| Best PC Video Games 2010 Holiday Guide |  |
| Reviews - Featured Reviews: Games | ||||||||
| Written by Adam Pizzo - Edited by Olin Coles | ||||||||
| Wednesday, 08 December 2010 | ||||||||
Page 4 of 6
Starcraft II: Wings of Liberty
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Name: Starcraft II: Wings of Liberty
Platforms: Windows, Mac
Release Date: July 27th, 2010
Published By: Blizzard Entertainment
Developed By: Blizzard Entertainment
Genre: Real-Time Strategy
ESRB: Teen for Blood and Gore, Language, Suggestive Themes, Use of Alcohol and Tobacco, Violence
Website: us.battle.net/sc2
Price: $54.03 from Amazon.com
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
The much anticipated sequel to a game that has its own e-sport in South Korea finally hit the shelves earlier this year. Starcraft 2 is an improvement in almost every way imaginable. A real-time strategy game that includes three unique races with completely unique tech trees and units, a beautifully crafted gaming engine with great scalability, a superb storyline, and one of the best online multiplayer experiences out there, Starcraft 2 has the makings of one of the most fun games of 2010. 
In the story mode, Blizzard gives us 29 single player maps dealing with Jim Raynor and his journey to finally overthrow Arcturus Mengsk from power. Along the way you'll meet some new allies and enemies and you'll explore the lore of the Starcraft universe. Just a heads up, you'll only be playing as the Terran in this game as Blizzard has broken the story up into a trilogy for Starcraft 2. Some say to milk money from us consumer's, but with all the things the single player mode offers I don't think we'll be disappointed by the content in future releases.
During the campaign you have access to a wide variety of things you can do. Each mission rewards you with money and research if you fulfill the objectives to it, along with unlocking new units. You can spend the money on upgrades in your ships armory and the research points in the lab. These allow a unique and customized experience every time you play the game.
If you were a fan of heroes in Warcraft 3, you'll be a bit disappointed that they don't make an appearance in Starcraft 2, save for the few times you get to use special units in the story mode. That being said, the map editor does come with ways to enable it, and recently Blizzard reveals it's making a DOTA (Defense of the Ancients) like map that will be released free of charge sometime within the next year. Also included with Starcraft is Battle.net 2.0. Battle.net 2.0 includes Facebook friend adding and synchronization of friends lists between Starcraft 2 and World of Warcraft. Future games by Blizzard will also include this feature.
Even with a great campaign, the multiplayer is king in Starcraft 2. With tons of achievements to work for, a much better matchmaking system, a nearly flawless balance of races, and addictive game play leads to one of the best RTS experiences I've ever enjoyed. There are a couple downsides to Starcraft 2, but nothing that should disqualify you from picking it up. Firstly, there's no LAN support anymore. This means you can't just run it off your local network anymore. Secondly, the game has online regions that you're limited to for multiplayer. This means if you have a friend in China and you both have Starcraft 2, you still won't be able to play together. Other than those qualms, the game is rock solid, and you should definitely check it out this holiday season.
|
||||||||
Comments
Yes, I know it sounds dumb, but this is the main reason I haven't bought a new game in years. It's about time though.
Fallout NV: yes. some crazy fans state they go ap tu 200 hours or more IN SOLO. 1st for me from the list. i'm playing it right now. (try to compare with stalker series, metro2033 and other immersive games, HL series maybe to far but for me the etalon. so yes a good game, IMO those mentioned are better, but it works just fine)
Starcraft WoL: yes. good campain, not too big but ok.
Call of Duty BO: yes. been there done that. despite de good or bad rumours, it's a good game.
Tom Clancy, wow: didnt try them, but based on previous releases, yes.
Travel a lot? ok, but prepare with a powerful enough laptop: go Fallout or Starcraft.
I dont want to criticize this review. i guess it's based on sales or some. otherwise games top it's very personal.
BBC2 Forever.................until BF3 is released, lol
On the other hand, optimisation and textures are a pile of wank, the spawn system is laughable, knife horribly overpowered and several guns are utterly redundant. It's still a good game, just a bit...flawed.
SWAT ....... Ex-COD Hacker.
May I ask why you (or did) hack on CoD? I mean, playing computer games is already seen as pretty sad, cheating at them seems even more pathetic...
Are the kids at school picking on you Adam? :p
But come on you must admit that gaming is not exactly seen as the coolest hobby ever, attempt to start up a conversation about it with any normal (non-geeky) person over the age of about 18 and you're likely to make them run for the hills.
Lighten up. Enjoy. And Merry Christmas.
Perhaps I was just born into the wrong part of the world but gaming is still seen as a somewhat geeky passtime around here. But then it is Essex...