NOTE: You CAN’T open this mission once you have started the Char mission or completed the game.  You have to load an old saved file.

I’ve been playing SC2 since beta and while fun, it’s the same feel as the original Starcraft, with some new units, powers and buildings.  Had this been 5 years ago, I wouldn’t really care, but after 10 years of waiting I would have expected more than just a few new units.  There’s no new gameplay systems or strategy changes in Starcraft 2, you still need to build and gather resources as quickly as possible and create a bigger army than your enemy to win.

However Blizzard has added some very nice additions to single player.  There is a full achievements list that players can get from each mission and once you’ve completed the single player campaign you open up Challenge Mode which provides 9 more Challenges with achievements that are actually great fun.  I haven’t beat’n them all yet, but I’m working on it.

Blizzard also added a lobby system for single player where you can upgrade units and buildings with credits you earn during each mission.  You also gather Zerg and Protoss research points during missions which can be used to further upgrade your forces.  The upgrade system added a RPG element to the game which is a welcomed addition and since you can’t earn enough credits to upgrade everything,  you really have to pick which unit you like using the best and upgrade those.

Getting into the actual gameplay, nothing new was really added that would separate it from the original Starcraft.  All the maps were very well thought out and fun to play, but again nothing really new.   The new units are obviously fun to play and you’ll need to rethink the strategies you used in the original SC.

The graphics change is nice, but the 3D camera is really just a gimmick that Blizzard can use to say SC2 is completely 3D.  I didn’t once change the camera angle while playing and really don’t see any reason why you would ever, aside from just playing around with it.

Overall Starcraft 2 is great game, but after 10 years of waiting I feel like it could have been more.   The upgrade system is a very nice addition, but that’s really the only new thing that Starcraft 2 introduced.   Strategies remain the same, build as many units as your can and overwhelm your opponent.

While I’m disappointed there weren’t any real changes to Starcraft2, the game is great, extremely polished and reminds me of my days in college playing the original SC to 3am.

Score: 9/10

StarCraft II: Wings of Liberty – Patch 1.0.2

Bug Fixes

• Fixed an issue where campaign mission victories would not always trigger properly.
• Fixed an issue where some players were unable to access single-player features.

Bug Fixes

• Campaign saves have been optimized.
• Fixed an issue with sound not playing on some 7.1 systems.

To me, StarCraft II is an awesome game for four major reasons:

1. Helps Copy-right issue problem
Frankly, there is too much of iso torrent and illegal downloading of games. I’ve known a lot of my friends using Virtual CD space to play StarCraft I. LAN capability is, of course, a great option to enjoy the games with your friends, but that technical part has caused many gamers to copy & illegally play the game. So I think you have to understand that these games are developed by millions of dollars, and with the devotion of high intense graphic artists and intensive creative works by both smart & artistic individuals, as well as game lovers+developers.

Plus, I think it’s about time a computer game company step-up and protect their propriety products. StarCraft II is unique, creative and artistic game. So it deserves to be protected and well-maintained by Blizzard. Wouldn’t you want to protect your art work & awesome stuff? I would.

2. Awesome Game at an affordable price
Some people think StarCraft II is excessively increasing their price for the game. Well, if you are looking for one of the best graphic RTS games and a unique character developing & challenging story-line game, then I think you know it will cost more to get the best. Plus, if you thought those game trailers are a realistic, high-definition story, then you will know that it costs tons of money creating the graphic effects, and voice acting. Maintaining million players online instantaneously and helping gamers enjoy their game are part of the game costs. Development of this game was estimated at $100 million dollars, and that is a statement given by Wall Street Journal from my previous blog.

Although you may think $60 is expensive at the moment, but if you can enjoy and play the same game for years, then that is a great game: It keeps you interested, and fun. That’s what matters in a computer game: you are entertained & having fun! Not just a year or months, but for years (most likely!)

