|
Starcraft II: Wings of Liberty  | 
| From: Blizzard Entertainment
Category: Video Games
Buy New: $59.99
as of 7/29/2010 02:23 CDT details
New (16) Used (1) from $54.99
Seller: Amazon.com
Rating:  415 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 24 hours
| |
| |
| 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 415
 There Might be a Unicorn Inside this Game July 27, 2010
JamesA
100 out of 147 found this review helpful
Here you go. By now, I'm sure there are two types of people reading the WoL reviews:
1) People who are legitimately seeking to examine the product; or
2) People looking to bash Blizzard for facts and knowledge that they were aware of (or should have been) nearly six months ago
--------------
Multiplayer:
The core truth is that Wings of Liberty, after several hours under my belt, does not seek to break any innovations in multiplayer. The isometric view is back and you really feel much of the time like you are playing a souped up, incredibly detailed version of the first blockbuster game. That being said, for those of you who haven't played SC1, great painstaking detail has been made to accentuate the "counters" of each race, and Blizzard has easily put as much intelligence into balancing SC2 as they did in SC1. If you're not aware, SC1 is regarded as such a complex, deep, and balanced game that tournaments still regularly occur overseas in countries where E-sports are more readily accepted, such as South Korea. It is true that Blizzard requires access to their Battle.net system to play online, but this was announced months prior. Aside from people who seem to be still playing on 28.8 modems (which could surprisingly play SC1 fluidly...), this shouldn't be much of an issue. Maybe you might need to make sure to have a switch with enough ethernet ports for your pals, but it's not a gamebreaking problem.
That being said, this isn't your daddy's B.net. Blizzard has made efforts to make the new Battle.net a one-stop hub for gaming. With just a click of a button a player can switch to multiplayer, open the map editor, play campaign, or chat with friends even on other Blizzard games, or if you just want to brush up on some knowledge you can even review tech trees and in-B.net help files. It's very much like Steam in its fluid integration with each of its features, but far more focused and easier to get to (as you're not dealing with hundreds of games here, just a select few).
The standard map modes are available, custom maps which offer more flexibility than ever introduced before (there are first-person shooter maps already...), an intricate ladder system which aims to place you against like-skilled players, and non-competitive play if you don't want to play in a ladder game.
--------------
Single-Player (Campaign):
It's been known for over 3 years that Blizzard intended for this to only be the Terran story. While some may consider this a money-grab as it's unlikely that the additional games would add much perhaps beyond a few extra units (they are, after all, mini-expansions in their nature). However, while Blizzard admittedly stated they haven't intended to innovate their multiplayer which was already known across the world, the single-player campaign has been altered incredibly. The story is engaging and voice-overs are done expertly. In-engine cinematics occur between every level and offer the opportunity of the player to even talk about things outside of the campaign; for example, in an early mission while protagonist Jim Raynor and his old friend Tychus Finley are inside of a dusty bar, a player may click on Raynor's old badge for a snippet of character information, a picture where they detail zerg "hunts" for sport, or even change the jukebox tune. These "hubs" change often throughout the game and offer different features, such as unique upgrades which are available solely to the single-player experience from the minor to the major, from adding to the range of units in a bunker to even dropping building requirements for the unit's production.
While disappointing to a point, certain units from SC1 (or new) appear specifically in the campaign. Stated to be removed for "balance reasons," it may knock off veteran SC1 players' socks off to see that in campaigns the Medics are still functioning. These models are just as slick as the "official" multiplayer units, and offer incredible fodder for the creative people who create Blizzard custom maps.
That being said, the single Terran campaign is non-linear, offers far more features and hours worth of gameplay than any previous StarCraft campaign. Just from a sheer numbers perspective, not only is this campaign fundamentally better by virtue of the increased polish/story/detail, but it is over two and a half times long in the "required" missions (26). This is not a money-grab. To merit a full Protoss and Zerg campaign of this length could increase the installation from its already sizeable 12gb to the 30+ range, a size which would even dwarf many World of Warcraft installations, and be worth far more than the oft-protested $60 range.
Oh, also there's an offline mode. A few negative reviews have made it their point to get the point across that there isn't one so they can't take their laptop on the road and play campaign and against the AI and yadda yadda. There is. This just seems to point to me that many of the reviews that are low are disingenuous, merely trying to skew numbers based on some perceived shortfall that in truth was explained sometimes years ahead of time.
--------------
Common Elements:
Okay, so maybe this isn't a DX11 game using incredible tesselation, but it's a game that should work on computers that were top of the line at least within a few years. The graphics seem even better than they did during the closed Beta period and carry the spirit of the original game beautifully. Void Rays look like a work of art with their focused lasers, the crisp animation of a furious Zergling are beautiful, and even the lowly SCV is overhauled and worth zooming in on more than one time. You'll be a week into online play when you notice how incredibly unique every death animation is, and even be floored by the change from SC1 when you see that there are visual changes to units upon certain upgrades (for example, when the Zerg "Roaches" gain the ability to tunnel underground, sharp spikes protrude out of their flesh).
