The Bottom Line: An award winning real-time strategy game, StarCraft has proven itself to be a classic in the making. If you like computer games but haven’t tried StarCraft yet, you should.
StarCraft may have been released three years ago (March '98) by Blizzard (makers of Diablo and WarCaft) but it is still a very popular and very fun game to play. StarCraft has won 31 awards including PC Data's "Number One Selling PC Game of 1998". Innovative game play, a good story, excellent balance and great graphics and sound make StarCraft a classic.
The Story
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StarCraft takes place in the distant future where humans have formed a Confederation whose general goal is to colonize space and preserve the Confederacy. The Confederation has come into conflict with a more advanced race called the Protoss. The Terrans (humans) want to colonize Protoss space, but of course the Protoss do not want this. To make things worse, a previously unknown race of bug-like aliens, called the Zerg, have swarmed into Protoss space to try and take over. It appears that these three races have war on their hands.
Graphics and Sound
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StarCraft graphics are nothing incredible, but is perfect in its simplicity. The main playing area graphics are simple overhead 2D images. The map and surroundings have enough detail that the playing area is not too boring looking. The units themselves are detailed enough to make them interesting to look at and watch. It is amazing to watch a hundred units all moving/fighting in the same screen shot with little slow down in the game.
The cinematics may be a little out dated, but they are still great to watch. Lots of detail and smooth moving, the cinematics add to the mood of the game and help to give those little 2D units a little more character and life as you play. Adding to the great cinematics are the voices and the music. Blizzard used professional actors to act out the voices of the various characters in the story. The great acting adds to the movie-like feel I got while playing the game.
Music definitely creates the feel and mood of a cinematic. The musical score for StarCraft is excellent. Each race has their own theme, which matches their personality. The Terrans have a cheesy rock theme. That may be a funny sounding description, but when you play the game, it’s a great sounding score. The Protoss, proudly being the most advanced of the three races, have a sound that consists of lots of brass, a slow and deep drumbeat, and long sustained notes. I kind of think of it as the stereotypical ‘space music‘ that accompanies the scene where the camera's view is a planet, then it pans out into the vastness of outer space. The Zerg sound is somewhat dark and foreboding. Weird synthesizer sounds make up an alien orchestrated theme that matches well with the little buggers.
Along with the music are also the sound effects. I think the sound effects are awesome. They sound 'real' and match well with what the unit is doing. By listening to the effects, you can also tell what is going on, such as when a building is finished being constructed, when a unit is ready, or simply to confirm you clicked on the right unit. One of my favorite sounds is that of 12 Protoss Zealots tearing up buildings with their psionic claws. I also like the Protoss photon cannons and the sound of Carriers sending out their ships. Some of the grossest sounds are made by the Zerg of course.
Gameplay
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StarCraft is a Real-Time Strategy game. Real-Time Strategy games are overhead 2D where you control any number of units to perform certain tasks. These tasks can include constructing a building/structure, repairing a damaged unit, setting a land mine, or basically attacking an enemy unit. You can control one unit or up to 12 units (to perform the same function) in StarCraft. StarCraft uses Minerals and Gas as necessary elements to build more units or structures. These two elements must be mined by special units depending on the race (SCV's for Terrans, Probes for Protoss, Drones for Zerg... you get it).
The gameplay for StarCraft works very well. Units are easily selected with the mouse and are easily moved from point A to point B with one click. Commands can be made with the mouse or with HotKeys on the Keyboard. Mastering HotKeys can speed things up and help you get a one up over your enemy. You can also set groups of units or a single unit to a hotkey by selecting the unit(s) and clicking Ctrl and any number from 0-9. You can then press "1" at any time to select those units.
One of StarCraft’s biggest accomplishments was the creation of Way Points. Way points allow the player to select a unit, then set it to do up to 8 things all in a row. An example would be clicking on a Terran SCV and commanding it to build a Supply Depot. By holding down Shift and then clicking on a mineral deposit, you just commanded the SCV to mine minerals when it is finished building the Depot. A more complicated example would be if you commanded a Protoss Carrier to attack one target, hold Shift and attack 6 other targets, then click on a spot on the map. This would have the Carrier attack the specified targets in the order you chose, then move to the designated spot on the map when it's done. By setting Way Points, the player may command a unit to do its thing while he/she focuses on other units elsewhere on the map.
The levels themselves are fun and challenging. I enjoyed the Protoss story line and missions the most. The missions vary and are far from repetitive. The game moves quickly and the levels aren't so difficult that you might get bored and quit before completing that races set of missions. An example of an easy mission is the very first where you must create a certain number of units and mine a certain amount of minerals. Some more difficult levels require you to infiltrate an enemy base, rescue a prisoner and destroy the rest of the base.
Players can also play fight to the death games against the computer, or up to 7 other computer controlled groups. You can choose "melee" where the computers usually team up into a 7v1 game, or you can choose "free for all" where all 7 enemies end up fighting each other as well as you. There are a variety of maps to choose from, or you can create your own map with the campaign editor. These custom games can also be fought player vs. player through serial connections, local networks or Blizzards free of charge "Battlenet".
Just like its genre implies, StarCraft players utilizes a lot of strategy to overcome their opponents. You don’t have to be the best strategist to enjoy the game, but it can come in handy. Particularly when playing other players, the race you choose and your knowledge of strategies to play that race can help secure you a victory.
The Races
I think one of the most amazing aspects of StarCraft is that all three races are well-balanced and fun to play. Neither race has a significant advantage overall. Each race has strengths and weaknesses and unique abilities, making it a fair fight no matter which race you pick. Here are some examples of each races strengths, weaknesses and abilities.