Playing StarCraft II Terran Campaign

3. Terran Campaign Issue
Some gamers commented “StarCraft II is limited because it plays only the Terran campaign”. Well, think of it this way. The StarCraft has made it to top list in IGN best picked games and StarCraft I fans are demanding more intense game plays with harder, unique, and interesting features. So, in order to make their games more fun, you are playing from three different race perspective: Terran, Zerg, Protoss.

If you saw the StarCraft Game tournaments, you would know Terran is one of the best races. As matter of fact, several top StarCraft I pro-gamers in European StarCraft League played Terran as their main race. So, why not give it a try? What’s so bad about playing Terran (Human)?

But more importantly, StarCraft II- Wings of Liberty has 26 intensive campaign games to play while StarCraft I had only 10 campaigns for each race. It’s not 10 different race campaigns like StarCraft I, but a long chronologically developed Terran campaigns in StarCraft II: Wings of Liberty. Are 26 campaigns boring and not long enough for you to play?

4. Battlenet is logical & common-sense.
I don’t understand why it is annoying if you have to login and play StarCraft II. If you have played World of Warcraft and enjoyed some of free online MMORPG, then playing StarCraft II shouldn’t be a problem. It is really needless to say on this matter. After all, you have to admit that there are tons of free online games and you have to login to play them (either be single campaign(practice game) or multi-player game). It is point-less to say, “WTF? StarCraft II is making me go online every time I play”, when you are logining into Facebook everyday or twitting every other minutes.

Plus, Battlenet is adapting the current trend of various online games & keeping track of your individual achievements. So you can review your game scores, strategy and find old team-mates from the previous games. If the game is on internet, then you can play anywhere you are and save your progress. So you don’t need to pack-up your laptop to enjoy StarCraft II. Just play in your friend’s or cousin’s.

Voice Your Thoughts!
What’s your opinion on StarCraft II? Do you think it is a great game, or is there something you want it to be improved? Write & share your opinions!

It is clearly shown from the first 20 seconds of the trailer, we see Jim Raynor has the close relationship to Kerrigan, the previous

Kerrigan with a sniper rifle

Terran Ghost and Queen of Zerg. Kerrigan was stuck in the midst of the war, fighting against the Zerg swarm and asking for reinforcement “We need an immediate evac!”. As the planet is continuously bombarded and swarmed with Zergs, Jim Raynor was ordered to leave the planet by the Terran Dominion Leader Arcturus Mengsk in the Hyperion (the commanding battle cruiser): “Delay that order. We are moving out”. At that moment, Jim Raynor shouts, “WHAT! You are not just going to leave her!”. (Up to this part, the movie is speaking of the past, and relationship between Kerrigan and Jim Raynor).

The revolution that Jim Raynor is leading in this battle field is to destroy the Terran Dominion and take over their force. That is why Jim Raynor, in this trailer and the game, appears as only as a mercenary Terran soldier and leading a group of dedicated Terran soldiers into the battle field. He is also joining the Moebius Foundation at Mar Sara, where StarCraft I first introduced him as a vulture (a motor bicycle, not an animal for those new into the game) rider and a marshal.  For him, joining the organization is both personal and revolution purposes. Of course, Mar Sar is also attacked by the Zergs, forcing Jim Raynor to join the StarCraft II wars.

As the trailer progress, we finally see Terran Dominion ships appearing from Hyper drive above the Planet Char. Both Terran Dominion and Moebius Foundation form battle formation to attack each other, destroying ships and boarding the enemy ships. In midst of this trailer, we see two new characters: Matt Horner (the one in the General suit), and Tychus Findlay (the marine from very first StarCraft II Cinematic Trailer).

I don’t know how StarCraft II fans feel about their absolute bad-ass words, but I felt the characters played awesome role portraying each character. I loved it when Jim Raynor said, “About time we kick this revolution. You took overdrive.” when the Dominion battle cruisers appeared in the radar and prepares for another epic battle between Terran forces.

