Twelve years! Twelve long years that the Protoss, Terran, Zerg and their friends had done more about them … Well, not exactly because since the announcement of Starcraft 2 by Blizzard, we can say that the studio has left nothing to chance, chaining releases, videos and presentations before finishing with a beta for several months. The blow and then it just comes out, as it was printing already know by heart Wings of Liberty. Could it be that appearances are deceptive? Could it be that Blizzard is missed and that StarCraft 2 is finally not to level?
When Raynor loses Kerrigan?
History to put things flat – and too bad for those who already know it by heart – begin this paper with a brief update. While StarCraft first name is still one of the most played games in South Korea, there was obviously no question for Blizzard to revolutionize the gameplay of the title reference , even twelve years later. As a worthy successor to Command & Conquer and WarCraft other, Wings Of Liberty is therefore based on the triptych collection of resources, building bases and management of troops. The trick of course is finding the right balance between these three components, do not overlook.
Generally, the player starts his part – in single-and multi – with a handful of peasants, a command center and some areas of ore / gas to be harvested. Store resources can build other structures which themselves are leading the way for new units and thus, new strategies of warfare. It is important to know the buildings required to implement this or that tactic and it is essential to know the enemy units in order to be implemented – as soon as possible – the appropriate response. Of course, this requires a long apprenticeship, and this, especially as the three factions are very different.
Three factions? Again, StarCraft 2 does not innovate at all on paper because the three peoples that we are led to be verified are other well known that the Protoss, Terran, and Zerg. We’ll go right away on the pseudo-scandal is that Blizzard does not propose to control one of these races in Wings of Liberty. It is true that the campaign focuses on the Terrans , and even if a handful of missions help to find the Protoss Zeratul. It is also true that it will repay (in 2011-2013) to play Protoss and Zerg, but despite these flaws, there is not much wrong with this player campaign.
We find an old acquaintance, former Marshall Jim Raynor. Following the betrayal of one who is none other than the Emperor of the Dominion – Arcturus Mengsk – our new best friend joined in the rebellion and the few that has 29 missions solo campaign (26 playable on a party) will be as much elements of a scenario that tells us the rise of cronies of Raynor. They also glad we return to a key figure of the first opus: Kerrigan. The pretty companion Raynor has been contaminated by the zerg and now heads the Zerg Swarm as a new offensive of these horrible creatures threatening the whole of humanity.
In practice, despite a gameplay innovations poor frank, we must recognize that these 29 missions are a delight at all times. We appreciate that the first mode “Easy” to “Brutal” through the “Normal” and “Difficult”, Blizzard has included four levels of difficulty quite different. As a result, casual gamers and veterans alike are sure to find a challenge equal . Be advised to start on hard regulars, but frankly things get tough from the tenth / fifteenth mission. Fortunately, it is quite possible to change the level of difficulty for each mission in order not to spoil the fun …
… It would indeed be a shame not to adjust the difficulty level as its own missions are successful. Certainly, originality is not really required, but Blizzard did not, however, merely reiterate what has been the success of StarCraft: the studio has dug his ideas across. Thus, even if the missions are based on the canvas collection, construction and management statement earlier, developers are able to vary considerably things : here it is to escort civilians to ensure their evacuation, while there must conduct operations against the trains of a corporation with unorthodox manners.
Take a turn toward home (Rory) Swann
There is also the case of this mission we offer to participate in a kind of race to the resource or one that plays with light and dark for us to attack a planet infested: they only come out at night and must therefore advantage of daylight to launch attacks on our bases. In fact, there are only two missions rarely similar and even when they are based on the same principle, Blizzard finds a way to change a few things which renew things … and we have not talked about these missions that are directly control the heroes of the adventure: perhaps a way to show what the game engine can do!
We remember that during the beta test, the crafty sorts of things were designed with the engine: these sequences more action-RPG or the shoot them up the bar of the Hyperion are there to show what he is can be done. Speaking of the Hyperion, note that this ship (flagship of the Rebel fleet) is the basis for Jim Raynor. Between each mission, we find ourselves on board to prepare the rest of the campaign. But while Blizzard might have to settle for a “beast” selection interface, the Hyperion is completely integrated into the single player campaign which allows it to advance the particular scenario
Divided into four quarters, it can actually talk with some of the main characters of the story (Tychus Findlay Matt Horner, Ariel Hanson, Gabriel Tosh or Rory Swann), to take the new Dominion of information through the chain UNN but also to discover a few winks (surprise!). In addition, neighborhoods have their specific function: bar allows the recruitment of mercenaries, the armory to buy upgrades of units, the laboratory to undertake research for technologies that are often specific to single player mode and, finally, Gateway is the site selection of the next mission.
