Starcraft 2 Discussion

[firehawk12]

I'm sure they spent 90% of their time working out the tech and worrying about multiplayer, but the campaign storyline just comes off like a very generic science fiction story written by someone who loves Warhammer 40k.

Well... that pretty much describes Starcraft 1's storyline as well.

Yeah, I'm sure. I haven't played it since Brood War came out though, but back then I was in high school and aliens with blade arms were cool shit. Entaro Adun and all that.

10 years later... it just seems so transparent. Especially the Firefly "homages". I'm surprised Raynor didn't make a joke about going to his bunk!

 

[Ayelbourne]

Just spotted the T.A.R.D.I.S. flying around in the background on one of the campaign maps. Oh Blizzard...

 

[Rii]

I'm currently a little over halfway through the campaign (14 missions completed) and having a ball.

For all that Blizzard downplayed the ability of the campaign to prepare the player for multiplayer, I notice that by the first Protoss mission they're forcing players to micro in the form of the Stalkers' Blink ability and Zeratul's, umm, Lockdown thing.

For my part I'm using the campaign time to restore my keyboard skills. F1.B.S. It's slowly coming back.

 

[Ayelbourne]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6AuFbqm2yDs&feature=related

Is that actual Firefly score at 3:16?
Would be awesome if it was. The whole scene's got a very strong Firefly-vibe to it.

 

[Emher]

^Not actual Firefly score, but HEAVILY influenced. Which I like! Works fine for the Terrans I feel.

Overall the score is great so far! Have only played two skirmish matches but I love it!

 

[Rii]

Is it wrong that I almost cried at the end of 'In Utter Darkness'? Protoss has always been my favourite race and that was a grand, glorious last stand.

 

[The Evil Dead]

Is it wrong that I almost cried at the end of 'In Utter Darkness'? Protoss has always been my favourite race and that was a grand, glorious last stand.

That mission more than anything else has me chomping at the bit for the next installments in the story.

 

[Rii]

Some of the big names (e.g. IGN/Gamespot) haven't checked in yet, but Starcraft 2: Wings of Liberty is currently running with a Metacritic average of 96, just edging out Civilization IV as the best-reviewed strategy title in the site's records, and tied with Mass Effect 2 as the best-reviewed game of 2010.

I'm currently 18 missions in; loved Tychus Findlay's dialogue in 'Engine of Destruction', which was in start contrast to the often stilted and bland between-mission dialogue. Blizzard is really good at soundbytes, expository conversations not so much.

 

[Capt. Vulcan]

I'm enjoying the crap out of the single player so far. Haven't done much multiplay yet though.

 

[Unicron]

I'll have to see about getting me a copy. I've been really looking forward to this one.

 

[Rii]

Sirlin has an interesting piece up on the workings of and design philosophy behind SC2's ranking system, particularly vs. Microsoft's TrueSkill:

Let's talk about Starcraft 2's ranking system, specifically the bonus pool system, the focus on ranked matches, and the division system. Before we get into all that, I'll give some background info from three years ago when I talked with Rob Pardo (VP of Game Design at Blizzard) about me possibly taking on the role of ranking-and-tournament systems designer at Blizzard. I ended up having to back out of that race because the Street Fighter HD Remix project suddenly became a reality, and I couldn't pass that up.

The reason I want to tell you about the ranking stuff from back then is to illustrate two points of view--mine and Pardo's--and to explain how it took me three years to understand that his point of view is probably best after all.

 

[Rii]

Bold words from Eurogamer's Oli Welsh...

the new Battle.net, a robust gaming platform that easily matches or exceeds Steam and Xbox Live for features and polish, fitted here to a bespoke and extremely slick StarCraft II front-end. It's a major component of this release and it seems unfair to gloss over Battle.net so quickly - but that's partly a compliment to its transparency, and partly down to the fact that its charms will only reveal themselves over time and through its gradual integration with World of Warcraft and, eventually, Diablo III.

 

[darthraidr]

ign's review is up. and i just got my signed collector's edition box =)

i'm enjoying the game. was excited to see Nova again. i am not sure i'll do any multiplayer though... i am too slow.

 

[Rii]

i just got my signed collector's edition box =)

Lucky bastard.

i'm enjoying the game. was excited to see Nova again.

Srsly. I dumped Tosh good when she showed up.

A cool thing is that once you have her rifle in the Armory, if you 'zoom in' to it Nova herself will occasionally decloak on the crates and look around before recloaking.

Incidentally, I love the flavour text attached to some of the units in the Armory. The one about the Medivac pilot having to be resocialised after killing two Marines for constantly referring to her craft as a 'heal bus' is my favourite.

i am not sure i'll do any multiplayer though... i am too slow.

That's what challenge mode is for!

 

[archeryguy1701]

i am not sure i'll do any multiplayer though... i am too slow.

I'm not sure which thread that it was posted in, but Rii previously posted a link to the first video in a youtube series, I Suck At Starcraft 2 by TotalHalibut. I highly recommend that series of videos. It provides a lot of great tips and it entertaining as hell. I have the exact same issue as you do, but these videos have helped me get a lot better on both single player and multiplayer. And, if you check out his channel, it looks like he has a lot of replays available (I'll assume commentated), which are probably worth a gander.

 

[firehawk12]

Specters as much better than Ghosts though.

As for Battle.net... not having chat rooms or some kind of grouping system is kind of backwards for a PC game, especially when the original had it. I'm still to scared to play 1v1, (really don't know how to play) but the custom matches are awesome - Nexus Wars is fun.

 

[Jeyl]

The game is fantastic, the missions are a blast, the acting is wonderful, the network play is.... well, brutal. But no matter what, I still can't shake off the stupid choice in recasting Sarah Kerrigan with Tricia Helfer. That was just unneeded and down right disrespectful to the original actor when they retconned her voice.

Glynnis Talken Campbell IS Kerrigan.

 

[Ayelbourne]

Maybe she didn't want to do it anymore?

Personally, I don't mind Helfer at all.
I like having an actress from my favourite SciFi-show on my favourite SciFi-Game.

 

[firehawk12]

No, she wanted to do it. She even changed her name to "Sarah McKerrigan" in order to "own" the name (much like the Ultimate Warrior).

I guess the real test will be whether or not she can carry the next expansion/sequel/whatever it is called. Her VO work has been rather small roles and she hasn't really had to show any range whatsoever (which is what I find annoying about "actors" vs "voice actors"), so we'll see.

 

[Rii]

Specters as much better than Ghosts though.

Yeah, but .... Nova!

I'll have to play through the campaign again and make all the choices I didn't make the first time around. And get the achievements I missed when the achievement server was down.

As for Battle.net... not having chat rooms or some kind of grouping system is kind of backwards for a PC game, especially when the original had it.

I haven't touched multiplayer of any kind yet (still haven't finished the campaign, 21 missions in) but isn't there a 'create party' button? I'd assumed that was to allow you to group with your friends...