Jim Raynor's Skull Armor

It appears that Jim Raynor and Tychus Findlay handle themselves quiet impressive: Jim Raynor alone takes down three marines and drinks victory vodka. But that dramatic doesn’t end in here with a drink of Vodka, obviously. Like an angered tiger and merciless marine, he attacks the Dominion Battleships with Tychus Findlay. One thing that you might wonder is “Why the damn white skull image on the Jim Raynor’s Helmet?” Truth be told, I don’t know a lot about that, but it is portrayed as a metaphoric devil. He is going after the Dominion for vengeance because you wouldn’t see see Jim Raynor pointing a gun Terran Dominion Prince Valerian and killing three Dominion marines if he wasn’t. (Yeah. The black marine suit with White Skull is the Jim Raynor’s Hardcore Armor, if you look carefully.) In my perspective, I think the StarCraft II: Wings of Liberty is all about Jim Raynor’s personal story, revolving the whole game on his political power play, vengeance against Dominion, and putting an end to Kerrigan.

P.S One thing just pop out of the mind while re-watching this trailer: When Kerrigan gives up her hope on the Terran reinforcement, this particular scene reminds me of the main character girl looking into the sky at the swarm of spirit monsters from “Final Fantasy Movie: The Spirit Within”. Quiet catchy the same, I think.

What do you think of this new trailer?  Please leave your comments!

$100 Million in Development of StarCraft II
According to recent news from Wall Street Journals, Blizzard used more than $100 million on the development of StarCraft II and expects that the game sales will increase the Activision’s profits dramatically during the pre-order sales (Source: http://www.gamedot.co.uk/2010/07/20/starcraft-ii-100-million-to-make/). With IGN rating the game as one of top 25 games in 2010 Summer, it has sold more than 16.5 million sales as of today. (Source1, Source 2). In addition, as of yesterday, July 19, 2010, StarCraft II ranked as #1 Top retail game sales in Amazon.com & GameStop.com. (Source)

StarCraft II: Liberty of Wings – Grand Release on July 27, 2010
If you are looking for high-thrilling storyline, with action-packed strategy game and unbeatable graphics, then StarCraft II is the game for you. The game has been developing for more than 6 years, and Blizzard will debut its first sequel to StarCraft I- StarCraft II: Wings of Liberty. Follow your Terran Hero, Jim Raynor in his journey to liberation of Terran from Zerg & Protoss!  If you aren’t sure, then check out the cool StarCraft II Artwork & Game Screen Shots, and Game Play + Trailers!

Pre-order your StarCraft II!
You can order your games at: Amazon and GameStop.

Starcraft II, rated as one of Top 25 games for 2010 Summer, will be releasing its games all over the U.S.  With all new graphics, challenging single player campaigns, and tons of upgrades for your units (Terran, Protoss, Zerg), I am sure you would love to get a load of this awesome strategy game.

Early in Starcraft I, Zerg has overran both Protoss and Terran Race with formidable forces, destroying majority of Terran Domain and leaving Terran Jim Raynor along with the rest of the Terran Dominic power.

Starcraft II: Wings of Liberty will focus on the human Terran faction with a 29-mission single-player campaign. However, the multiplayer component will also let gamers wage interstellar real-time strategy warfare as the hivelike Zerg and technologically advanced Protoss factions. Two sequels focusing on those factions–Legacy of the Void and Heart of the Swarm–are also in development.

Storyline of Stacraft II: Wings of Liberty
At the conclusion of Brood War, Kerrigan and her Zerg forces became the dominant faction in the Koprulu Sector, having annihilated the United Earth Directorate’s (UED) Expeditionary Force, destroyed the Terran Dominion and invaded the Protoss homeworld of Aiur. However, after the conclusion of Brood War, Kerrigan retreats to Char, despite having more than enough power to crush all remaining resistance in the Koprulu Sector. In the four years leading up to the events of StarCraft II, she has not been seen or heard from by any of the other characters.

