|
Starcraft II: Wings of Liberty | 
| From: Blizzard Entertainment
Category: Video Games
List Price: $59.99
Buy New: $51.00
as of 7/29/2010 14:01 CDT details
You Save: $8.99 (15%)
New (17) from $51.00
Seller: Dumbbunny
Rating:  501 reviews
Sales Rank: 1
Format: DVD-ROM
Platforms: Windows Vista, Windows XP, Mac OS X
Genre: real_time_strategy_games
ESRB: Teen
Media: Video Game
Edition: Standard
Batteries Included: No
Operating System: Windows XP
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.2
Dimensions (in): 7.6 x 5.3 x 1.6
MPN: 72838
Model: Starcraft II: Wings
UPC: 020626728386
EAN: 0020626728386
ASIN: B000ZKA0J6
Publication Date: July 27, 2010 (New: This Week)
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
| |
| Features:
| • | Fast-paced, hard-hitting, tightly balanced competitive real-time strategy gameplay that recaptures and improves on the original game | | • | Three completely distinct races: Protoss, Terran, and Zerg | | • | Units and gameplay mechanics distinguish each race | | • | 3D-graphics engine with support for visual effects and massive unit and army sizes | | • | Full multiplayer support, with competitive features and matchmaking utilities available through Battle.net |
|
| Accessories:
|
| Similar Items:
| |
| Editorial Reviews:
Product Description
Starcraft II PC
|
| Customer Reviews:
Showing reviews 1-5 of 501
 Worth it, even with drawbacks July 29, 2010
Zomster (Dallas, TX)
I played the original Starcraft religiously during my college days, and was very hyped when I first heard of the long overdue sequel being developed a couple years ago. I am not disappointed with this title so far, and don't plan on it failing me in the months (years?) to come. I can see people getting bent out of shape by it only including the Terran campaign, but to be honest, this campaign alone is ~12-15 hours of gameplay from what I've gathered from others, but seriously, these same people would buy this game even if it didn't even have a campaign at all. Certainly long enough to warrant it as a release on it's own. Don't buy this game (or any rts for that matter) if you don't enjoy the challenge of playing others multiplayer. It really would not be worth it at all in that case.
The game is polished and the graphics look extremely good if your rig can handle the high to ultra settings. The cinematics are noteworthy and the story is relatively immersive in my opinion. Considering the campaign is what I would consider just bonus material, I am very happy so far with this game. It takes quite a lot these days to warrant me sitting down and playing a video game for a few hours (guess it's my old age showing), but Starcraft 2 has got my attention and will hold it for some time to come.
As far as having to login to play the campaign, most people won't even care, and I do agree it shouldn't be required, however looking at the big picture, Blizzard is pushing Battle Net 2.0 and achievements and even your campaign progress are all recorded there. I installed on a second computer and it knew where I left off on the first, so with the bad there is some really good to it all. LAN play as well is something that most will not ever use (even when I played starcraft with friends in the same house, we always played on bnet against other opponents).
The matchmaking system is a huge leap forward in progress to the days of Starcraft and BNet 1.0. Playing great balanced matches has never been easier, and you will always feel challenged when playing in matchmaking, which makes this game an interminable experience.
I agree with others, there are a couple cons, but to the overall experience, gameplay and balance is paramount; and I think Starcraft 2 absolutely does not disappoint.
 An excellent, complete and long single-player experience bolted onto superb multiplayer July 29, 2010
A. Whitehead (Colchester, Essex United Kingdom)
StarCraft II is a game of three parts. The multiplayer is fast, furious and satisfying, but does not develop far beyond what was achieved with StarCraft. There are some new units and a more flexible interface, but broadly it's a 3D make-over of the old game.
On the single-player front, almost the entire game is devoted to the Terran faction (save a side-story where you control the Protoss). You play Jim Raynor, continuing on his quest to destroy the Dominion whilst being haunted by guilt over his failure to save Kerrigan from the Zerg. Rather than following a list of missions, the single-player game is much more oriented around choice. The game has a between-mission, RPG-like section set in one of three different locations (in a bar on Mar Sara for the opening, then on the battlecruiser Hyperion for most of the rest of the game, and then 'somewhere else' for the last few missions). In this section you can catch up on news reports, talk to crewmembers, research new upgrades for your units, purchase new abilities and hire mercenaries. You can also play a mini-game called Lost Viking (a vertically-scrolling shoot 'em-up), listen to the jukebox or indeed just chill out in the bar.
When it comes time for the next battle, you are given a list of several different missions you can tackle. You can approach the missions in any order, but you get different research points (unlocking new abilities) and new units depending on which you take. A player wanting to get his hands on Siege Tanks will take a different route through the game than someone wanting to research Tech Reactors, for example. You can also steam straight through to get to the finale and simply choose not to do a whole bunch of missions, but I heavily recommend against this.
As a bonus, you also have access to a Protoss 'memory crystal' which allows you to relive Zeratul's investigations into the revelations of Brood War, giving you control of Protoss forces for several missions. This section is also optional, but does set-up storyline points that I suspect will become much more important in the two planned expansions.