Terrans
Terrans can build anywhere but they require a lot of space. Supply Depots are needed to sustain crew, and unfortunately supply depots are large. Terran buildings over all tend to be a little large as well. Terran offensives tend to be slow paced, but effective. Their tanks have the greatest range of any unit in the game when in Siege mode. They also possess the ability to cloak their fighter ships called Wraiths and special foot soldiers called Ghosts. While being able to cloak, they also have the best cloak detection for detecting rival Terrans that may be cloaked, or Protoss Observers that have cloaking ability. Ghosts also have the ability to target enemies from a distance and remotely launch a Nuclear Missile, which causes much damage to anything in its blast radius. Terran Marines are also the only entry-level unit, which has ranged weapons to attack airborne units.
Protoss
The Protoss are the most advanced race of the three. Their units are very powerful, but require lots of minerals and gas to “pay” for them. Protoss use Telepathy to communicate and can create personal shields out of psionic energy. These shields slowly regenerate after sustaining damage. Protoss Probes do not construct buildings. Instead, they open warp gates where pre-constructed structures arrive from the Protoss home world. Probes can single-handedly construct entire expansion bases very easily with this method. Protoss are limited to building their bases within the limits of special Crystals, which provide energy for their structures. If 5 Photon Cannons are being powered by one crystal and a Terran tank destroys the Crystal, the Photon Cannons are rendered useless. Speaking of Photon Cannons, these mainly defensive weapons are the only structure in the game, which can attack both air and land units.
Zerg
The Zerg are made up of a collection of different creatures, which have their own abilities. A single Zerg is no match for a Protoss, but they fight well in large numbers. Zerg all begin as Larva. The larva can mutate into whatever forms are available. Rather that construct structures, Drones are needed to mutate into them instead. Zerg are restricted to “building” their bases in pinkish slime called Creep. Creep covers the land and provides nourishment for the bio-structures of the Zerg. Zerg unit production is also limited by the number of larva available. If there aren’t enough Hatcheries, production can be slow.
Campaign Editor
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A really fun feature of StarCraft is the Campaign Editor. With the editor, you can create your own maps and even your own missions. The editor allows players to create their maps using predefined pieces, which fit into a grid. Players can even get really complex by creating their own missions where you have to destroy a certain building, which is defended by Zerg. Once the building is destroyed, drop ships arrive to pick up your marines. It does take some time to make complex missions, but it is a lot of fun and not too difficult to do.
BattleNet
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I've saved my favorite part for last! There's nothing like winning against a real live person. The computer's AI may be well done, but after a while, it gets too repetitive. The computer tends to attack you in one quick wave, and if you're still alive it tends to send small offensives at you from time to time. Sometimes it just all out gives up and simply waits for you to kill it. The BattleNet helps relax any anxiety built up through your hard day at work/school. Log in and play against some random players from anywhere in the world. The best part is that it's free!
Blizzard's Battlenet supports WarCraft, Diablo and StarCraft where players can log in for free using the BattleNet ID tag, which came with their game. Players can chat in various chat rooms, create a game, and join a game. Possibilities are endless. One vs. One, Two vs. Two, Three vs. One, Seven vs. One Computer, Two vs. One Computer... you see them all. Games in which you team up with an ally are my favorite. The only thing better than beating a real live person is beating a team of real live people using teamwork with your partner(s).
BattleNet is really the part of StarCraft that I'm addicted to. I tend to play a Bnet game once a day when I'm in my addicted phase. I seem to play for a while, not play for a few months, then break out the old SC disk again. You make a character profile and you get a record of Wins, Losses and Disconnects. One of my first characters had a record of something around 145-30-9. I noticed that after a while, only REALLY good people would play me after seeing my record. It got annoying so I started making new characters after I'd get a couple dozen wins on them.
BattleNet Tips and Advice
If you decide to purchase StarCraft or if you already own it and would like some help with playing over BattleNet, here's some advice me.
-Watch out for "Newbie" games. Sometimes Mediocre players create new characters with low records and create games titled "Newbies only" or something like that to entice beginner players to join them in a beginner vs. "beginner" game. They actually aren't beginners at all, but enjoy feeling good winning against an easy opponent.
-One of the best ways to learn strategy is to join a 2v2 Game and watch your partner. Watch what he or she builds and in what order. Where does he/she move her units? Also, ask for advice as to what you should build or use next. Many players are nice enough to help beginners get better.
-Miner advice: Generally, put 3 units mining gas per gas refining structure. Have at least one unit per Mineral deposit. I tend to have 2-4 more units than the total number of mineral deposits. This keeps the money raking in at an ideal speed without over spending on units.
-If the map you are using has a designated area for you to build in with a main entrance, block that entrance with defense as well as defending your base. Terrans-Tanks and Bunkers filled with Marines. Protoss-Photon Cannons with a few Crystals, not just one. Zerg-Sunken and Spore Colonies. Also, station a few units at the entrance to act as sentinels.
-Large numbers don't always mean better. Sometimes a micro-managed team of 3 can do a lot of damage to the enemy. An example would be one Protoss drop-ship and 2 Reavers. Fly the reavers into the enemy base, do some damage, then pick them back up and leave before they get attacked.
Conclusion
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As you can see from my long review, I love this game. I actually could talk for pages on the subject but 1) You all would kill me and 2) A lot of info can be found at Blizzard's StarCraft page at http://www.blizzard.com/starcraft. I recommend StarCraft to everyone that enjoys computer games. You don’t have to be incredible at strategy to enjoy the game. I do know gamers that do not like real-time strategy games and thus don't like StarCraft. All those that do like real time strategy should definitely get StarCraft. Actually, if you like real-time strat... where have you been the past 3 years?! Just teasing. Give StarCraft a try. Just watch out because it's addicting.
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