesome’ is generally not considered a very urbane adjective by most highbrows out there, but it is more than applicable in this case.
StarCraft 2: Wings of Liberty will have you on the edge of your seat the whole way through – one minute you will be listening to one of the in-house Blizzard bands on the cantina jukebox and the next you will be eating concertina wire and pissing napalm while fighting an army of Hydralisks.
In short: Get this game now. That is all. Dismissed!