It is from this last that we can see the overall situation of the campaign and to review the goals you want to accomplish first. We do need to know that besides having an importance in the scenario, missions grant rewards (points credit points research) and new units. Small regret, however: s’ it is possible to choose his next mission from three or four , there is nothing comparable with the tight timing of Warhammer 40k – Dawn Of War 2. Thus, no fear of arriving too late to save the planet by choosing Agria other missions first, for example.
Another regret to report, it seems that the difference between difficulty levels is clear, perhaps not progressive enough to suit all players . We also regret that the achievement system pushes the player to repeat the missions on Normal and Hard, but it is not so: no doubt we were faced with a little bug. These deeds function as successful Steam / Xbox 360: rewards to unlock under certain conditions. On Mission Garden Of The Devil , this is normal to kill the Zerg Brutalisk using the rising lava, so that difficult, it must also find all the team members of Tosh to unlock a second feat .
Recognize however that this system gives more reason for players to dive back into the single player campaign or – at least – to redo the missions once they are completed. By taking the time to see the scenario unfold, it takes about fifteen / twenty hours to complete the entire campaign . A life which obviously does not address the fact that one can have to try several times. In addition, it may be interesting to repeat the campaign to choose other directions (including the laboratory), while several missions we propose to choose sides: one may then want to remake it in his mind for the other protagonist .
A Protoss, all for one?
One the other, life solo StarCraft 2 is more than correct and too bad if missions challenges proposed by Blizzard (new, with increasing difficulty) are hardly exciting: it is actually for advanced tutorials explain various tactics. Once the campaign turned in all directions, it remains the skirmish mode (52 cards to play solo or cooperative with artificial intelligence) and, of course, multiplayer. Immediately confirm the sad news: no question of playing LAN with friends and Battle.net is now absolutely essential to play against human players .
A Battle.net largely consolidated at the time of StarCraft 2 now displays and new ambitions. Blizzard wants to make it a true community portal common to all games. We have a management tool friends very effective while the interface is used to launch a very easy to see the statistics of past battles, watch a replay , check their profile … Only regret at this level: the menus and icons are a bit huge and we would have liked more finesse in the design of this interface , which is also close to that ingame : pleasant to use during games, it is quite cumbersome.
But back to the multiplayer itself. StarCraft 2 is available for two days our impressions are largely based on the beta, but we fail to update them if necessary. The multiplayer can therefore play 1c1, 2c2, 3c3, 4C4, and every man for himself. It is also possible to play co-op against the AI and – finally – we do regret that the lack of configuration with three teams . Carton planetary forces, StarCraft 2 has the enormous advantage of already offer dozens of parties: the coup, the tool matchmaking is particularly effective and we find the parties in the space of a few seconds.
A league system has also been set up so that we can compete against players (more or less) of its level and so avoid as much frustration of fighting super-unbalanced . Well, might as well say right away, however, players of StarCraft 2 does not seem particularly talkative and – for now anyway – it does not bind with its partners for a night. But the most interesting is undoubtedly the impressive balance between the races . Of course, the grumpy say that Blizzard has no merit in repeating races over twelve years, but in reality, changes for each are so numerous that it took all rebalance.
As it stands, it seems that the developer did not completely missed at this level … But it will probably take several more weeks to be fully documented: the beta test and its constant changes do not allow to answer with certainty. One thing that is absolutely certain cons is the fact that StarCraft 2 was designed to run on up to machines . So, there are bound players who missed some technical limitations such as not always very detailed textures (especially during cutscenes) and a graphical look much coarser than Warhammer 40k – Dawn Of War 2 for example.
Obvious advantage, and even with maximum details: StarCraft 2 is relatively lightweight. It seems necessary to aim for a configuration using dual-processor 2.4 GHz heart, supported by 2 GB of RAM and a GeForce 8800 GTX to ensure a good flow in all circumstances. Note that Blizzard has not integrated its anti-aliasing options and only enable NVIDIA (via graphics drivers) to enjoy . Bad point for ATI should have used the beta test to imagine a parade (a fix is about to happen)! NVIDIA is not exempt from criticism because he did not yet have a solution to 3D Vision offer players equipped (a patch arrives).
Conclusion
What development is more “dicey” than a sequel to a game loved by millions of South Koreans and considered a monument of real time strategy game? Yet, despite some concerns, we must recognize that Blizzard takes on the challenge with gusto. Certainly, the Wings of Liberty is not perfect and some will regret the technological bias when others do not get over the lack of LAN. Certainly also, the price charged by Blizzard (60 euros, but it can be found at least) is a first on PC, but despite this, it seems impossible to miss this track to finish virtually yours (there is Mr. Blizzard few bugs). The campaign is quite long, incredible intensity, variety and it was not subject to the unbridled originality, the studio offers us a concentrate of what is best in the genre. Finally, what about multiplayer? Made for online competition, he can no longer fill those long winter evenings with friends, but Blizzard benefits from the experience in this field, the presence of these three races so different from each other and the public enthusiasm. Simply unavoidable.