So What is Happening in Terran?
Left alone to rebuild the Terran Dominion, Arcturus Mengsk is consolidating his power while fending off harassment from rival Terran groups. Introduced by the novel Firstborn, Valerian Mengsk will play an important role in Dominion politics, due to his position as heir apparent to the throne. Meanwhile, Jim Raynor, a famous veteran vulture rider and an admired marine from Starcraft I and Brood War, has been reduced to a mercenary status, and has been shown to be doing business with the Moebius Foundation, a new faction which is interested in ancient Xel’Naga artifacts. VP of Creative Development at Blizzard Entertainment, Chris Metzen has emphasized that by the events of StarCraft II, Raynor has become jaded and embittered by the way he was used and betrayed by Arcturus Mengsk. Other new characters in StarCraft II will include Tychus Findlay (the marine you’ve seen in StarCraft II teaser Cinematic) as a member of Raynor’s crew, and Raynor’s second in command, Matt Horner, a character originally featured in the novel Queen of Blades.

Protoss Artanis & Dark Templar Zeratul: Their Journey to Rebuilding Their World

Following the fall of Aiur and the death of their matriarch Raszgal, the Protoss retreated to the dark templar homeworld of Shakuras. Within this dark world, Artanis, a former student of Tassadar and a Protoss scout, (Tassadar was known as the Protoss Templar, who sacrificed himself by crash landing a Khoal Crystal armed carrier to OverMind in Starcraft I storyline and eliminated Overmind), is trying to unify the Khalai Protoss and the dark templar, who have nearly separated into a tribal mindset as a result of centuries of distrust.

Zeratul (first appeared in StarCraft I as the dark templar leader and having fought against the Zergs), tormented over the murder of his matriarch, has disappeared to search for clues to the meaning of Samir Duran’s  cryptic statement on the Protoss/Zerg hybrid in Brood War’s secret mission “Dark Origin”. (Samir Duran is the Kerrigan’s second-in command and a Terran/Zerg hybrid ghost from StarCraft I. He was responsible for tricking the UED force to attack Psi Distrputer controlled by Terran Dominion and ultimately killed Vice-Admiral Alex Stukov. Dark Origin was the last few bonus games added into the Starcraft I when the gamers finished all the single campaigns. Zeratful, along with his dark templar and Protoss force, had traveled to far side of the universe and saw the several experiments of Protoss/Zerg Hybrid. )

Are you a huge fan of Starcraft?  Do you wish you could create a fan-site for the upcoming game, but don’t know enough about the web to do so?  Well you’re in luck, we are looking for a fan to take over Starcraftii.com!

You read that right, we are looking for a SC2 fan to step in and take control of our website.  This person will have full control over the site, although there are some guidelines which I will provide to any interested fans.

If you’re interested in running Starcraftii.com, please leave a comment on this post with a valid email address with why we should pick you to run our site.  Good luck

StarCraft II: Wings of Liberty Beta Is Now Live!
The Koprulu sector rings once more with the sounds of battle, for the public beta test of StarCraft II: Wings of Liberty has officially begun! Invitations to participate in the beta test are now being delivered. As with previous Blizzard Entertainment titles, the beta-test process for StarCraft II will occur in phases. In each phase, we will be selecting players who meet specific criteria and who have opted in via their Battle.net accounts.

Players who have been invited to participate in the beta test will need to have a Battle.net account. For more information on the StarCraft II: Wings of Liberty beta test, please read the FAQ http://forums.battle.net/thread.html?topicId=23094049320&sid=5000 and our recent media alert.

If you didn’t receive a beta test invite, don’t worry — it’s possible that you’ll be added in a later phase. Keep an eye on the email address associated with your Battle.net account, and stay tuned to StarCraft2.com for further updates.

Additionally, please keep discussion regarding the StarCraft II Beta consolidated to this thread. Thanks!