The audio, OH THE AUDIO. Blizzard has always been known for incredible in-house composers, and this is no exception. From the building introduction screen to the race-specific songs which always seem to queue up at proper times, they truly get the player in the right mood, be it exploring his secret wish to be a scavenging space cowboy or a sanctimonious, disciplined alien. It's beautiful, it's monumental, and it almost makes me wish I paid the $40 for the collector's edition just for that soundtrack (not to the mention the art book which I'm sure is amazing, based on my prior experience with other Blizzard art books).
Cost:
Okay, I'm sure this is buzzing around like a bee up a few people's skirts, but here's the skinny. This pricing is, unfortunately, on par or less than what console players enjoy. In addition, the price was likely altered based upon the issue of Korea, a staunch supporting country of StarCraft, wherein players do not pay for the software but instead may purchase a lifetime subscription for the price of the software, or game-time based plans so they may play in internet cafes. While I'll admit, yeah, I'm cheap, and yes, I winced a little when I was handed my receipt knowing that I'd not be going out to eat for awhile to make up for it. However, I also knew that this was one of those rare gaming situations where I knew I would be playing this game for years; far more gameplay than the average game these days offers without snippets of unsatisfying DLC.
The pure issue is that many people feel privileged, and if you truly want this game I don't think $10 is going to stop you. Those who rally against the cost come off to me as particularly elitist; there is far more in this package than you'll see in much else this year.
Conclusion:
In truth, StarCraft 2: Wings of Liberty is honest gamemaking at its best. Blizzard Entertainment hasn't set out to break the multiplayer mold: no one has been able to follow their breed of gameplay for over 12 years since the first StarCraft, so why ruin a good thing? The campaign is incredibly deep for being part of a RTS, and I'd argue is one of the best stories being told in gaming today with a competent bevvy of voice actors, artists, and overlords watching over it from deep within the Blizzard blockbuster-factory.
StarCraft 2 is like the recent trend of car manufacturers to take old muscle cars and rennovate them for the 21st century. You're going to be able to recognize it, sit in the seats, and get that same feeling of pure enjoyment from when you were a kid and sat in it for the first time, but when you turn on the engine it's clear that it has a whole new bag of tricks.
-James A.
OH GOD, THE AWESOMENESS!!! July 29, 2010
Morgan Hubbart
1 out of 3 found this review helpful
I never had an instillation that I wanted to watch so much
very awesome, if you like starcraft you are required to buy this.
cons, you need internet to just play, the graphics could defiantly go up a notch.
o hai, it's the whiny baby QQ club July 29, 2010
Matthew M. Patterson
0 out of 2 found this review helpful
There's always going to be someone complaining that the apple juice tastes like piss, but it almost always turns out to be their own.
Campaign alone is worth the price. July 28, 2010
Tbear (Pittsburgh, PA)
5 out of 12 found this review helpful
I am about halfway through the single-player campaign mode. I did not play SC 1, so I had no preconceived notions or expectations. The graphics are gorgeous, the storyline compelling, and the sound and musical score are stunning. Great voice acting and attention to detail are plainly evident. I am a tournament chess player, and I can safely say that this game allows the gamer to use strategy in brilliant and creative ways. I am only scraping the surface of the game, it is true, but that just leaves me salivating for more! If multi-player is anywhere near as good as single-player (and I have reason to believe it is at least as good), then SC 2 may be the greatest computer strategy game EVER.
A solid 5 out of 5 July 28, 2010
Sitnam90
1 out of 5 found this review helpful
I think people here who gave it negative reviews arent taking into account the GAMING factor of this video game. This games plays very smoothly, the graphics look great, and the single player is a customizable blast. Alot of reviews bitching about the game being split up aren't taking into account two very important factors:
1. Blizzard has always done expansion packs. Episodic content is just another way of saying expansion pack. Ever since Warcraft 2 they have had expansions. Nothing new here people. And in the past these expansions were not priced as much as a full game.
2. This is not 1/3 of a game. Its a full single player game. The campaign only involves Terrans, but it has 26 missions. The original had all three races but only 10 missions per race. 4 less missions basically, but instead you get army customization, achievements character interaction, an arcade game, and more.
Dispute popular belief, you can play this game single player. You need to have broadband to install the game. Other then that you dont have to play over BNET. Lack of LAN doesnt bother me, but to those that it does I did read somewhere that a patch may add LAN later on.
And to those bitching about Blizzard being greedy: They're a business entity. They want to get paid as much as we all want to. Any industry does. If you like their product, then buy it. If not then save the money. But don't bitch about their efforts to reduce game piracy through requiring online play. It a problem that has plagued the PC gaming industry, and they have every right to protect their product. One review stated that we will get to play as long as Blizzard allows us to. That is completely untrue. The option to play offline has been generally ignored by all the negative reviews. Broadband is only required for installation.
Showing reviews 1-5 of 415
|
|
|
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. | |