The gameplay itself does not stray too far from the original but there's a ton of improvements, such as the ability to build infantry and have them report immediately to a bunker, or train new SCVs and have them sent straight into mining without the need for micro-management. The 'guard' mode from the original game is now improved and allows you to send SCVs and medics with your attack force. They'll stay out of the enemy's line of fire but remain close enough to heal on the. Individual mission design is varied, ranging from a Firefly-influenced mission where you have to hijack a bunch of trains to a Pitch Black-inspired level where you have to retire behind fortifications at night when you are swamped by light-sensitive enemy forces. In fact, every mission has at least one little difference to set it apart from others, resulting in a constantly varied experience.
The game builds over the course of its length to an apocalyptic finale. However, the game unexpectedly ends in a somewhat conclusive manner. Sure, there's clearly more stuff to come, but it's a pause rather than a cliffhanger, which given the indeterminate amount of time before Heart of the Swarm is released, is a good thing.
On the downside, there are moments when you do have to acknowledge that the game isn't innovative. Several RTS developments from the past decade are ignored. However, most of the time you are too busy playing to really notice. The other issue is that the charming, slightly cartoony style of the cut-scenes in the original have been replaced by more of a 'realistic' look, which drops Jim Raynor and his buddies squarely into the uncanny valley, which is disconcerting.
In addition, the game requires a one-time Internet activation (you need to stay online to get the game's achievements) and the original game's more approachable multiplayer aspects have been removed, most notably LAN play and the ability to spawn a lightweight version of the game on a friend's computer without having to buy additional copies. These are irritations rather than anything particularly deal-breaking, but others clearly feel otherwise.
However, a very common complaint, that this is only a 'third of a game', is more puzzling. StarCraft II is longer, more varied and more epic than the original game, and certainly moreso than any other real-time strategy game released in the past dozen years. It will take most players between 10 and 20 hours to complete, which is a very healthy amount of time for a modern game, and of course the game editor, mods and multiplayer modes extend the game's lifespan exponentially. If there was ever a time when a 'complete' strategy game consisted of 90 single-player missions taking 60+ hours to finish, one of the most powerful game editors ever shipped, hours of cut scenes and extensive multiplayer, it must have passed me by. Most of the criticism stems from the decision not to have a Zerg single-player campaign in this first release, which is indeed regrettable. However, this is the price that has been paid for adding depth to the campaigns. In the original StarCraft you were just warming up and getting used to a faction when it was time to switch to the next one. In StarCraft II you stick with the Terrans for 26 missions, allowing for more story developments and better characterisation rather than the broad strokes of the original game. Some have said that they would sacrifice this for three 10-mission campaigns dedicated to the original sides, but that would be difficult given the sheer size of the story being told here. StarCraft II is definitely The Lord of the Rings to the original game's The Hobbit, and telling this story in fewer missions would definitely be underselling it.
Full game July 29, 2010
Michael R. Sweeney (CIncinnati, OH)
2 out of 3 found this review helpful
I can name several games not worth $60, this not being one of them. The game is full featured, I play friends online, and I don't throw LAN parties so the lack of it is trivial to me at best (and probably for the majority of regular players). Also it's 2010, unless you plan on pirating it or live in a third world country without broadband access, having to sign into battle net isn't even a factor (especially when said game is free to play online). The single player campaign is engrossing with all the story and mission variety one would expect from an improved upon starcraft. Overall I find the game very enjoyable, though I'm decent at multiplayer expect to be destroyed the first couple of online games until the system catches your playing level and sets you up with like minded players.
 Sixty Dollars for a re-do of the old classic.. is a too much. July 29, 2010
M. Machin
0 out of 2 found this review helpful
If you love the original, you will probably love this one.
If you hated the original, you will probably hate this one.
No need to go over the same things everyone else has, other than to say they did a nice job on UPDATING the game, but nothing new was really added to single player mode, more cinematic story, and such.. the single player experience is basically a training exercise for the Battlenet on-line games.
So, if you are interested in single player game... there are better games than this. If you are looking to do lots and lots of on-line game then this is a great buy.
My own experience with on line is that it seems repetitive, and not my bag.
fun but buggy an expensive July 29, 2010
Mr Sparky (TX, USA)
0 out of 1 found this review helpful
Actual game play is fun... better then the original.
Installation could be problematic. I had trouble activating the game and had lots of system crashes until I tweaked the video setting just right. I have a vanila setup with an intel quad core, 4 gb ram, 8800 gt runing Win7 64. The default settings would crash the system 5-10 min into any mission. This game does not play nice with Win 7 and this video card.
On-line play is ok, but without a zerg or protos campaign to learn those races you will have a few frustarting games until you learn the units for those races. I found it fast and easy to join games.
It's only 1/3 of the game realy and with all the expansions and "premium" content they will try to sell you it can get expensive. Not worth the money for most people
Showing reviews 1-5 of 501
|
|
|
CERTAIN CONTENT THAT APPEARS ON THIS SITE COMES FROM AMAZON SERVICES LLC. THIS CONTENT IS PROVIDED ‘AS IS’ AND IS SUBJECT TO CHANGE OR REMOVAL AT ANY TIME.
Networks :
Car Care |
Replacement Parts
Video Games | |
